Heavy and Quiet Electric Cars, Tires Are Different Too

[Fuel Efficiency A to Z] Hankook Tire ION

Electric vehicles have various characteristics that differ from internal combustion engine vehicles. Tires, which are directly related to vehicle performance as well as safety and ride comfort, must also be different. Recently, as the supply of electric vehicles has increased, dedicated tires have also attracted attention. Electric vehicle tires differ in many aspects such as noise, energy efficiency, mileage, and high load capacity.

Electric vehicles lack engine noise, so the sound of wind resistance and road noise caused by tire friction become more prominent while driving. Therefore, tire technology that minimizes noise is necessary. Due to the heavy battery, electric vehicles weigh several hundred kilograms more than internal combustion engine vehicles, resulting in a higher load distribution rate. Wear resistance and durability must be secured. For quick responsiveness and high torque handling, tires must have high grip as well as strong wear resistance.

Kumho Tire Electric Vehicle Dedicated Tire ION EVO AS SUV Equipped Vehicle

Hankook Tire's dedicated electric vehicle brand, 'iON', was developed reflecting these characteristics. It is the first company to offer a full lineup of dedicated electric vehicle tires including all-season, high-performance, and winter tires. After debuting in the European replacement tire market in May last year, it was launched domestically in September and in the United States in December of the same year. In May of this year, it was introduced in China.

iON was designed from the planning stage targeting ultra-high-performance, expensive electric vehicles. It incorporates various technologies to realize the performance of high-output electric vehicles such as pure electric sports cars. It optimized energy efficiency by reducing rolling resistance, which greatly affects the driving range of electric vehicles. According to Hankook Tire's own tests, iON's energy efficiency is up to 6% higher compared to the company's general tires for internal combustion engine vehicles.

Aeon Evo AS SUV

It also suppresses noise at specific frequencies generated during driving to create a low-noise environment. Noise is reduced by up to 18% compared to general tires. Additionally, the EV-dedicated compound, which mixes high-concentration silica and eco-friendly materials, and a stiffness profile structure optimized for high loads reduce abnormal tire wear, improving mileage by up to 15%, leading in terms of economy. Considering the high instantaneous torque and heavy battery, the tire's cornering stiffness was increased by up to 10%.

The high-performance product introduced domestically in May this year received favorable reviews from overseas specialized media. In April, the German automotive magazine Auto Bild tested the iON fitted on a Tesla electric vehicle Model S and ranked it first by achieving top scores in four categories: wet surface braking, dry surface braking, rolling resistance, and handling.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.