Hankook Tire to Build Global Sixth Plant in China

Hankook Tire launches KINERGY ECO,

heralding a new era in the tyre segment in Europe

§  State-of-the-art passenger car tyre concept already accommodates future standards

§  Fuel efficiency through significantly lower rolling resistance

§  Anti-vibration technology delivers comfort and efficiency

Neu-Isenburg, 21 February 2011 – Hankook Tire has developed the next generation in advanced passenger car tyre concepts. The KINERGY ECO line of tyres combines state-of-the-art Hankook tyre technology in the areas of safety, handling, and comfort with the environmental consciousness that is becoming an increasingly important criterion for today’s vehicles. KINERGY is the abbreviation for Kinetic Energy, or energy of motion (from the Greek kinesis, or movement) – the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. It is equivalent to the amount of work required to accelerate from a state of rest to a state of motion.

In the case of the new Hankook tyre, that amount is considerably lower than with conventional tyres in this class. The ECO part of the name is intended as guidance for the consumer, evoking both ecology and economy at the same time and connecting the tyre’s environmentally conscious and economical – meaning fuel-saving – characteristics to benefit both the natural environment and consumers’ pocketbooks.

With the new KINERGY ECO, Hankook Tire successfully brings off an impressive balancing act. By combining the very latest materials, like silica nanoparticles, which are thus far uncommon in this segment, and cutting-edge compound technologies, Hankook has been able to reduce the rolling resistance of the KINERGY ECO by 12 percent as compared to conventional tyres currently available on the market. The energy savings is reflected in lower fuel consumption, thereby contributing to an improved overall CO2 footprint. At the same time, this versatile all-rounder really shines in safety-related disciplines, such as wet braking, and offers about eight percent shorter stopping distances by comparison to other tyres in its class.

“To us, the KINERGY ECO heralds the dawn of a new era in tyres,” explains Jin-Wook Choi, Executive Vice-President and European head of Hankook Tire. “Our society’s values have changed a great deal in recent years. People are more environmentally conscious in their thinking and their actions, and they want their tyres to also offer better fuel economy, but without sacrificing safety and driving comfort. In the KINERGY ECO, we have succeeded in creating this combination. But it is also clear that the safety of our consumers remains our top priority. We make no compromises on safety.”

The balanced, asymmetrical tread significantly enhances the tyre’s handling. At the same time, the optimized tread design of the KINERGY ECO not only delivers better handling properties, but also makes driving more comfortable and quieter on the whole. Optimally arranged, wide longitudinal grooves offer effective protection from hydroplaning. Self-sharpening tread block edges also ensure the necessary grip on both wet and dry driving surfaces. Wider shoulder blocks and an enlarged contact area improve traction and stability in curves, even at high speeds, on a dry surface.

In 2008, Hankook Tire began following its H-LOHAS (Hankook Lifestyle Oriented Health and Sustainability) philosophy, which involves not only the development of sustainable, environmentally friendly products like the new KINERGY ECO, but also social and environmental responsibility. Thus it is no surprise that the new tyre concept from Hankook Tire has already been developed with an eye to the requirements of the EU tyre label. The tyre label, which will be rolled out in all 27 EU member countries under a directive passed by the European Commission, is set to bring new transparency to the European tyre market starting in November 2012. The new labels will draw drivers’ attention to products that have especially low rolling resistance and low noise but are also especially safe, with high grip under wet conditions.

* Kontrol Technology

Derived from the English terms Kinetic (for movement) and Control (for control), Hankook Tire Kontrol Technology reflects the best possible controllability of the interaction between the driver, the vehicle and the road by the tyres during the journey. Kontrol Technology has been developed in order to provide the vehicle driver with all currently available benefits of the latest Hankook tyre technology in terms of safety, driving characteristics, comfort and environmental compatibility.

Technical characteristics of the Hankook KINERGY ECO (K425):

1. Vibration Control Technology for enhanced comfort

- Optimized profile block stiffness minimizes undesired block movements.

The result: considerably better rolling comfort.

- Development of heat within the tyre is also reduced, which reduces the amount of change in the

tyre’s properties during the journey.

2. Semi-rib design enhances dry performance

- Asymmetrical tread design with closed tread rib placed in the area of

the outside shoulder of the asymmetric pattern, combined with a large contact area, ensures

driving stability and enhanced dry handling.

3. High grip on wet surfaces

- Self-sharpening block edges grip the road surface for outstanding wet braking values

(-8% as compared to conventional tyres).

- Wide longitudinal tread grooves provide effective protection against hydroplaning.

4 Environmentally friendly properties

- New compound technologies and use of silica nanoparticles reduce rolling

resistance (-12% as compared to conventional tyres) while also ensuring

considerably better wet grip.

5. Available sizes

- The Hankook KINERGY ECO is currently available in 38 dimensions, from 14 to 16 inches (series 70 to 50) for vehicles ranging from mini and compact cars to the upper mid-sized class in tread widths of 155 to 215 mm (speed ratings T, H and V). Some are available in an extra load version.

About Hankook Tire

Hankook Tire is one of the world's largest and fastest growing tyre manufacturers for innovative, high-quality and high-performance radial tyres for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks, and buses as well as motorsports (circuit racing/rallies). The company invests some five percent of its revenues in R&D every year. Their five Research and Development labs in Korea, Germany, USA, China and Japan develop the very latest in market-specific, customised and innovative technologies. They greatly contribute in providing optimal tyre solutions designed to meet the regional requirements and demands of their customers. Hankook Tire employs more than 14,000 employees worldwide and sells its products in more than 180 countries. Internationally leading car manufacturers rely on tyres made by Hankook Tire for their original equipment. About 70 percent of Hankook's income is generated by sales outside Korea.

Hankook Tires European headquarters are located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main. The company has branches in Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Hungary, Russia, Turkey, Sweden and Poland. Hankook products are sold directly through regional distributors in other European countries. The importance that Hankook Tire attaches to the European market is reflected in its decision to invest more than 500 million Euros in the construction of a production facility in Hungary, which went into operation in June 2007. Here, more than 1,300 employees produce more than 15,000 tyres a day (this amounts to more than five million tyres a year) for passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks in more than 300 different sizes. The state-of-the-art facility produces customised products and original equipment tyres for the European market in line with the specifications of leading European automobile manufacturers. Following the second stage of expansion which started in 2009, the Hungarian facility should be able to produce more than ten million tyres per year when operating at full capacity.

For more information please visit www.hankooktire-press.com

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