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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.

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.

  • 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.

  • 1888

    The Beginning of Tire History

    Gasoline Cars
    and the Pneumatic Tire

    In 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.

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  • 1905

    Tread 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.

  • 1920

    The Development of Tire Materials

    Popularization of Automobiles and
    the Industrialization of Synthetic Rubber

    In 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.

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  • 1923

    Balloon Tire

    Balloon 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.

  • 1940

    Tire Structure Development

    Structural Development of
    Automobiles and Tires
    to Save Fuel

    In 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.

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  • 1947

    Tubeless Tire

     
  • 1949

    Radial Tire

    Firstly 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.

  • 1970

    Increased Tire Safety

    The Second Stage of Automobile Popularization and Safety

    Run-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.

  • 1980

    Run-Flat Tire

    Even 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.

    hankook-tire-runflat-tire

  • Increased Tire Performance

    Increased Tire Performance due to Development of the UHP Tire

    With 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.

    hankook-tire-uhp-tire

  • UHP Tire

    The 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.

  • 2000

    Tires and the Environment

    The Development of
    the Eco Tuning Tire

    With 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.

    hankook-tire-eco-tuning-tire
  • 2012

    The Future of Tires

    NPT

    In 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.

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