Hankook Winter, I * Pike RS2 W429 - winter tires for a wide range of cars. The standard-size assortment includes not only sizes for passenger cars, but also light urban SUVs. These wheels from the most popular Korean manufacturer are a continuation of the I*Pike studded line. The tires were presented in 2018, and in the summer of the same year, the implementation of the novelty began.
Important! In rubber, the stud is not factory-made. At the time of model release, winter products from the Hankook plant are spiked as they arrive in local markets.
The I * Pike RS range differs from other ranges in its versatility. I * Pike models typically offer not only ice performance but also friction tire features. The most popular W419 has been a hit of sales over the past 3 years precisely because of its versatility: tires could "pull" cars out of deep snow and at the same time behave quite steadily on ice.
The manufacturer assures that this model is designed specifically for the harsh winter conditions of the Nordic countries. Thanks to a new tread design with the increased number of studs and a new rubber compound, the HANKOOK W429 Winter I * Pike RS2 demonstrates excellent performance on all winter surfaces and provides flawless braking and stability on snowy and icy roads with low rolling resistance.
The HANKOOK W429 Winter I * Pike RS2 winter tire has a unique design optimized for winter driving. A special feature of the model is the symmetrical directional tread pattern, which combines a combination of lines and curves to provide the most balanced winter performance.
The new tread pattern was developed by Hankook with the involvement of its test center in Ivalo (Northern Finland), where, since its inception in early 2017, extensive tests have been carried out on winter tires specifically for European countries. “We are delighted that our winter tire models perform so well,” said Han-Chung Kim, President of Hankook Tire Europe. “Regular independent testing with good and very good results shows that we can offer end users the right product for various situations in difficult market conditions.”
The HANKOOK W429 Winter I * Pike RS2 winter tire features numerous innovations. The special rubber compound with a high content of carbon black performs excellently in a wide range of freezing temperatures, which significantly improves braking and traction on snow by increasing the contact patch with the surface. The seamless polymer reinforcement belt increases tread strength, while the wide steel belt ensures optimal rigidity and improved handling. The optimized polyester yarn carcass increases the strength of the sidewalls. A stiffened bead filler improves steering response, while a heavy-duty bead ring ensures a secure fit of the tire on the rim.
The model replaced the rather popular winter tire HANKOOK W419 Winter I * Pike RS, has a speed index of T (170mi / h) and has been available in retail sales since autumn 2018 in a wide range of sizes.
The tread pattern of the rubber has undergone significant changes. It remained with asymmetrical sharp directivity, but the manufacturer got rid of the stabilizing center rib of the tire. Instead, Korean tire workers have added latitude to the shoulder areas at the expense of more. This ensures grippy contact of the rubber with the snow-covered road surface when making a variety of turns and turns. In the central tread area of the Hankook Winter, I * Pike RS2 W429 tires have V-blocks with a step arrangement. This creates, during intense movement, the effect of a career pattern, which ensures high traction.
Each element of the tread pattern contains special sipes, created based on the sipes of the previous version. In the Hankook Winter I * Pike RS2 W429 tires, they are not dotted in a "chaotic" pattern, as in the previous version, but in a more austere style. By the way, this trend is followed by all leading manufacturers. This arrangement of the W-shaped sips helps the tires grip more efficiently on the packed snow.
In addition to the design solutions of the treadmill, improved studying should also be noted. In the previous model, the studs were not made in the Hankook factories. In the W429, the stud system will also not be proprietary. However, thanks to the improved seat of the anti-skid elements, their service life is unambiguously increased. Moreover, now instead of 10 rows of studs, winter tires have 12 of them. This innovation allows you to get a tighter grip on ice surfaces.
The rubber compound of the winter tire is made exclusively from quality materials. The rubber cocktail includes an optimized compound of polymer compounds, new generation natural and artificial rubber, as well as admixtures of silicone softeners. The last component has a double effect: it improves elasticity and increases temperature resistance. Heat resistance was not a weak point of the previous model, it was often used throughout the year (which is highly discouraged by the manufacturer), however, here too, tire makers from South Korea decided to upgrade the rubber.
Hankook Winter, I * Pike RS2 studded winter tires are:
- balanced running performance;
- increased service life;
- excellent performance on a classic winter road;
- studded rubber with real Velcro functionality;
- loyal pricing policy;
- a large number of standard sizes and modifications;
- unique tire composition.
Features of the tread pattern of the HANKOOK W429 Winter I * Pike RS2:
Increased number of blocks
The symmetrical directional tread pattern with 9% more blocks than the previous generation helps to “bite” into the snow as efficiently as possible and improves traction.
Figure Snow Slit
The innovative Snow Slit tread pattern ("snow slot" design) provides superior traction on ice.
Two-in-one shoulder block
Unique shoulder block design and open shoulder area maximize water and slush drainage from the contact patch.
Zig-zag grooves
Zig-zag tread grooves provide improved traction in deep snow.
Wide central blocks
Wide blocks in the center of the tread improve traction on snow and ice.