Hankook Tire will supply the latest Audi electric vehicle (EV) models with tires specially developed for electric cars. The Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron will be equipped with the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 ev tire, designed for the unique needs of EVs, such as low rolling resistance, low weight and high load capacity.
The latest Audi models – the Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron – are now part of the growing portfolio of EVs for which Hankook supplies custom tires as original equipment. In addition to their attractive design, the two sporty yet compact new SUVs from Audi boast a wide range of technical refinements, according to the tiremaker. At the same time, the purely electric drive requires a tire that can also transfer this technology confidently onto the road: the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 ev tire is specially developed for EVs.
“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 tires 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
EV tires need to deliver on three key properties that are particularly important for EVs, says Hankook: low rolling resistance, low weight and high load capacity. They support battery performance, and thus the vehicle’s range, while at the same time safely carrying the higher vehicle weight associated with EVs. 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 fiber. It offers high stability and ensures a low tare weight of the tire 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 high drive torques ensure excellent grip in wet and dry conditions, while simultaneously optimizing 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 that the tire fits the rim precisely, this also results in a particularly sporty and immediate steering response.
The Hankook SEALGUARD sealing material used inside the tires (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 3/16” in diameter in the tire 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, tires equipped with Hankook’s SEALGUARD® technology continue to offer the usual comfort, as their basic construction does not differ from tires without SEALGUARD.
