Company
Hankook Tire releases a sneaker through collaboration
2022. 01. 27
- Collaborates with sports brand Pro-Specs to make high grip sneakers for all weathers
- Inspired by how both companies share the same responsibility of providing safe mobility
- Award-winning all-weather tire Hankook Kinergy 4S2’s tread pattern incorporated into outsole
Seoul, Korea, January 27, 2022 – Global leading tire company Hankook Tire collaborated with a Korean sports brand Pro-Specs on a sneaker. Two pairs of sneakers incorporated with Hankook’s technology are released on January 28.
Inspired by how both tires and shoes share the same responsibility of providing safe mobility in contact with the ground surface, Hankook Tire and Pro-Specs embarked on a joint journey to make sneakers. For safety and high performance, tread pattern of Hankook Kinergy 4S2 is incorporated into outsoles of shoes.
The Kinergy 4S2 is an all-weather tire featuring excellent dry, wet and snow performance complete with a Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) rating. Its broad lateral groove allows for improved wet traction and accelerated water evacuation, and the V-shaped tread design in zigzag pattern guarantees optimal performance in snow and stable handling. The Kinergy 4S2 was crowned winner of all-season tire test from the German car magazine Auto Bild Allrad in 2020, and from the UK’s bestselling car magazine Auto Express in 2021. Its SUV version, Hankook Kinergy 4S2 X, has also won the Auto Bild 2021 all-season tire test.
As a result of the collaboration, Hankook Tire and Pro-Specs unveiled two sneakers: Blade HK and Airsky HK. The Airsky HK is applied with Hankook Tire’s brand color. They will provide outstanding stability in motion by securing high grip, and ensure safety in all weathers including rain and snow.
“We are thrilled to apply the best grip and drainage performance of Hankook’s iconic product to footwear for the safety of consumers,” says Jimmy Kwon, Vice President of Hankook Tire’s Brand Lab. “With this, Hankook Tire’s ‘Driving Emotion’ initiative expands to ‘Walking Emotion’. We are constantly trying to expand our spirit of innovation with our mission being ‘future innovated, innovation realized.’”
The cross-industry collaboration can offer the Millennials and Gen Z who have not yet had an opportunity to use tires a chance to experience Hankook Tire. This is in line with Hankook Tire’s endeavor to strengthening its ties with Gen Z and Millennials. Last year, the company launched eco-friendly shoe made with recycled tires in collaboration with shoe brand YASE, collaborated with Crazyracing Kartrider game on presenting in-game cars and items, and held ‘2021 Made in HANKOOK’ event in a complex cultural space Peaches D8NE.
The lineup is produced in limited quantities of a total of 6,500 pairs. They are sold at Pro-Specs offline stores in Korea, its online LSN Mall, and online fashion store Musinsa. As part of a promotion, 50 people will be given free pairs of sneakers through a lottery they can enter by subscribing to T’Station official YouTube channel before February 21. T’Station.com(https://www.tstation.com) is also planning to give away sneakers to 20 people who purchase the Hankook Kinergy series online in February. LSN Mall will distribute 25% discount tire coupons to be used at T-Station.com to first 1,000 customers who buy the collaborative shoes starting from February 1.
