Hankook's concept tyres receive multiple awards

Hankook Tire Co. Ltd., in collaboration with Pforzheim University, were honored at the 2015 International Design Excellence Awards and 2015 Red Dot Design Awards for developing a line-up of three different concept tyres.

Hankook became the first tyre company to win in the category of mobility at the 2015 Red Dot Awards when Boostrac concept tyre was designated the Best of the Best. In addition to this, the company's all three concept tyres namely, Boostrac, Alpike and hyBlade, received 2015 IDEA awards.

Hankook, along with Pforzheim University, developed these concept tyres under the theme A Great Challenge for a Great Change of Hankook's 2014 Tyre Design Innovation project.

Students of Pforzheim University's School of Design, Engineering and Business helped Hankook to develop its cutting-edge range of concept tyres. Hankook said that this project focused on developing future-oriented concept tyres that can perform in extreme driving conditions and by extreme conditions, they meant the kind of environments that can be caused due to global warming. The award presentation ceremony will take place on September 25 at the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore.

Mr. Seung Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hankook Tire said, “We are immensely proud to be recognized by the world’s top three design awards including Red Dot and IDEA for two straight years. Hankook Tire will continue to improve its top-of-the-line technology and design by investing in R&D. We believe the advances we make will further enhance our competitiveness as a leading tyre company.”

All three concept tyres are designed to operate in extreme conditions, e.g., Boostrac incorporates a variable tread block structure that is capable to expand when required thereby, improving traction. According to Hankook, this tyre will perform well in rough, desert-like conditions. Alpike has the ability to expand the tyre circumference which raises the vehicle's ground clearance for areas affected by heavy snow. Lastly, hyBlade incorporates waterwheel treads and side spikes that help in efficient water draining and improve tyre's steering force in heavy rain conditions.