The winters tire with an asymmetric tread pattern HANKOOK W320A Winter I * Cept evo2 SUV entered the market in 2015 and is a further development of the HANKOOK W310 model of the renowned South Korean manufacturer. Even before the official premiere, the tire was awarded the "Red Dot Design" world award.
Additional markings: M + S, 3PMSF
The key feature of this model is a clearly defined “target audience” - European owners of the most powerful modifications of modern passenger cars of the popular Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) category of vehicles. This studless tire was developed taking into account the climatic characteristics of the countries of Western and Central Europe, where winter, due to the proximity of this territory to the Atlantic Ocean, has a number of distinctive features. Taking into account the warm and short Belarusian winters, this tire is perfect for most of our car owners who operate cars in urban environments all year round.
Innovative design and high performance drainage system
When developing this model, special attention was paid to ensuring maximum resistance not only to aquaplaning, but also to slash planning. It is precisely this aspiration of the specialists of the South Korean brand that the use of very wide drainage grooves is determined. At the same time, the efficiency of their work was significantly increased due to the location of most of them at an acute angle and against the movement. This made it possible to maximize the use of centrifugal acceleration forces to remove water and snow slush from the contact patch, under the influence of which the contact patch is cleared very quickly even under the most adverse road and weather conditions.
The main technologies of the HANKOOK W320A Winter I * Cept evo² SUV:
Compound with a high silica content and special polymers
A significant part of the advantages of this tire is provided by a number of unique physical and chemical properties of the compound used in it. In addition to the high content of silica, it is distinguished by the presence of special polymer compounds that improve several performance properties of the tire at once. In particular, this is improved grip on snowy and wet surfaces, reduced rolling resistance, as well as increased resistance to all types of wear and high-temperature exposure.
Strong and lightweight frame
Since this model is designed for passenger cars with high dynamic characteristics, it is not surprising that its design is perfectly adapted for operation at high speed. A significant part of the innovative solutions were in the modified framework. It is entirely made of synthetic materials using seamless winding technology. This made it possible to make the frame both lightweight and strong, while providing it with high resistance to dynamic deformation.
The use of modern cord winding technologies has significantly reduced tire heating during high-speed driving, which in turn has a positive effect on fuel efficiency and durability.
Reinforced breaker
Another original design feature of this tire is the use of a combination belt. One of its layers is made of steel cord, a significant portion of which is found on the sidewalls of the HANKOOK W320A Winter I * Cept evo² SUV tire. The technology of seamless winding was also used here. This design is characterized by a high level of rigidity, which, on the one hand, improves handling, and on the other hand, reduces fuel consumption and prevents uneven wear.
Special rim seal
In addition to the belt, the rim of the tire is also distinguished by a reinforced structure. It is based on a special high-strength seal, which, in combination with the optimized shape of the rim itself, ensures a tighter contact between the tire and the rims. In real-life conditions, this feature makes itself felt in the form of improved handling and quick, accurate responses to steering turns.
Extra wide shoulder areas and 3D sipes
Another factor contributing to the tire's excellent handling and cornering stability is the design of the shoulder tread areas. They are characterized by the increased width and rigid construction of the blocks located here. These same features provide the tire with high braking performance.
Dispensing with thorns, this model is characterized by confident behavior on packed snow and ice. Traction on these types of surfaces is ensured by the high efficiency of the three-dimensional sipes, which form a total of several thousand additional traction edges. At the same time, various features in their design make it possible to improve a number of other equally important characteristics, due to which this tire is distinguished by excellent versatility.
The lamellas in the central part can be blocked with each other, which increases the rigidity of entire sections of the tread. This feature significantly improves directional stability and control efficiency.
In turn, the sipes in the shoulder areas of the tread increase the block rigidity only in the transverse direction. The result of this solution is improved grip when cornering and braking.
Features of the tread pattern of the HANKOOK W320A Winter I * Cept evo2 SUV:
Snow traction grooves
Ice ax-shaped side grooves improve grip on wet and snowy roads. Excellent traction on snow thanks to optimized lateral groove angles of attack.
Zigzag grooves for improved traction
Improves traction and braking performance on snow by increasing intersection points.
3D winter slats
Provides optimal tire performance in winter by reducing the mobility of the tread blocks on wet and snowy road surfaces.
Snow grip slots
Provides improved traction when cornering due to additional slots.
Wide shoulder area
Wider shoulder blocks (compared to conventional Hankook winter tires) provide optimum handling and traction.
Optimized cubic blocks
Semi-grooving of the side blocks improves flexibility and optimizes the contact patch when cornering. It also helps to improve handling on wet and snowy road surfaces.
Wide central drainage grooves
Increased width by 30% (compared to existing Hankook winter tires) water-diverting center grooves improve wet performance by better wicking moisture and slush out of the contact patch
Aqua Slant grooves
Provides superior wet performance by increasing cross-sectional area and creating eddy currents.
Reviews:
- the unique physicochemical properties of the tread rubber compound provide it with excellent performance, both in severe frosts and during a thaw;
- lightweight and strong carcass construction is entirely made of synthetic materials using seamless cord winding technology, which improves stability and information content of control at high speed while reducing the level of tire heating;
- additional steel cord in the belt improves handling, reduces the risk of premature tread wear, and also reduces rolling resistance;
- high-strength rim seal and its optimized shape increase the reliability of contact between the tire and the rim of the disk, which increases reliability and controllability;
- Larger shoulder areas with many wide blocks provide excellent cornering grip and shorter braking distances;
- several types of three-dimensional sipes improve many technical characteristics in addition to grip on slippery roads, ranging from directional stability and ending with the resistance of the tread to uneven wear;
- increased efficiency of the drainage system, easily copes with cleaning the contact patch, both from water and from heavier snow slush.