Photo: Tesla Motors
Tires are one of the key parts when it comes to a vehicle's efficiency. Since they represent the medium through which a car communicates with the road surface, their importance can't be ignored regardless of whether it's extreme grip or reduced rolling resistance that the manufacturer is after.
In later years, several of the world's major tire companies have released products devised specifically for hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electrical vehicles. Most of the times, they are narrower than you'd expect on a car of a certain size, and they also have a special thread design that strikes an optimal balance between grip and low rolling resistance.
One of these manufacturers who have foreseen the importance these tires will have in the future is Hankook, the number seven company of this profile in the global pecking order and the first of its country, Korea. The Hankook name could have been seen at various motorsport events where it acted as a sponsor, but the Korean brand has also been specializing in tires designed especially for electric vehicles.
With names such as Michelin, Good Year, Pirelli, Bridgestone or Continental also in the market, it's understandingly hard for a relatively new brand such as Hankook to break through, but the spreading use of low rolling resistance tires meant this was a golden chance for the Koreans to start level with the others.
And it would appear it has grabbed the opportunity with both hands, coming victorious out of a sampling contest held by Tesla specialists. As a result, Korea Times reports that an unnamed industry source has confirmed that the upcoming Tesla Model 3 electric sedan will use Hankook tires as its factory option.
While this won't be such an important financial success for the Koreans, it will surely help boost the brand's awareness among a very faithful type of clients, not to mention linking the Hankook name to the car of the moment that everyone will be talking about. That's probably better than five minutes during the Super Bowl break.
One of these manufacturers who have foreseen the importance these tires will have in the future is Hankook, the number seven company of this profile in the global pecking order and the first of its country, Korea. The Hankook name could have been seen at various motorsport events where it acted as a sponsor, but the Korean brand has also been specializing in tires designed especially for electric vehicles.
With names such as Michelin, Good Year, Pirelli, Bridgestone or Continental also in the market, it's understandingly hard for a relatively new brand such as Hankook to break through, but the spreading use of low rolling resistance tires meant this was a golden chance for the Koreans to start level with the others.
And it would appear it has grabbed the opportunity with both hands, coming victorious out of a sampling contest held by Tesla specialists. As a result, Korea Times reports that an unnamed industry source has confirmed that the upcoming Tesla Model 3 electric sedan will use Hankook tires as its factory option.
While this won't be such an important financial success for the Koreans, it will surely help boost the brand's awareness among a very faithful type of clients, not to mention linking the Hankook name to the car of the moment that everyone will be talking about. That's probably better than five minutes during the Super Bowl break.
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