Hankook Tire launched Winter i*cept RS3 in Korea to expand its premium winter tire portfolio.

The company is bringing the new tread pattern to the European market next year and to other markets afterwards.

Winter i*cept RS3 is a tire designed to deliver safety for everyday use during winter.

It gives a driver reliable handling on all conditions of roads including snow, wet and dry roads.

In particular, small slots moulded into the edge of the main grooves increase the tire’s contact surface with the ground and thus give a better grip even when cornering on snow-covered curves.

Stable braking on snowy roads is supported by an inverted V-shaped tread pattern engraved in opposite direction of the main groove angle.

The corrugated 3D kerfs increase braking performance on snowy roads by 4%, compared to the prior 2D kerfs.

The minimization of block movements, achieved by sawtooth-shaped 3D sipes also plays an important role in enhancing grip and braking.

Moreover, Winter i*cept RS3 adopted various technologies for effective drainage to ensure a high level of driving stability even in rainy weather.

The rapid drainage of water via the two drainage grooves, which are thin grooves in the shape of a water pipe and wide V-shaped grooves, reduces the risk of aquaplaning.

In the meantime, a newly employed W–shaped pattern not only disperses water quickly but also clamps the block surface firmly with its sloped bars. This allows responsive handling at low temperatures in the rain during winter.

In addition to the tread design, the tire used high-grip silica, a natural compound, to contribute to excellent braking performance particularly on wet or slush-covered roads.

The tread life has been improved by 10% compared to the previous model upon improving braking performance on the wet surface.

Developed as an upgraded version

The new Winter i*cept RS3 was developed as an upgraded version of its previous model, Winter i*cept RS2, which won both “Very Recommended” rating and “Best Price-Performance” rating in the winter tire test conducted by German motoring magazine Auto Zeitung in 2020.

In the same year, the Winter i*cept RS2 also earned the highest rank from UK’s Auto Express and German ADAC, two leading automobile magazines, for its excellent handling properties under all road conditions, powerful traction as well as exceptional safety on both dry and wet roads.

“We are committed to offering tire products that ensure driver’s safety on the road based on our continued investment in R&D and the latest technologies,” says Sooil Lee, President and CEO of Hankook Tire & Technology.

“We are confident that this new tire tread upgraded from our already highly praised winter tire will meet our customers’ high expectations.”

Meanwhile, in order to provide tires with utmost quality, Hankook Tire runs its winter tire proving ground ‘Technotrac’ in Ivalo, Finland, which provides a good basis for the aggressive winter tire R&D.

The company continues to secure the original technological capabilities for manufacturing tires that perform best under wintry conditions through testing on various tracks including flat track and handling track.