Hankook UHP Flagship Tyre Ventus S1 evo² as Original Fitment on the new Audi RS 5 Coupé

• - The ultra-high-performance tyres from Hankook have already proved themselves on many Audi models. Like its brother model TT RS, the latest Audi RS 5 Coupé will now also be leaving the factory fitted with Hankook tyres. In the spirit of the high performance Gran Turismo tradition, the Ventus S1 evo² tyres for the new Audi RS 5 Coupé provide both sportiness and comfort, and are thus an ideal match for the current top model in the A5 family. Both the standard 19-inch and the optional 20-inch versions of the Ventus S1 evo² are equipped with Hankooks own noise-reducing “sound absorber®” technology.

Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 6th September 2017 – Premium tyre maker Hankook to supply original fitment tyres for the Audi RS 5 Coupé in 19- and 20-inch sizes. Hankook premiered as original equipment manufacturer for an RS model in 2016, fitting the high-performance two-seater Audi Sport TT RS with S1 evo² tyres on 19-inch wheels.

The RS 5 Coupé is the first Audi RS-model to use the car makers new design philosophy, which is exclusively reserved for this line, and with its newly developed V6 biturbo engine combining an apparent contradiction: performance with efficiency. These characteristics are precisely what make the Audi RS 5 Coupé so unique – despite its high level of sportiness, it always remains suitable for everyday use.

This premise applies for the tyres, too. During development, care had to be taken that the focus on sportiness was not achieved at the expense of comfort, and that good grip did not lead to a compromise on durability. This is all achieved by the Hankook Ventus S1 evo², which is fitted in sizes 265/35 R 19 98 Y XL (standard) and 275/30 R 20 97Y XL (optional) as original fitment tyres all round and equipped with the company’s new “sound absorber®” technology.

With each RS model, Audi Sport GmbH ensures that not only roadworthiness is guaranteed, but that sportiness is not only in the name either. In terms of the tyre approval procedure, this means that the road tyres have to survive ten laps of the iconic “Nordschleife” track at the German Nürburgring circuit in such a way that they can then drive just as safely back into the city for a shopping trip. Here, Hankook’s flagship tyre was able to demonstrate not only its sportiness, but its durability and reliability as well. The innovative DTM inspired 3-layer block design, with its special staircase arrangement of the outer rib blocks, thus ensures an evenly gripping tyre contact area even as tyre wear progresses, thereby guaranteeing very good traction performance throughout the entire lifetime of the tyre.

Short braking distances and an above-average performance in the wet ensure that drivers can completely rely on their tyres at all times. The sophisticated technology of the Ventus S1 evo² with its multiple tread radius and rayon carcass provides maximum tread contact, even if evasive action should suddenly become necessary in city traffic on wet roads or if hard braking is required on the motorway. The advanced styrene-polymer-silica mixture used for the tread compound comes into play here, optimising wet grip significantly.

Driving comfort in particular is further enhanced by Hankook’s own “sound absorber®” technology. This technology is already being used for the tyres on the current Audi Q7 and SQ7, and significantly reduces cavity noise. This reduction of that noise typical of sporty, low aspect ratio tyres at higher speeds was a pivotal aspect and a focal point of the development work to provide a top performing yet pleasant driving experience. The Hankook engineers adapted the company’s own silent tyre technology “sound absorber®” to date used on powerful large SUVs, and now to their passenger car flagship model, the Ventus S1 evo². With this, Audi has chosen a tyre that combines sporty and dynamic driving with a high level of comfort.