The Hankook Winter I*cept IZ winter tires set a new standard for stability and performance on snowy and icy roads, as well as unrivaled comfort on clean asphalt. With the new Hankook Winter I*cept IZ, your travels will be as comfortable and safe as possible.
This Hankook tire model was initially intended for the Japanese market, then it was proposed to extend the destination of this model. The main recipients of new items from the South Korean manufacturer are the owners of the most modern car models. The size range of this model is very varied.
The three-dimensional shape of the outer edges of the shoulder blocks contributes to a more even distribution of pressure along the edges of the tire-to-road patch and improves traction in snow.
Hankook Winter I*cept IZ non-studded tires perform well on snow and demonstrate reliability and handling on snowy and icy surfaces - this is what the manufacturer claims, basing its conclusions on factory tests.
At the same time, specialists are reluctant to give out technical features, relying more and more on emotions. This is what the official release says: "The contact of the tread blocks with the winter road is associated with the paws of a running Siberian husky, the fastest sled dog in the world, ideally adapted to travel on snow and ice."
In addition, the so-called “web” of sipes on the tread blocks in the Hankook Winter I * cept IZ effectively removes sleet and slush, contributing to better transmission of traction. The result is the tire's outstanding performance on snow. Thanks to an innovative rubber compound with high grip characteristics, tread remains soft and flexible even in the coldest temperatures, providing excellent traction and braking on winter roads.
To ensure a safer and more stable grip of the tire with a frozen surface, Korean manufacturers have equipped the protective area with a variety of 3D zig-zag blades. When the tire has direct contact with the road, these rolling elements create numerous additional edges, their edges easily remove excess water. Also at the moment of contact, the lamella walls are tightly fixed to each other due to their curved shape, this significantly increases the rigidity of the block.
The innovative Super Tensile Spike Fiber technology — the addition of super-elastic micro-spike fibers to the tread compound — is an additional guarantee of reliable grip on slippery surfaces.
Developed by Hankook for Winter I * cept IZ, the 3D groove technology minimizes tread block movement and, in combination with the 3D grooved shoulder blocks, increases tire stability. In addition, the 3D groove technology optimizes the contact patch by providing more even pressure on the seating surface.
The result is the excellent handling characteristics of the Hankook Winter I * cept IZ winter tire, even when subjected to higher loads. Special grooves in the tread prevent aquaplaning. Combined with four longitudinal grooves, they effectively drain water from the contact patch.
Holes in the tread blocks provide removal of microfilm of water, drying out the contact patch of the tire with the road and thereby increasing the efficiency of tire grip.
One of the most important innovations for this model is the introduction of a special high-strength fiber in the rubber composition. This increased tread durability. As a consequence, a significant increase in traction and coupling performance has been possible, especially on slippery road surfaces. Also, the distribution of external pressure on the contact patch has been improved, which has contributed to increasing the durability of the tire. The shoulder areas of the tread represent the two rows of massive blocks that are rectangular in shape, on the surface of which there are several slats.
The application of the Hankook Winter I*cept IZ Husky Trail micro-pattern and concentric grooves to the contacting surfaces of the tread elements improve traction on icy surfaces and snow. Micro-spikes are special elastic fibers in the tread compound that function as spikes when in contact with an icy surface.
The applied microfibers are 20% more resistant to wear and less breaking compared to existing analogs.
Tread pattern
- Increased number of tread pattern blocks. Bites into snow for improved traction on snow.
- Handling: Reinforced center rib provides better handling (increased stiffness of rib blocks).
- Z-shaped shoulder blocks: Z-shaped grip: The Z-shaped three-dimensional structure distributes pressure evenly, ensuring perfect contact with the surface.
- Zig-zag sipes: Improve traction on snow and provide excellent braking and handling characteristics on ice.
- Extended edge length in grooves: Provides maximum efficiency of the lamellar edges.
- Performance on wet surfaces. V-shaped pattern for better water drainage.
- Three-dimensional sipes provide excellent control and limit the deformation of the blocks in the contact patch.
Tire structure
- Rubber compound with silica content for increased grip. Improved traction on snowy/wet surfaces and reduced rolling resistance.
- Seamless polymer reinforcing belt. Increases tread strength.
- Wide steel belt. Ensures optimal tread rigidity and improves handling.
- Optimized polyester yarn carcass. Increased strength and reliability of the sidewalls.
- Bead filler with increased rigidity. Increases controllability and steering sensitivity.
- Extra strong bead ring. Increases the reliability of the tire on the rim.