Hankook Tire named Manufacturer of the Year 2021 in Auto Bild Magazine’s all-season tire category

- Named best manufacturer for its all-season line of tires by Europe’s leading automotive magazine
- Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 all-season model range made it to the podium in each of the relevant product tests
- Very high safety margins across all weather conditions are one of main factors for success

Neu-Isenburg, Germany, November 4, 2021 – Global leading tire company Hankook Tire is named “Manufacturer of the Year 2021” in the Auto Bild Group’s All-Season test category, once again proving the high performance of its premium all-season tires. The editors’ decision is based on the results of previous tests conducted by Auto Bild and its partner magazines in 2021. The Kinergy 4S 2 X, which achieved first place in the big SUV all-season tire test in Auto Bild Allrad, and the Kinergy 4S 2, which came third in the super all-season tire test for passenger cars, contributed towards the overall ranking for this year’s award.

“I’m glad that we have won the Manufacturer of the Year award from the Auto Bild magazine, Europe’s widest-ranging automotive media. I believe our commitment over 20 years to providing customers with the most innovative high-performance tires in all-season category has made us standout. Acknowledgement from the renowned independent tests is a testament to our Kinergy 4S family’s premium quality as a true all-rounders,” says Sooil Lee, President and CEO of Hankook Tire & Technology.

As an all-weather SUV tire, the Kinergy 4S 2 X is a true all-rounder, combining specific summer and winter tire characteristics together, without the temperature-related drops in performance. At the same time, it offers high reliability in wet, dry and snowy conditions. The editors of the German car magazine Auto Bild Allrad have named the Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 X as this year’s winner of their all-season tire test. They concluded by saying the following: “It really exists! One single tire that can keep you safe in all weather conditions. Hankook’s test-winning tire is an exemplary compromise,” (10/2021).

The Kinergy 4S 2, the passenger car version, also offers a high degree of reliability in wet, dry and snowy conditions, which is made possible by the directional tread. The V-shaped interlocking tread blocks always ensure excellent driving stability. They are complemented by extra-wide, two-stage main drainage grooves, which optimally drain water to the sides even in heavy rain. This allows the drainage system to prevent aquaplaning. Furthermore, it can also effectively drain slush from the tread. These properties are supported by the tread compound, which is made of a highly enriched silica-polymer composite. One of the reasons this material offers such good grip during wet conditions is its high content of natural oils and resins.