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Hankook exhibits futuristic airless i-Flex concept tyre at CES 2022 with modular Plug & Drive platform from Hyundai

At Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Hankook is presenting the latest version of the airless i-Flex concept tyre as part of a cooperation with the Hyundai Motor Company. The biomimetic design enables excellent shock absorption and load-bearing capacity while the airless construction increases safety and reduces maintenance costs – important advantages for autonomous mobility concepts.
Hankook exhibits futuristic airless i-Flex concept tyre at CES 2022 with modular Plug & Drive platform from Hyundai

Neu-Isenburg, 6 January 2022 – Autonomous mobility solutions of the future require a new generation of tyres that combine minimal maintenance with maximum safety and excellent comfort. Non-pneumatic tyres (NPT) are predestined for this field of application. Global tyre company Hankook Tire & Technology is showcasing its “i-Flex” airless tyre in a joint entry with Hyundai Motor Company at the world’s largest consumer technology event, the CES 2022, being held 5-8 January.

At CES 2022, Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled its Plug & Drive (PnD) Module for the first time. It is based on robotics technology that enables the Mobility of Things (MoT), an ecosystem in which all objects are mobile. Hankook’s i-Flex is fitted to maximize the characteristics and functions of the PnD module.

The i-Flex is a futuristic non-pneumatic concept tyre featuring biomimetic design. The compact 10-inch format, a diameter of 400 mm and width of 105 mm in combination with the airless construction make the latest version the optimal transport partner. And in contrast to conventional tyres, accidents caused by punctures are a thing of the past. Furthermore, the tyre does not require air-pressure monitoring or refills, making it an optimal solution for autonomous vehicles.

The i-Flex was developed using rigorous biomimetic studies and testing. In order to absorb shocks from the road and for it to be able to carry heavy loads, the design of a multi-layer interlocking spoke inspired by the cellular structure of living organisms was adopted. The multi-layer interlocking spoke structures the cell in three dimensions for better shock absorption while allowing hexagonal and tetragonal cell structures of different rigidities to join together for more stable load support.

In addition, a c-shaped concave tread profile ensures the maximum contact patch, contributing to safety on the road. The tread, designed for multidirectional vehicle movement, adopts the characteristic honeycomb design of the tyre body.

Hankook Tire is dedicated to building a more sustainable future in mobility, and therefore has been working on non-pneumatic tyre technology since 2010. This continuous effort led to the birth of the i-Flex, an airless tyre with high safety, low maintenance and high sustainability – which now serves as an ideal solution for future mobility. Hankook is continuing its research and development to make further improvements.

Hankook Innovative Performance (H.I.P), Hankook Tire’s philosophy for technology, is at the core of the company’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility. To this end, Hankook Tire will continue to carry out projects that enable positive change for the future while allowing the company to strengthen its competitiveness in the market with innovative technologies.

Hankook Tire manufactures globally innovative, award-winning radial tyres of proven superior quality for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks, and buses as well as motorsports (circuit racing/street circuits/rallies).

Aspiring to bring consumers the utmost excellence in product quality, technological excellence and driving satisfaction, Hankook Tire continuously invests in research and development maintaining five R&D centres and eight production facilities around the world. Bespoke tyre solutions for the European markets as well as European Original Equipment according to the requirements of leading premium car manufacturers, are developed in the company’s regional Technical Centre in Hanover/Germany. Production for the European region is taking place in the state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Rácalmás/Hungary which was inaugurated in June 2007 and is continuously being expanded.

Hankook Tire’s European headquarters are located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main in Germany. The manufacturer operates further branches in several European countries and sells its products through regional distributors in other local markets. Hankook Tire employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide and sells products in over 160 countries. The company has been the technical partner and exclusive tyre supplier of the Generation 3 for the FIA ABB Formula E World Championship since 2023. Internationally leading car manufacturers rely on tyres made by Hankook for their original equipment. Approximately 38 percent of the company's global sales are generated within the European region.

For more information please visit www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com or www.hankooktire.com

Hankook Tire Europe GmbH | Marketing Communications Europe | Siemensstr. 14, 63263 Neu-Isenburg | Germany

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Hankook exhibits futuristic airless i-Flex concept tyre at CES 2022 with modular Plug & Drive platform from Hyundai

The biomimetic design of Hankook's airless i-Flex concept tyre enables excellent shock absorption and load-bearing capacity while the airless construction increases safety and reduces maintenance costs – important advantages for autonomous mobility concepts.

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Contacts

Sabine Riedel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 6102 8149-178

Lisa Schmid

PR Manager Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-172

Alexander Nevinny-Stickel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-173

Annika Malcherek

Annika Malcherek

Digital Lead Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-176

Larissa Büsch

PR Manager Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 160 2545279

Zoë Baldwin

Marketing Manager
Hankook Tyre UK Ltd

 +44 7948 247048

Natasha Ramos Smyth

Marketing Executive
Hankook Tyre UK Ltd

 +44 7961 601839

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