Hankook updates the Dynapro lineup
Hankook Tire has added two new models to its Dynapro lineup: the Hankook Dynapro evo AS, designed for on-road use and targeting luxury SUV owners, and the Hankook Dynapro HT2, capable of handling light off-roading. Both new models are entering the North American market, just like the new Hankook Ventus evo UHP tires, previously introduced in Europe.
The Dynapro family now includes a full range of SUV tires, from on-road to mud-terrain, and the new all-season Dynapro evo AS model, as claimed by the manufacturer, boasts excellent braking performance on asphalt. Tests conducted by the company showed that the new model outperforms an unnamed "segment leader" in braking efficiency on dry and wet asphalt by 3% and 6%, respectively.
The tread features closing lugs, whose design was developed to reduce block deformation, thereby improving handling and reducing braking distances. The tread pattern also includes additional small-depth dotted grooves that segment the blocks, providing a more even distribution of stiffness and improving handling when cornering, which is also facilitated by the increased width of the shoulder sections.
The grooves have sloping walls that help improve wet road performance without compromising the necessary stiffness, which is also ensured by the bridges between the blocks, and to reduce noise, the tire is equipped with a closed outer shoulder area, a feature that, according to Hankook, significantly reduced high-frequency noise.
The tires feature a construction with reinforced breakers, providing the necessary strength in various conditions, while the new rubber compound with high silica content and special resins was developed to improve braking efficiency on dry and wet surfaces. Additionally, the compound was optimized to maintain properties at reduced temperatures, increasing snow traction (the tires are not intended for northern regions), and the optimized contact patch – square in the center and rounded at the edges – extended the tire life, and the developers also made the groove edges less sharp, reducing the level of uneven wear.
Hankook Dynapro evo AS is available in 26 sizes with a rim diameter of 19 to 22 inches. The warranty mileage is 80,000 km.
In turn, the Dynapro HT2 tires, replacing the Dynapro HT model, differ from their predecessor, among other things, with an increased resource, which, thanks to the optimization of the profile, tread pattern, and rubber compound, has grown by 13%, while the warranty mileage in P-Metric sizes is 110,000 km. Additionally, traction, braking, and snow handling have been improved (by 6, 9, and 7%, respectively), and handling and wet braking performance have been improved by 7 and 6%, respectively.
According to the manufacturer, the optimized tread stiffness prevents uneven wear, and the contact patch has been made more square, which, in combination with a flat profile, has increased the tire life, and this is also facilitated by a special rubber compound.
The compound also has hydrophilic properties, which have improved traction on wet surfaces, while the wide grooves quickly drain water and also increase safety in complex weather conditions.
Since the tires are designed for use on snow, the number of lugs creating additional traction edges has been increased.
The channels in the shoulder areas have a closed design, reducing noise, and the variable pitch tread also improves the level of acoustic comfort. According to Hankook, compared to the previous generation tires, the noise has been reduced by 2 dB(A).
New Hankook Dynapro HT2 tires are available in 55 sizes with a diameter of 15-22 inches.
"Our Dynapro lineup, created exclusively for SUV and pickup owners, remains a source of pride and a driver of development for Hankook Tire," said Rob Williams, president of Hankook's American division. "With the release of the latest Dynapro evo AS model, as well as the Dynapro HT2 tire, which has significantly improved characteristics compared to its predecessor, we continue to develop this family to meet the demands of motorists."