Presents : The Dummies’ Guide to Tires - Hankook Tiredl.hankooktire.com/dl/html/images/download/kontrol technology.pdf · by Hankook Tire to ensure controlled driving experiences

Kontrol Technology is a philosophy as well as set of proprietary innovationsapplied throughout research, development and production develoedby Hankook Tire to ensure controlled driving experiences.

Presents : The Dummies’ Guide to Tires

P a r T . 1Tire History, Tire Design, Tire Technology

P a r T . 2 Your Tires, and the Technology Inside

Your Tires and Performance

Your Tires, Safety and the Weather

Your Tires and Comfort

Your Tires and the Environment

Your Tires : Purchasing and Care

04

20

22

24

30

32

37

conTenTs

Everything You Wanted to Know about those round, rubber Things at the Corners of Your Car – But didn’t Know Who to ask

Kontrol Technology

{ T i r e H i s t o r y ● T i r e D e s i g n ● T i r e Te c h n o l o g y }

PART.1

Part .1+Tire History, Tire Design, Tire Technology

Why is it round,

rubber and black?

Why is it round? Er...that’s pretty self-

explanatory when you think about it:

a triangular tire would give you a

pretty rough driving experience! It

is rubber because, of all materials,

rubber offers the greatest blend

of elasticity and durability, while

still able to contain a cushion of

inflated air. and it is black because

of the carbon black, a chemical

originating in crude oil that is used in

First tell me…

what is a tire exactly?

It is that round, black, rubber thing

with a hole in the middle that you

will see on the four corners of your

car where it contacts the road. Tires

fit round the wheels of vehicles –

everything from bicycles to super-

trucks, from passenger cars to

airliners.

And it is black

because of the

carbon black,

a chemical

originating in

crude oil that

is used in the

material mixing

process.

O&A.1 O&A.2

the material mixing process.

How long have tires

been around…?

The word “tire” originates in the

15th century, long before the

automobile era: It comes from

the word "tie" or “attire” referring

to the outer steel ring part of a

wooden cart wheel that ties all

the wooden segments together.

rubber became a material for tires

after 1839, when american John

Goodyear invented the process

of vulcanizing rubber – ie mixing

rubber with chemical ingredients,

dramatically upgrading its durability

and elasticity.

“Pneumatic” - ie inflatable

- tires were introduced in the UK

for bicycles in 1888: the Scottish

when American

John Goodyear

invented the

process of

vulcanizing

rubber – ie

mixing rubber

with chemical

ingredients,

dramatically

upgrading its

durability and

elasticity.

inventor John Dunlop developed

them because his son, who rode a

bicycle, suffered headaches from

vibration. This was a significant

advance: a sausage ful l of air

interfacing between your vehicle

and the road grants a h igh ly

beneficial shock absorbing effect.

Tires with grooves – to improve

traction and water drainage - were

invented in 1908.

“ B a l l o o n t i r e s ” w e r e

i n t r o d u c e d t o t h e n a s c e n t

automobile industry in the early

1920s. “Tubeless t i res ” were

developed early in the century,

but were only commercial ized

in the 1950s; these tires, used

butyl rubber, which has excellent

air sealing properties, instead of

conventional inner tubes. Today,

the most common type of t ire

globally for passenger cars is the

O&A.3

06 +

07

Kontrol Technology < T I P

Tubeless tire was created in order to protect the driver and car from accidents caused by tire puncture when driving in high speed. Instead of tubes, this tire consists of specialized inner liner that has low air permeability so air doesn’t leak from the tire and rim. So when a nail penetrates the tire, air doesn’t immediately leave the tire even when driving. There’s also tubeless tire that attached cement that seals well and have high tenacity inside inner liner to prevent rapid air leakage.

Tube Tire

Tube Iiner-liner

Tube valve Rim valve

Tubeless Tire

So, tires are pretty-

low tech products,

presumably…?

Low tech? What! Low tech!

(Splutter) Let me tell you a few

things! T ire manufacturing is

technology-intensive! It requires

facilities, machinery, materials, fluid

materials and a high understanding

of polymer science – including

giant molecules – simply to make

a single tire! Hankook Tires r&D

Center engineers leverage some

very high technologies indeed:

“radial tire ,” which originated in

Europe in the 1946: This builds

on all the advances above, but

has reinforcing ply cords that are

laid at 90 degrees around the tire

circumference- ie in the direction

of travel - rather than at an angle,

which is the case with “bias tires.”

radial tires prevent these plies

rubbing against each other, so

reducing roll ing resistance and

improving fuel economy. They are

the most common type of tires

used in passenger vehicles today.

Hankook Tires

R&D Center

engineers

leverage some

very high

technologies

indeed

Our researchers look into inside

tires with laser beams like X-rays;

during noise testing they use

an anechoic chamber that is as

sophisticated as a recording studio;

we have even invented a gadget

that converts noise levels into color

graphs, literally turning audio to

visual …and this is just the testing

process! a tire is comprised of 60

different materials, and I haven’t

even mentioned materials mixing

– the blending of the compounds

of rubber and silica that make

up a tire, or tread optimization,

or….”low-tech” indeed!

the blending of

the compounds

of rubber and

silica that

make up a

tire, or tread

optimization,

or….”low-

tech” indeed!

So what is a tire

composed of? I thought it

was just a tube of air…

a tire’s composition is dictated by

its function – which is multiple. It

supports the weight of the vehicle;

it transmits the vehicle’s propulsion

and braking; i t maintains or

changes the vehicle’s direction;

and it cushions impact. So let’s

look at a tire - from the inside out.

The innermost core of a tire is inner

liner; which is the actual container

of air. However, this container of air

cannot maintain the high pressure

needed to maintain a vehicle’s

weight, and is not strong enough

to withstand the various impacts a

vehicle meets on the road by itself,

so is surrounded by a carcass, a

layer of protective, supportive

08 +

09

O&A.5O&A.4



We did not merely decrease the noise. We went out and considered the characteristics of human hearing system. We provide new simulation technology in sophisticated driving environment to minimize noise level. • Tested Product : 215/60R16 • Tested in anechoic chamber.

of the tread is the shoulder. The

outer part of the tire which actually

comes into contact with the road

– the footprint, if you will - is made

of a thick, rubber compound that

is tough enough to withstand wear

and tear: This is the tread.

material.

Next is the steel belt, a layer

of steel cord coated with rubber

or other durable material between

the carcass and the exterior of the

tire; it supports the carcass and

ensures rigidity at the sidewall,

where the car’s driving and braking

are applied.

The bead, composed of

bead wire, is the part of the tire

that attaches to a vehicle’s wheel

rim, forming the “backbone” of

the sidewall. The flange between

the sidewall and the flat surface

he steel belt,

a layer of steel

cord coated

with rubber or

other durable

material

between the

carcass and

the exterior

of the tire; it

supports the

carcass and

ensures rigidity

at the sidewall,

where the

car’s driving

and braking

are applied.

Well that’s interesting,

but come on – a tire is a

pretty minor component of

a car, isn’t it?

Well that’s interesting, but come on

– a tire is a pretty minor component

of a car, isn’t it?

absolutely not! a tire is critical: It

is your car’s footprint on the road

surface. To make a comparison:

Shoes are a walkers’ interface with

the ground, and are recognized

as important by everyone from

fashionistas to athletes. People -

quite rightly – invest both time and

money when it comes to choosing

their shoes. Tires are even more

critical: While tires may not be as

fashionable as shoes – or cars,

for that matter – a motor vehicle

moves at much higher speeds than

a pedestrian, for much greater

distances, over, for example, ice,

potholes and hot or wet tarmac.

While tires

may not be as

fashionable as

shoes – or cars,

for that matter

– a motor

vehicle moves

at much higher

speeds than a

pedestrian, for

much greater

distances, over,

for example,

ice, potholes

and hot or

wet tarmac.

There are very

significant

safety issues

when it comes

to tires.

There are very significant safety

issues when it comes to tires.

I see. What are the main issues

in tire design? ★ Now you are

talking. First we need to discuss

materials…

Materials? I thought a tire was

made of rubber? ★ No, no, this

is a common misconception. You

have got fabric in there, a steel

belt…and we haven’t even talked

about rubber yet. The different

O&A.6

10 +

11



Tread: is the part that touches the surface and consists of thick rubber layers. It’s strong against shock to prevent tire’s inner carcass and belt levels and use rubbers strong against inner and outer wear to lengthen the life span of the tire.

Tread

lower level rubber

Bead core

Air sealed

Belt

Carcass

Specialized safetyrubber

Rim ValveBead base

Bead hill

Side wall

Shoulder

So in the future we could make

multicolored tires? ★ Theoretically

yes, but realistically, no – at least

nowadays. Carbon black remains

a must to meet the basic functions

of tires under today’s technology. In

fact, carbon black was only added

to tires in 1910; before, tires were

gray or white. So tomorrow – who

knows?

What are the key

aspects of a tire that affect

its function?

There are three things: rubber

compounds and tire structure –

we have already mentioned these.

Then there is tread pattern…

You mean the outer surface of the

tire and the grooves cut into it? ★

Yes. The reason we carve grooves

Tire enhances safety with top-

quality silica compound technology.

So there are different

kinds of rubber?

Certainly. Today, we use both

natural and synthetic rubbers;

most tires use at least 15 rubber

compounds. Natura l rubber

has the best e last ic i ty and

strength and operates better

rubber and chemical compounds

have to be balanced for elasticity,

durabi l i ty, cost-effect iveness,

environmental friendliness, and

so on. and different types of

tires require different types of

compounds. Currently, silica is

winning plaudits as an alternative

material for environmentally friendly

tire. Silica maintains elasticity at low

temperature, enabling the creation

of tires with better ground contact

and breaking capabilities. Hankook

Hankook Tire

enhances

safety with top-

quality silica

compound

technology.

at high temperatures. among

synthetics, butyl rubber is better

at preventing air from escaping

from the tire. Synthetic rubbers

are more consistent to work with

than naturally supplied rubbers

– which are agricultural products

– and give better stability traction

enhancement. So we use a mix.

But all tires

are black – right?

right. We don’t produce purple tires

with pink spots because, as I said,

a key ingredient in the chemical mix

is carbon black, which comes from

crude oil. This is what gives a tire its

color, though that is not why we use

it! Its raison d’etre is to strengthen

the rubber compounds: Carbon

black makes tire rubber stronger

and more stable.

We don’t

produce purple

tires with pink

spots because,

as I said, a key

ingredient in

the chemical

mix is carbon

black, which

comes from

crude oil. This

is what gives

a tire its color,

though that

is not why

we use it! Its

raison d’etre is

to strengthen

the rubber

compounds:

Carbon

black makes

tire rubber

stronger and

more stable

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13

O&A.7

O&A.8O&A.9



an adaptation of new materials for fuel efficiency and new mixture technology that scatters reinforcing agents such as silica to nano-scale were applied together to create a new technology that satisfies both grip on wet ground and fuel efficiency.

Silica

Fused body

Receiver(OH)

tire stiffness. recently, customers

are getting more interested in

groove patterns , so many choose

asymmetric grooved tires to enjoy

the look as well as the function. The

fewer the grooves, the higher the

stiffness of the block, which makes

high-speed driving easier, but less

stable, and less water resistant.

So a racing car has a rectangular

tire profile– for tight handling – and

minimal grooves for maximum

speed in dry conditions. But this is

an extreme example: all tires, even

those for common passenger cars,

are a complex trade-off between all

the above factors.

into treads – the circumference of

the tire that makes contact with

the road - is to cope with changes

in weather conditions. asymmetric

grooves are patterns that have

different groove designs for the

inner and outer parts of the tire.

The inner part of the tire has a

groove that is better for draining,

while the groove at the outside

of the tire is better for handling;

together these contribute to safer

driving on wet roads. Directional

pattern grooves are carved in the

direction of driving. Here, cross-way

grooves are carved in the direction

of driving for drainage, while the

outside groove is designed with

relatively bigger blocks, to enhance

The reason

we carve

grooves into

treads – the

circumference

of the tire that

makes contact

with the road

- is to cope

with changes

in weather

conditions.

And of course different

groove patterns in the

treads have various pros

and cons.

And there are different ways to

cut grooves, right..? ★

right! Now you are talking sense.

Vehicles start, stop and steer via

friction with the road surface. Tire

grooves are designed to deal with

different required performances.

For example, wide lateral grooves

enhance performance by preventing

hydroplaning on wet roads. On

the other hand, wide block helps

handling and grip for both vertical

The rib-type

tread pattern,

commonly

found on

passenger

cars, offers

low rolling

resistance

and heat

generation,

high resistance

to side

slippage, good

steering and

safety, but

has relatively

lower braking.

and lateral strength. a tire has to

strike the right balance between

good dry traction, resistance

to wear, and low noise. The rib-

type tread pattern, commonly

found on passenger cars, offers

low rolling resistance and heat

generation, high resistance to

side slippage, good steering and

safety, but has relatively lower

braking. On the other hand, the

deeper, more elaborate treads

found on winter tires, grab into

soft snow when braking. We have

developed “cross-blocks” cut at

angles across the tire surface that

14 +

15

O&A.10


research Facility. The first proving

ground is G’trac , a 200,000

square meter facility completed in

2005. On this, we check handling

– as well as braking, ride comfort,

noise and so on. Then we have the

70,000 square meter wet handling

circuit, G’trac aqua, which was

built in 2007. On this, we can

replicate different regional weather

condit ions found in di fferent

countries. Our research team goes

through three steps to design a

tire: interpreting human feelings as

they relate to vehicle movements;

correlating the movements to ideal

tire characteristics; then subsuming

those characteristics to realistic

tire design parameters. This three-

stage process helps engineers

to conduct systematic analysis,

incorporating findings about human

feeling into the actual tire design.

are like a shark’s interlocking teeth:

These “bite” into ice on a road. So

a block tread has good propulsion

and braking, and better steering in

snow and mud, but wears fast on

normal roads and has high rolling

resistance.

How do you evaluate

tires?

We first go through simulation

tests with our super computer,

manufacture actual tires, then move

on to car tests. We have a range of

objective tests – using formulae,

machinery, sensors and so on –

and subjective tests – using actual

test drivers. In our r&D Center

in Daejeon, South Korea, we do

many kinds of tests on our own

dedicated test tracks. We have two

major test tracks at our Daejeon

interpreting

human feelings

as they relate

to vehicle

movements;

correlating the

movements

to ideal tire

characteristics;

then

subsuming

those

characteristics

to realistic

tire design

parameters.

What is

‘Kontrol Technology?’

Hankook Tire’s essential tire design

concept is “Kontrol Technology”

- rol led out in 2008. Kontrol

Technology is our branded tire

design philosophy. It is not simply a

set of proprietary tire technologies

– though it certainly includes

them – it is an r&D roadmap for

applying innovation. We establish

the benefits that customers want

and need, develop technologies

used in research, and apply those

technologies to the tire design

process. Under the Kontro l

Technology rubric, the four key

priorities in tire design are:

ankook Tire’s

essential tire

design concept

is “Kontrol

Technology”

- rolled out in

2008. Kontrol

Technology is

our branded

tire design

philosophy. It

is not simply

a set of

proprietary tire

technologies

– though

it certainly

includes them

– it is an R&D

roadmap

for applying

innovation.

Performance This relates to

handling, traction, stability and

durability under all conditions. Tests

and computing simulations play a

key role in optimizing this factor.

Safety By ensuring that the

integrity, design and material

composition of tires remain true

when most needed, critical factors

such as braking and handling in

wet weather are guaranteed. This

requires advanced engineering and

testing under tough conditions.

16 +

17

Performance Safety

O&A.11

O&A.12



Test Drives consist of objective one that use equations, machines, and sensors and subjective one performed by the real driver. Hankook Tire has two test tracks in Geumsan Plant.

Comfort

T h a t i s q u i t e a

mouthful. But why is it

Kontrol not Control? Your

copywriter can’t spell…?

No! We believe our tires give

our customers the best possible

control over their vehicles: The

‘K’ in “Kontrol’ denotes ‘Kinetic’

for a tire is a car’s footprint: We

are responsible for providing the

interface between driver, car and

road. The K not only differentiates

the brand, it also emphasizes the

importance of tires, which are often

overlooked by car buyers.

The ‘K’ in

“Kontrol’

denotes

‘Kinetic’ for a

tire is a car’s

footprint: We

are responsible

for providing

the interface

between driver,

car and road.

The K not only

differentiates

the brand,

it also

emphasizes

the importance

of tires, which

are often

overlooked by

car buyers.

Environment

Comfort By reducing noise,

vibration and harshness, stress

is removed from the dr iv ing

experience. This is achieved by

in-depth analyses of these different

factors in different road conditions.

Environment This covers mileage

and fuel efficiency. These areas

require considerable research and

development, and benefit not only

the environment, but also the driver,

who ends up spending less on fuel.

18 +

19

O&A.13

What are the particular

strengths of Kontrol

Technology?

We believe we have three core

strengths in t i re design and

manufacturing. One: We have

excellent silica compounds that

reduce rolling resistance without

comprom is i ng pe r fo rmance

functions. Two: We have a wide

We believe we

have three core

strengths in

tire design and

manufacturing.

range of s imulat ion faci l i t ies

optimizing tire construction by

replicating different road conditions.

Three: We have state-of-the-

art test facilities, reflecting real

driving conditions to maximize tire

performance. We will talk about

these in more detail when we look

at the technology that goes into

your tires.

O&A.14



Kontrol technology optimizes four factors (performance, safety, comfort, and environment) consumers focus on when selecting high quality tire to provide various driving benefits.

PART.2{ Yo u r T i r e s ● a n d ● t h e Te c h n o l o g y ● I n s i d e }

Part .2+Your Tires and the Technology Inside _ Your Tires and Performance

and in wet and dry conditions.

To ensure sensitive handling –

that is, steering – in dry and wet

conditions, an equalized footprint

pressure distribution is essential.

Performance is determined by the

harmony between the car and the

driver, therefore the matching of the

car to the tire is critical.

Your Tires and Performance

What are the key

performance indicators for

a tire?

The key issues for a non-specialized

driver are how his or her vehicle

reacts when cornering, when

changing lanes, at different speeds

Performance is

determined by

the harmony

between the

car and the

driver, therefore

the matching of

the car to the

tire is critical.

How do you deliver

good performance?

a lot of technologies are used in

the pre-manufacturing stage. Our

Optimized Contact Patch (OCP)

technology is a design system that

uses computer simulations which

analyze the tire’s footprint on the

road under many different driving

conditions: This simulation divides

the tire into minute cubes and

interprets how much force each

cube receives. The width of the

tire tread on the road is critical: The

broader and more evenly spread

this footprint is, the better, in terms

of handing, safety and wear. Just as

the breadth of a dinosaur’s footprint

determines its size, so a tire’s

contact with the road determines

i ts opt imal handl ing qual i ty.

another simulation technology is

Virtual Handling System (VHS) -

A lot of

technologies

are used

in the pre-

manufacturing

stage. Our

Optimized

Contact

Patch (OCP)

technology

is a design

system that

uses computer

simulations

which analyze

the tire’s

footprint

on the road

under many

different driving

conditions

a robotic engineering system that

enables us to test drive actual

cars inside the lab, so predicting

driving performance. Suspension

Performance Characterization

(SPC) is a method that uses

a machine customari ly used

only by automakers, but which

Kontrol Technology engineers

use to integrate the suspension

characteristics of certain cars

with tires, so aligning the vehicle

closely with the tire. By using infra-

red measurements and computer

profiling, we can see exactly how

a tire interfaces with a road surface

at various speeds.

Enough science! How

does this research manifest

in tire design?

In our Ventus S1 evo tire , we

O&A.16

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23

O&A.17

【】

O&A.15


We’ve predicted the status of tire when in contact with the surface through FE Simulation and improved comfort and safety through contact shape and stiffness analysis. FE Simulation

ActualFoot print shape

Control Contour Theory (SCCT).

This allows us to research how to

maintain optimal ground contact.

The profile of the tire is tested using

Dynamic Profile Control Technology

( D P C T ) w h i c h m i n i m i z e s

deformation in a tire’s profile by

recreating and analyzing a tire’s

external shape. also, a range of

techniques such as Stone Ejection

Technology (SET) are built into the

tires to improve safety. SET works

by stepping the grooves, so stones

cannot penetrate deep into the tire.

How do a l l these

elements come together in

an actual tire?

Take our Ventus V12 evo ultra-

high performance tire. This has a

reinforced solid center rib block

Your Tires, Safety and the Weather

What are the safety

elements of a tire?

First and foremost is traction

on the road surface – ie the

prevention of skidding – and

braking performance; braking,

for obvious reasons, is one of

the most important functions of a

car and a tire. Traction and brake

performance can be enhanced by

the material of the tire, the rigidity

of the tire, the profile of the tire and

the grooves in the tire. To maximize

braking performance, an optimal

combination of longitudinal stiffness

of the pattern block in the tread

with the tire’s actual footprint on

the road is the key. The rigidity

of the tire is analyzed using a

mathematical formula: Stiffness

ensure handling with a combination

of high-density nylon reinforced

belt and steel belt to ensure

distribution of pressure at high

speeds. The Ventus r-s3 ultra-

high performance tire offers an

extra-wide center block for better

steering sensitivity, and also has

treads that are 3 percent wider than

conventional tires, assuring greater

traction. Uniform circumferential

block stiffness improves surface

contact. The high density nylon and

steel belts inside the tire ensure

distribution of pressure at high

speeds, while its multi-tread radius

gives the tire a balanced contact

pressure, preventing distortion.

The high

density nylon

and steel

belts inside

the tire ensure

distribution

of pressure at

high speeds,

while its multi-

tread radius

gives the tire

a balanced

contact

pressure,

preventing

distortion.

he material of

the tire – High

Grip Silica

Compound,

or HGSC -

also improves

braking

performance.

And the Ventus

S1 evo has

a 3D groove

pattern in its

profile that

increases grip

and cornering

on dry

surfaces. This

pattern also

enhances the

integrity of the

tire structure.

running around the circumference

o f t he t i re t ha t imp roves

longtitudinal stiffness, ensuring

braking at high speeds. Tests show

that this tire brakes at 28 meters on

wet roads at 80 km/h, compared

to conventional tires which brake

at 31 meters. On dry roads at

100 km/h, it permits drivers to

brake in 34 meters, as compared

to conventional tires which brake

at 36 meters. The material of the

tire – High Grip Silica Compound,

or HGSC - also improves braking

performance. and the Ventus S1

evo has a 3D groove pattern in

its profile that increases grip and

cornering on dry surfaces. This

pattern also enhances the integrity

of the tire structure.

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O&A.18

O&A.19

【】

Part .2+Your Tires and the Technology Inside _ Your Tires, Safety and the Weather


Steer sensibility is high due to center block and frictional force is good as the tire’s tread is 3% wider than the ones in the past. Ground connection and control safety are maintained even when speed driving, providing the best handling quality.


HGSC – The material of the tire is a special mixture of silica and carbon black, and this also improves driving capacity.


4 straight forward grooves applied: We’ve maximized control in rain by applying 4 straight forward grooves that enhance abilities to move forward and safely discharge water.

tire; the tread patterns of the tire;

and the profile of the tire. Our aim

is to enhance water resistance and

maximize drainage. First let’s talk

the material. Kontrol Technology’s

High Gr ip S i l ica Compound

(HGSC) maximizes the interaction

between the silica and rubber

in the compound and actually

attracts water molecules on to the

tire tread, into the grooves, and

so disperses them away from the

road surface, meaning the tire

runs on the road, not the water.

We research how this is done with

our Hydro to Outstanding (H2O)

technology, a simulation and

testing system that tests a tire’s

reaction to water on the road

surface. The shape of the tire is

also important here: The narrower

the tire (such as motorcycle or

bicycle tires) the less chance of

H o w d o w e a t h e r

c o n d i t i o n s m a k e a

difference?

Good quest ion ; the i ssues

of skidding and braking are

complicated by weather. Firstly,

let’s talk wet weather. Hydroplaning

(also known as aquaplaning) is what

can happen when a car drives over

a screen of water at high speed

and the grooves cannot disperse

the water: The water resistance

actually lifts the tire off the ground

and onto the surface of the water.

This is very dangerous and causes

decontrol and accidents.

So how to deal with it?

a tire’s reaction to water on the

road is determined by three things:

the actual rubber compound of the

Kontrol

Technology’s

High Grip Silica

Compound

(HGSC)

maximizes the

interaction

between the

silica and

rubber in the

compound

and actually

attracts water

molecules

on to the tire

tread, into the

grooves, and

so disperses

them away

from the

road surface,

meaning the

tire runs on

the road, not

the water.

hydroplaning; the broader the tire

(such as on racing tires) the greater

the chance. The tires designed with

these technologies are tested on

our wet handling circuit; we also

have a special hydroplaning section

(straight and curves) built into the

G’trac proving ground.

I see. How are all

these technologies applied

to tires…?

as noted above, the compounds

from which the tire are constructed

make a difference: The Ventus

P r i m e 2 , f o r e x a m p l e , i s

constructed of HGSC. But what

actually channels the water away

from the tire footprint are the

grooves in the tread: Water always

finds gaps, and takes the path of

least resistance, so the grooves

But what

actually

channels the

water away

from the tire

footprint are

the grooves

in the tread:

Water always

finds gaps,

and takes the

path of least

resistance, so

the grooves in

a tire are rather

like irrigation

channels in a

farmers’ field.

in a tire are rather like irrigation

channels in a farmers’ field. There

are many different ways to design

a tire groove to do this to maximal

effect. For example, our Ventus V12

Evo has wide linear channels, and

running off of these like streams

from a valley, are y-shaped grooves

(offering two channels for the water

to take). The Ventus V2 has a

twister-shaped groove on the inside

of its treads, that jets water from

the tire surface even at high speed,

in the wettest conditions. The

enfren, our most environmentally

friendly tire, on the other hand,

deals with this problem by having

four linear grooves running around

the tread. Tests show that this

design allows better 26 percent

more contact area on the road in

wet conditions at 80 km/h than

do conventional tire types; as

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Hydroplaning, also known as aquaplaning is a phenomenon that when driving in a high speed, cars look as if they are running on the water surface, so the groove cannot disperse water. We’ve successfully accomplished excellent control with the best hydroplaning quality which came through numerous efforts such as the analysis of water discharge at the speed of 70~80km/hr.

lateral grooves, so snow or ice on

the road surface is compressed

up and into a firm pillar inside the

tread, creating resistance – this

is the basic principle of a winter

tire. Inside the tire tread, we have

kerfs – ie zig-zag patterns cut into

the surface. These kerfs have an

“edging” effect, maximizing snow

traction, and improving safety

and handling in wet conditions.

In traditional tires, kerfs are two-

dimensional: Kontrol Technology

has added a vertical shape to these

to make them three-dimensional –

what we call 3D Kerf Technology.

These kinds of kerfs, incidentally,

improve tire performance on dry

and wet, as well as snowy or icy

roads, having a positive effect

on traction, braking and lateral

grip. Moreover, they improve the

season tires need to handle this

at times, so snow handling is

built into design. The first issue

is tire compound: the silica tread

compound used in Winter i*Cept

evo has excellent wet grip, yet

also lowers rolling resistance. This

kind of rubber is mixed specifically

to remain flexible – ie not stiffen

up - and so maintain grip at

temperatures under 7 degrees

Celsius. Winter tires have deeper

and thicker grooves, including

a consequence, wet braking

performance is also improved 6

percent over conventional tires (at

100 km/h).

How about snow?

Snow, ice and slush are highly

problematic for drivers. While we

recommend specialized winter tires

like Winter i*Cept evo for those

countries that routinely experience

heavy snowfall, even basic all-

Winter tires

have deeper

and thicker

grooves,

including

lateral grooves,

so snow or ice

on the road

surface is

compressed up

and into a firm

pillar inside the

tread, creating

resistance –

this is the basic

principle of a

winter tire.

we have a

range of

technologies

for bus and

truck tires.

For example,

our Low

Deformation

Hump Strip

(LDHS) is

a special

compound that

minimizes tire

deformation

in bus and

truck tires.

strength of the tire blocks.

How about

specialized tires?

right , we have a range of

technologies for bus and truck tires.

For example, our Low Deformation

Hump Strip (LDHS) is a special

compound that minimizes tire

deformation in bus and truck tires.

Bead Innovation Contour Theory

(BICT) is a profiling formula that

identifies the optimum position of

the beads within the tire, increasing

durability and safety of bus and

truck tires. Then we have aBC

Co-efficient Technology (aFCT) ,

which optimizes stiffness and

performance of tires used on aBS

vehicles, reducing vibration and

improving braking capability.

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Kontrol Technology < T I P ❶ 3D Kerf Kerf(serrated wheel shape) shape is engraved inside the tire tread while the zigzag shape is engraved on the surface.❷ 3D blade in mold Tire quality is improved on snow, ice, and general wet and dry grounds so friction, drive, side grip is affected positively.

1 2

Your Tires and Comfort

What defines comfort?

Obviously, a tire is a sausage of air

that minimizes the impact between

ground and car, and drivers and

passengers are highly sensitive

to harshness and vibration. By

guaranteeing comfort, a tire makes

driving pleasurable rather than

stressful. But while most people

think about physical comfort,

Kontrol Technology also covers

aural comfort. I’ll talk about noise

first. The human ear can only pick

up a certain range of frequencies or

pitches. Our Virtual Noise Proofing

(VNT) Technology is an integrated

process that takes the tire-only

noise that can be picked up by

the human ear, and factors this out

Anything else?

Sure, mud is another common

problem, and we have developed

ways for our tires to deal with

this. Take our Dynapro aTM Tires.

These have a side-groove angle in

the tread, which means enhanced

wet and off-road traction, and

these treads also push out mud

- meaning the tire is essentially self-

cleaning. We have found in Traction

Performance Indices that our tires

have a peak traction of 111, versus

a competitor which has 100; when

it comes to average traction, our

tires score 116, compared to a

competitor which has 100.

Take our

Dynapro ATM

Tires. These

have a side-

groove angle

in the tread,

which means

enhanced wet

and off-road

traction, and

these treads

also push out

mud - meaning

the tire is

essentially

self-cleaning.

through the design process. This

is what we call noise synthesis.

Uniquely, the VNT process turns

noise into color graphs, so our

researchers do not “hear” noise

but “see” it. Our radiation Noise

Prediction Technology (rNPT)

system simulates and isolates

the source of tire noise, to create

minimal noise pollution in areas

adjacent to roads. Our testing

facilities include an ultra-sensitive

anechoic room. Once we have

all this data – we even have a

patented machine that converts

noise to color, for graphing

purposes – we can work effectively

The aim is to

eliminate the

pitches, or

levels of sound,

that the human

ear finds

most grating.

Once we

have this data

information,

we can test

it on vehicles

on the test

tracks. These

technologies

are used in the

enfren, Ventus

S1 Noble and

Ventus MEO1

tires, providing

a more

relaxed driving

experience.

on noise reduction. The aim is to

eliminate the pitches, or levels of

sound, that the human ear finds

most grating. Once we have this

data information, we can test it on

vehicles on the test tracks. These

technologies are used in the enfren,

Ventus S1 Noble and Ventus MEO1

tires, providing a more relaxed

driving experience.

OK, so that is noise.

What about smoothness?

We check this with Vibration

Control Technology (VCT) – a

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Part .2+Your Tires and the Technology Inside _ Your Tires and Comfort


VNT Virtual Noise Proofing Technology: Factors such as patterns and car characteristics are considered when analyzing noise. VNT is a technology that decreases noise level by efficiently dispersing sound through different tests and optimizing noise frequency and pitch.

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And how do all these

technologies feed into tire

design?

Take the enfren. The tire is designed

using micro spring vent technology,

which smoothens the edges of the

grooves in the tire, facilitating smooth

driving, and block-formed shoulder

ribs, minimizing rolling vibration.

The application of the various noise

reduction technologies mentioned

above means it is 2 percent quieter

than competing tires. The Ventus

S1 Noble tire is 3 percent quieter

than competitors.

Your Tires and the Environment

How can a tire design

help the environment?

Speaking broadly, the less fuel

form of ultra-sensitive vibration

recording equipment that examines

vibration against the road surface.

This produces a range of three-

dimensional data that is incorporated

into tire profile design for ride

comfort. Our ride Quality Control

Technology (rQCT) is composed

of a range of sensors attached to

various parts of a car – front and

rear wheels, chassis, seat rail and

seat cushion - that measure and

analyze vibration data, allowing us

to design tires for optimum driving

comfort. Once we have this kind

of data, there is a range of ways to

reflect it in tire design. all these, are

of course, tested on our proving

grounds, which include rough road

conditions – manhole covers, roads

under repair, cracked roads and so

on.

The application

of the various

noise reduction

technologies

mentioned

above means

it is 2 percent

quieter than

competing

tires. The

Ventus S1

Noble tire

is 3 percent

quieter than

competitors.

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required to move your car, and the

less CO2 it generates, the better

is it for the environment. How can

we reduce the need for fuel? By

reducing the rolling resistance

of the tire on the road, we can

enhance fuel efficiency. Every

rotation a tire makes, it pulls on the

ground and generates heat. This

heat is a result of engine power,

and is, essentially, wasted energy.

So if this combination of factors

can be addressed, your vehicle

will use less fuel. This makes it

more economical for the driver

and at the same time, kinder to

the environment. I should add

that CO2 emission regulations are

being implemented worldwide, and

this, as well as driver demand, is

promoting increasing use of pro-

environment technologies.

I should add

that CO2

emission

regulations

are being

implemented

worldwide, and

this, as well as

driver demand,

is promoting

increasing

use of pro-

environment

technologies.

How do you get to this

point?

Our research has two main

directions. First, natural materials.

Many petrol-derived materials are

used in tires: compound rubber,

carbon black, composite oil. We

are aiming to replace these with all-

natural materials, such as natural

rubber, silica and natural oil. The

second direction is reducing fuel

efficiency, thereby reducing CO2

emissions. Our Dyna-ProFET

profiles and analyses each section

of the tire versus rolling resistance

to increase fuel savings. This helps

us lower rolling resistance without

impacting other performances,

thus minimizing the trade-off in

tire design. also, Dyna-ProFET

is a construction technology of

the external shape of the tire, to

reduce rolling resistance without

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Part .2+Your Tires and the Technology Inside _ Your Tires and the Environment


Tire produces heat while pushed to the ground by the car weight and drags on surface at the same time. The heat produced from this process prevents the energy from the engine to be used to its full capacity and this loss is called rolling resistance.Inertia + air pressure + rolling resistance + friction + gravity = total amount of energy needed for the car to move forward.

What are the most

environmentally friendly

products made by Hankook

Tire?

The en f ren i s spec i f i c a l l y

manufactured to be environmentally

friendly, and which leverages all the

technologies above. The design

alone will tell you this: Its sidewall

incorporates environmental artwork,

images of leaves and butterflies.

So how does an

environmental tire – or

should that be a fuel

efficient tire - work?

On a very basic level, the key thing

is to lower rolling resistance – which

means lower fuel consumption,

remember? - so we have optimized

the silica compounds that make

up the tire, and also the structural

compromising other performances.

When it comes to the actual

compound from which the tire

is constructed, our Innovative

Mixing System (IMS) is Kontrol

Technology’s approach to mixing

rubbers and silicas for the optimum

grade; rather like a chef mixing a

stew and getting it just right. One

result of this has been our High

Fuel Saving Compound Technology

(FSCT), a highly advanced rubber-

silica blend that lowers rolling

resistance without compromising

braking performance. and pollution

is not simply atmospheric, it is also

aural. Our Virtual Noise Proofing

Technology (VNT) reduces the noise

produced by tires on the road, by

factoring out the pitches that are

picked up by the human ear.

The enfren is

specifically

manufactured

to be

environmentally

friendly,

and which

leverages

all the

technologies

above.

The design

alone will

tell you this:

Its sidewall

incorporates

environmental

artwork,

images of

leaves and

butterflies.

design, with this in mind. The silica

compounds used in the tire rubber

improves fuel efficiency. The result

is that the enfren, according to ISO

tests, offers a massive 21 percent

reduction in rolling resistance over

conventional tire types.

Can you accurately

measure the benef i ts

of this tire’s effect on the

environment?

Yes. We tested this and found

that CO2 emissions are reduced

by 4.1 grams per kilometer using

this tire. Over the lifecycle of a

tire, this means it would cut down

820 kgs of CO2, equivalent to the

CO2 absorption of 156 trees in

a year. The same is true for our

e-cube family of long-haul tires.

Our AL 10, Dl

10 and TL 10

e-cube family

of long haul

tires use the

technologies

described

above to

improve

durability:

They have a

new carcass

- specially

designed for

endurance

using SCCT -

wide shoulder

ribs, full-

depth kerfs.

The compound used on its tread

and sub-tread maximizes mileage

while minimizing energy loss and

minimizing heat generation.

Good for trees. How about for the

driver? ★ It will save you money

too. Tests show that enfren saves

drivers 4 percent in fuel costs.

Calculate that over the life of a

vehicle and think of the saving.

Are there any other ways that

modern tire designs can assist

the environment? ★ Yes. another

way that a tire can environment –

and save money - is by improving

its durability, as the destruction or

recycling of a tire releases CO2

and toxic chemicals. Our aL 10,

Dl 10 and TL 10 e-cube family of

long haul tires use the technologies

descr ibed above to improve

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automobiles that use petroleum chemical fuel emits waste gas when producing energy. Hankook Tire’s environment friendly technology decreased the amount of CO2 emitted by 4.1g/km compared to previous products. This means that during a lifecycle of a car, it decrease the amount of CO2 emitted by 820kg which is the same as the amount of CO2 absorbed by 146 trees in one year.

CO2 820kg decrease

Your Tires : Tire Purchasing and

Tire Care

What do I need to consider

when purchasing a tire?

Firstly, what kind of driver are you

– and what kind of vehicle do you

drive? We produce specialized tires

for racing cars, specialized tires for

heavy goods vehicles, specialized

tires for buses….

I meant for the average passenger

car driver? ★ Firstly, ask yourself

this question: are you seeking

optimum performance – ie speed

and handling – optimum comfort,

or optimum fuel efficiency and

environmental friendliness? These

are the key differences. Then there

is the question of where you live. If

you live in a country where heavy

O&A.35

i n s t i t u t e s , b o t h i n K o re a

and ab road , tha t eva lua te

environmentally friendly products

to ensure safety for the customers.

Japan ’s G reen Pu rchas i ng

Policy certified our enfren to be

environmentally friendly. Enfren also

won environmental certificate mark

from KEITIKorea Environmental Industry and

Technology Institute. also, our products

Winter I*Pike and Winter I*Cept

won an Eco Labeling certificate in

Northern Europe.

durability: They have a new carcass

- specially designed for endurance

using SCCT - wide shoulder ribs,

full-depth kerfs. The result of this is

seen in tests: The TL10 e-cube, for

example, has a durability index of

148, compared to competitors at

73 and 100.

Do public agencies

certificate environmentally

friendly products ?

There are many cert i f icat ion

There are many

certification

institutes,

both in Korea

and abroad,

that evaluate

environmentally

friendly

products

to ensure

safety for the

customers.

Winter tires

are more

about actual

temperature

than snow, so

it depends on

how cold the

place where

you live is.

Winter tire uses

specialized

rubber

compounds

which maintain

their softness –

and thus their

safety – in low

temperatures;

normal rubbers

harden up

below 7

degrees

Celsius.

snowfall is expected, you will need

winter tires, at least for the snowy

season. In a warm country, you will

need a summer tire. It’s better to

switch between winter and summer

tires in geographies where weather

conditions vary between extremes,

and an all-season tire where the

weather is stable.

So you need to change your

tires if it snows? ★ Yes and no.

Winter tires are more about actual

temperature than snow, so it

depends on how cold the place

where you live is. Winter tire uses

specialized rubber compounds

which maintain their softness

– and thus their safety – in low

temperatures; normal rubbers

harden up below 7 degrees Celsius.

If, where you live, snow is only

occasional and temperatures are

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【

】

800 revolutions per mile. If a car

moves 100,000 miles, that is 80

million load bearing cycles. a tire

can run as far as 80,000 miles if

well cared for, but inevitably, wear

takes effect. If a tread runs down

to a depth of 1.6mm, it is time to

change the tire. To make it easier

for the driver to see this, every tire

from major manufacturers around

the world has a built-in tread wear

indicator. When you see these

tread wear bars showing through

the rubber, change that t i re

immediately. Driving on a bald tire

is hazardous (and illegal in many

jurisdictions).

How about tire care?

Any tips?

Sure. The first advice is: Drive

smoothly! Hard stops and speedy

course you can use the information

we have just discussed to look

at the tire profile, its tread groove

design, and so on. another factor

is size: all our tire models come in

a range of sizes for different sized

vehicles - from compact cars to

large saloons – but a tire dealer will

have no problem fitting you with

the right size. Kontrol Technology

includes Multi-radius Profi l ing

(MrP), a system of prof i l ing

different grooves widths and

depths, ensuring performance that

is optimized to the size of the tire.

How often should I

change my tires?

First, bear in mind that the contact

surface of the average passenger

car tire in motion is about the size

of an adult’s hand. a tire rolls about

mild, you can use all-season tires.

However, if you live in a country

with customary heavy snowfall,

then use winter tires in the snow

season, but change them when

the snow disappears, as winter

tires will suffer greater wear under

non-snowy conditions. But bear in

mind, winter tires are advisable in

extremely cold weather - whether it

snows or not.

What should I look at

in a tire?

ask your tire dealer: How durable

is this tire? How is its braking

performance? Is it environmentally

friendly? Does it increase fuel

efficiency? Is it optimized for speed

and handling, or for comfort? all

major tire companies’ tires are

tested, and tire dealers will be able

to show you test results. and of

Kontrol

Technology

includes

Multi-radius

Profiling (MRP),

a system

of profiling

different

grooves widths

and depths,

ensuring

performance

that is

optimized

to the size

of the tire.

When you

see these

tread wear

bars showing

through the

rubber, change

that tire

immediately.

Driving on a

bald tire is

hazardous (and

illegal in many

jurisdictions).

cornering wil l shorten the l ife

of your tire threads. If possible,

drive around debris on the road,

especially broken glass and metal.

and try to drive around potholes,

as these can bruise your tires.

I meant when you are not

driving…

Oh, right. Well, the first tire care tip

that is usually overlooked by drivers

is tire rotation.

Rotation? Everybody knows that

a tire rotates… ★ I don’t mean

rotating the tire on the drive shaft, I

mean rotating the tires around your

vehicle. Every 10,000 kilometers,

we recommend switching your tire

position: front right and left back;

front left and right back would be a

typical rotation.

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Tire’s that went over the safety limit of tread wear is more endangered to puncture and break time is longer on wet grounds, which is very dangerous. Tire’s wear limit is 1.6mm. ▲ mark on the side of the tire can be found along the tread. Tire needs to be changed immediately if the tread is worn down to the point that it’s less than 1.6mm.

Tread Depth

Wear Limit (1.6mm)

Why do you need to do that?

★ Because however perfectly

designed a tire is, if it remains in

one position on a car for thousands

of kilometers – say, the front right

wheel – it will develop irregular wear

patterns.

I see. Anything else?

Yes. The other key issue is

checking the air pressure inside

the tire. We recommend you do

this either before driving a long

distance, or once a week. It only

takes five minutes. an underinflated

tire wears abnormally and also runs

hotter. These issues lead to wear,

and possibility of failure. This will

also cost you more money, as an

underinflated tire has greater rolling

resistance, ergo less fuel economy.

a little-known fact is that every

tire also loses some air pressure

through the inevitable permeability

of the materials, so over time any

tire will eventually run flat - even

it has no apparent problems. On

the other hand, an overinflated tear

wears harder, and is also more

likely to suffer a puncture.

This all sounds a bit

dangerous! How do I know

my tire’s ideal pressure?

Calm down! It’s very simple. The

maximum tire pressure of a tire is

indicated on the tire’s sidewall. The

optimal inflated pressure of a tire

is 90 percent of this maximum. It

is best to test tire pressure when

a car has not run for at least an

hour, as air inside a tire heats up

when running, so you might what

to buy a tire pressure gauge to

An

underinflated

tire wears

abnormally

and also runs

hotter. These

issues lead

to wear, and

possibility of

failure. This

will also cost

you more

money, as an

underinflated

tire has

greater rolling

resistance,

ergo less fuel

economy.

keep at home and check your tires

once every week or two. also,

remember to periodically check

the air pressure of your spare

tire, because as noted, a tire will,

naturally, lose air over time through

permeability.

That’s it?

That’s it. It is not a lot to do. If you

do all the above with a Hankook tire,

It is best to test

tire pressure

when a car has

not run for at

least an hour,

as air inside a

tire heats up

when running,

so you might

what to buy a

tire pressure

gauge to keep

at home and

check your

tires once

every week

or two.

it will run well, safely, comfortably

and in an environmentally friendly

manner. Take care of your tires and

they will take care of you.

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Part .2+Your Tires and the Technology Inside _ Your Tires: Tire Purchasing and Tire Care

MomoMomo

Documents

Presents : The Dummies’ Guide to Tires - Hankook Tiredl.hankooktire.com/dl/html/images/download/kontrol technology.pdf · by Hankook Tire to ensure controlled driving experiences