Evolution of Tires
As the tire has evolved over the last 100 years, its advances have been made in parallel with the development of automobiles. Since our beginning, Hankook Tire has contributed to tire innovation and enhanced true driving emotion while putting emphasis on becoming one with the environment.

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Solid Rubber Tire
Composed of only firm rubber without
the need for air, the solid rubber tire is used mostly
for slow-speed vehicles because of
its poor shock absorption ability. -
1888The Beginning of Tire HistoryGasoline Cars
and the Pneumatic TireIn 1888, Benz invented the first gasoline car,
equipped with unique metal tires covered with rubber and filled with air, resulting in the pneumatic tire. The public, which was accustomed to hard, metal tires, believed the pneumatic tire to be no less than revolutionary. Popular use of the pneumatic tire began in 1895 and it was featured in an automobile race from Paris to Bordeaux. -
1905Tread Tire
Tread is a part of a tire that comes in direct contact with a road surface. Made out of thick rubber, tread protects carcass and breaker inside a tire. Road surface friction coefficient increased with a development of the tread tire and today it is produced in various patterns.
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1920The Development of Tire MaterialsPopularization of Automobiles and
the Industrialization of Synthetic RubberIn late 1913, Henry Ford introduced the first
conveyor belt assembly line to the world,
marking the start of the first stage of
automobile popularization.
In 1931, American company Du Pont successfully industrialized synthetic rubber.
This development allowed tire industry,
which had been dependent on natural rubber, to increase tire quantity and quality,
ushering in a turning point in tire production.1923Balloon TireBalloon tire, a type of low-pressure tire is used in various types of automobiles to increase its contact area to road surface with low Internal air pressure.
1940Tire Structure DevelopmentStructural Development of
Automobiles and Tires
to Save FuelIn order to relieve a burden of sky-high
oil prices brought on by the oil shock,
it became popular to reduce the size and weight of
existing car models. Many manufacturers
eventually employed the front-wheel drive
method for their cars. With a development
of the tubeless tire in 1903, the resulting
weight reduction contributed significantly
to the saving of fuel.1947Tubeless Tire1949Radial TireFirstly invented in the 1950s, the radial tire refers to a type of tire in which the cords, carcass plies are vertically arranged to driving direction. Because of lower deformation of radial tire than bias tire during driving, radial tire has better fuel efficient. Uniform contact of tread in radial tire to road surface offers good driving stability, especially on high-speed.
1970Increased Tire SafetyThe Second Stage of Automobile Popularization and SafetyRun-flat tire was developed in 1979, which is designed to enable the vehicle to continue to be driven up to at 80 km/h without replacing with new tire when punctured.
1980Run-Flat TireEven with scratches or holes caused due to obstacles or tire abrasion while driving, and the resulting deflation, the run-flat tire is able to maintain a constant driving speed. It protects the driver from various accidents that can arise in emergency situations.
Increased Tire PerformanceIncreased Tire Performance due to Development of the UHP TireWith the transformation of the automobile
from an effective method of transportation into
a symbol of personal financial power and freedom,
people became increasingly interested in
driving performance.
Driving performance increased with the development
of the UHP (Ultra High Performance) tire, which boasts
superior cornering, drivability and braking,
in accordance with new development of tire technology.UHP TireThe UHP tire is defined as a tire with a rim diameter equal to or greater than 16 inches, an aspect ratio equal to or less than 55 and speed symbol higher than V (max. speed is 240 km/h). UHP tire provides superior braking performance and cornering performance at high speed.
2000Tires and the EnvironmentThe Development of
the Eco Tuning TireWith increasing interest in environmental
conservation, a variety of eco-friendly cars
like the hydrogen car and electric car are
being developed.
Accordingly, tires that increase fuel saving and
thus help protect the environment are
also in development.2012The Future of TiresNPTIn 2012, Hankook Tire developed an airless
tire using a new type of material.
The NPT (Non Pneumatic Tire) saves energy by
reducing the production process by half.
Created from a new type of uni-material,
it can be reused or recycled.
The NPT will be used for eco-friendly car models
including hydrogen, electric and hybrid cars.