Hankooks “Sound Absorber” Tires Chosen as OE for Audi Q7 Range

Audi AG has chosen Hankook ultra-high performance tires as OE for its Audi Q7 model range. The Korean tire manufacturer will be using its innovative ‘sound absorber’ technology for its flagship tire Hankook Ventus S1 evo² SUV tire. The tire will be used in the 22 inch size on the Audi Q7 model range including the all new Audi SQ7 TDI. Audi opted for this tire on the basis of its combination of performance and comfort features.

Hankook Tire will be supplying original fitment tires for the Audi Q7 range including the recently launched all new Audi SQ7 TDI. The first S-edition of the premium car makers’ Audi Q7 model is being positioned as the strongest Diesel-SUV on the market and comprises a wide range of path-breaking, of which some are being applied for the first time in automobile history. Along with its Q7 sister models, the SQ7 TDI will also be optionally equipped amongst others with Hankook’s ultra-high performance tire Ventus S1 evo² SUV in size 285/35 R 22 106 Y XL all round,which has Hankook’s new ‘sound absorber’-technology.

In order to meet Audi AG’s stringent requirements for its premium SUV range, Hankook’s engineering team developed an ultra-high performance pattern without any compromise when it comes to the comfort that is needed for the SUV luxury class. Generally, light weight low aspect ratio tires cause increased cavity noise and the Hankook team focused on reducing this noise to come up with a tire that is a top performer and yet provides motorists with a pleasant driving experience.

The Hankook engineers slightly modified the company’s proprietary silent tire technology ‘sound absorber’ to their flagship model Ventus S1 evo² SUV. As part of the adaptation, a special noise absorbing polyurethane foam inlay sheet was applied to the inside of the tires and then bonded by a thin layer of Hankook’s Sealguard material. With the Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 SUV, Audi has chosen a tyre that combines sporty and dynamic driving performance with high suspension comfort, very low rolling noise and reduced rolling resistance. The safety features including wet grip for example, have also been specially adapted to meet the demands of drivers of high performing premium SUVs.

Sophisticated technology elements of the Ventus S1 evo² SUV tire include multiple tread radius and double-layer rayon carcass which optimize the read contact area under all conditions. The tire exhibits outstanding aquaplaning behavior and offers optimum road contact for perfect balance both in wet and dry conditions. Driving control and safety at high speeds are also improved significantly. The innovative DTM inspired 3-layer block design, with its special staircase arrangement of the outer rib blocks, ensures an evenly gripping tire contact area even as tire wear progresses. This guarantees excellent traction performance throughout the entire lifetime of the tire.

A state-of-the-art high-grip styrene-polymer-silica mixture is used to not only optimize the tire’s wet grip, but also to reduce its rolling resistance so that it is more environment-friendly. The tire also offers better mileage and higher durability due to its improved wear and heat-ageing resistance. The refined cooling system of the tire facilitates faster heat discharge for stable handling features and improves the life of the tire in the long run.