Hankook's aero tyre

Hankook has applied aerodynamic principles to a new tyre design. The company unveiled a prototype tyre that features aerodynamic winglets on its sidewalls, at the Frankfurt Motorshow.

The Ventus Aero features six winglets on each sidewall which create downforce and act directly on the vehicle's axles, maximising tyre grip at higher speeds.

The concept tyre also features a ‘dimple structure’ above three of the winglets on the tyre sidewalls' upper section.

The dimples create a micro-vortex as the tyre rotates and assist in reducing aerodynamic drag created by the winglets below them.

Hankook says its aerodynamic sidewall technology will be applied to its racing tyres, and is likely to be incorporated into a new generation of ultra-high performance road tyres for high performance road cars.

Tyres for electric vehicles

 Hankook also displayed another concept tyre specifically for electric vehicles called Kinergy Eco EV, featuring technologies to reduce rolling resistance, minimise battery usage, enhance battery charging speed and improve motor performance.