Hankook began collaborating with Mercedes-AMG
Hankook announced that the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe sports car will be equipped with Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z tires in the Ultra Ultra High Performance (UUHP) category, featuring an improved tread pattern and rubber compound designed to provide maximum grip even under extreme loads. Previously, Hankook and Mercedes-AMG had not collaborated, and the MO1 marking on the tire sidewalls indicates homologation.
"We are proud to have become a supplier of components for the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe, a high-performance model with truly sporty handling. For us, this is confirmation that Hankook products meet the highest requirements," said Sanhung Lee, President and Operating Director of Hankook's European division. "The Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z tires provide excellent handling and are manufactured using technologies from motorsports, making them ideal for the Mercedes-AMG flagship model."
One of the features of the tires for the GT Coupe is the increased tread width, which, together with the modified tread pattern, improves stability. The construction with a top hybrid layer reinforced with aramid fibers prevents tire deformation under the influence of centrifugal forces at high speeds, which is especially important for a car with a top speed of 315 km/h. The deformability of the tread under lateral loads has also been reduced, which contributes to optimal control in any situation.
The special rubber compound contains a large amount of silica, which improves grip in various weather conditions, and the compound is also resistant to the effects of high temperatures during intense operation, thanks to which the tires maintain a stable level of characteristics over a long period.
The engineers were required not only to develop tires that meet the strict Mercedes-AMG standards but also to do so in a short timeframe, and instead of the usual two years, they had only about eight months, during which they managed to conduct tests on the 20.4-kilometer "North Loop" of the Nürburgring circuit, one of the most challenging racing tracks in the world, featuring numerous turns and elevation changes of over 300 meters. According to Hankook, one lap of the track for the tires is equivalent to 2000 km in everyday life, and the Ventus S1 evo Z tires allowed the GT Coupe to reach speeds of up to 305 km/h, with an average speed of 150 km/h.
Throughout the development process, Hankook specialists were in close contact with Mercedes-AMG test pilots, and as Klaus Krause, Director of the European Technical Center (ETC) of the tire company, noted, "if you can achieve the goals of efficiency and speed on the 'North Loop', you can be fully confident in the capabilities of your tires, and the partnership with Mercedes-AMG will further strengthen the reputation of the Hankook brand in the segment of tires for super-sports cars".
The Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe is equipped with tires in the sizes 295/35ZR20 at the front and 305/35 ZR20 at the rear, and production is carried out at the plant in Rácalmás (Hungary).