Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 13 July 2022 – Electric vehicles (EV) are one of the most important building blocks in the future of personal motorised transport. A future that has long since begun for premium tyre maker Hankook. For example, the latest Audi models – the Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron – are now also part of the growing portfolio of EVs for which Hankook supplies custom tyres as original equipment. In addition to their attractive design, the two sporty yet compact new SUVs from Audi boast a whole range of technical refinements. At the same time, the purely electric drive requires a tyre that can also transfer this technology confidently onto the road: the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 ev tyre is specially developed for electric cars.

“As a development partner of Audi, we have implemented a number of successful projects together in recent years,” says Sanghoon Lee, President of Hankook Tire Europe. “Being able to help switch the portfolio over to electric vehicles by providing suitable tyres therefore means a lot to us. In doing so, we are also making an important contribution to increasingly sustainable mobility.”

Low rolling resistance, low weight, high load capacity

Properties that are particularly important for electric vehicle tyres. They support battery performance and thus the vehicle’s range, while at the same time safely carrying the higher vehicle weight resulting from the concept. For the special requirements of electric mobility, Hankook engineers have equipped the Ventus S1 evo 3 ev with a double-layer carcass made of a specially developed high-performance fibre. It offers very high stability and ensures a low tare weight of the tyre relative to its size. Also important is the tread compound used in the Ventus S1 evo 3 ev, which has been adapted to the needs of electric mobility. Its very high drive torques ensure excellent grip in wet and dry conditions, while simultaneously optimising rolling resistance.

In the 20 and 21-inch dimensions for the Audi Q4 e-tron and Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, an additional steel-based reinforcement is used in the bead area due to the reduced flank height to further increase sidewall rigidity. In addition to ensuring the tyre fits the rim precisely, this also results in a particularly sporty and immediate steering response.

The Hankook SEALGUARD® sealing material used inside the tyres (standard on the Hankook 20 and 21‑inch dimensions for the Audi Q4 e-tron and Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron) automatically seals any punctures of up to 5mm in diameter in the tyre tread surface. SEALGUARD® offers the advantage of being able to continue the journey without delays, even in the event of a nail puncture, for example. For vehicles equipped with SEALGUARD®, it is no longer necessary to carry a spare wheel. This provides extra space in the vehicle, saves weight, and eliminates the need for a potentially dangerous roadside wheel change. In addition to their safety benefits, tyres equipped with Hankook’s SEALGUARD® technology continue to offer the usual comfort, as their basic construction does not differ from tyres without SEALGUARD®.

Photos: Audi AG

All 20 and 21-inch models come with Hankook SEALGUARD® puncture protection technology as standard.