Hankook Tire will be supplying the Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z sports UUHP tires as the original equipment for the BMW X3 M and X4 M, and for the Korean tire maker this is the first partnership with BMW’s performance division.
«BMW M selects tires that are characterized by an optimum combination of sporty performance, excellent traction, and a possibility of everyday use, which implies a certain level of ride comfort and tread life — Hankook noted — The Ventus S1 evo Z was developed specially for fast and powerful cars; it features an asymmetric tread pattern and an expanded contact area, which improves the handling response and cornering stability.»
In addition to the standard industry tests, the tires of different width in size 255/40 ZR21 102Y for the front axle and 265/40 ZR21 105Y for the rear axle were subjected to an extensive performance test on the legendary Nordschleife bend at the Nürburgring, where they fully proved that they met the rigorous BMW requirements. Currently, Hankook Tire is actively engaged in developing tires for other BMW M models.
«Our company was founded 80 years ago," says Jeongho Park, Executive Vice President and Director of OE Division, «So it’s certainly a special gift that our latest product has been able to win over BMW M GmbH, a particularly prestigious customer from the sports car manufacturer segment.»
The Ventus S1 evo Z has been equipped with an aramid composite material in a double-layer carcass, which reduces deformation caused by overheating at high speeds. Otherwise, the deformation could lead to an unwanted increase in the tire’s circumference and loss of steering precision. According to Hankook, aramid fibers are extremely heat-resistant and are characterized by very high strength as well as good damping properties with a low weight relative to their size.
Another focus when developing the Ventus S1 evo Z was on high grip in different weather conditions. The tread compound used is borrowed from Hankook’s motorsport research and development. For an optimal interaction of fillers, silica and natural resins, the latest generation of functional polymers have been used in the mixture, which ensures a consistently high level of grip across a wide range of applications. The compound technology used in production originates from Hankook’s racing tire development, where smaller material batches are processed gently, over significantly longer periods of time.
Like many other sports tires, the Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z also uses an asymmetrically designed tread pattern, while the arrangement of the individual tread blocks has been developed to ensure optimum block stiffness under various driving conditions. Three main drainage grooves positioned in the inner tread area ensure water is drained efficiently in wet conditions; a significantly increased tread-to-void ratio ensures cornering stability on dry pavement.
Quick Take
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo Z K129
- Available Sizes in Line: 15
-
Original Equipment (OE) tires
for:
- • MINI Cooper F55/F56 Facelift II [2021 .. 2023]
- • Porsche Panamera II (971) Facelift [2020 .. 2023]
- • BMW X3 M F97 [2019 .. 2021]
- • BMW X4 M F98 [2019 .. 2021]
- Year Released: 2020
- Regions for sale: Canada, Central & South America, Europe, Russia+, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Middle East
The Ventus S1 evo Z is available in 15 sizes with fitting diameters ranging from 19 to 21 inches, and with a tread width from 225 to 315 mm; throughout the year additional sizes will complement the line-up.
