The new Cupra Tavascan will come with tires supplied by Hankook. The South Korean brand will supply the iON evo tire for the electric SUV. These summer tires have been developed exclusively for all-electric vehicles to match the handling characteristics of the Tavascan SUV coupe.
The premium tire is available as a mixed tire in the 19in variants and as an all-position tire in the 20in and 21in sizes. The 21in tire also features a sport design, identifiable by the ‘e-Performance’ on the sidewall. These tires offer even more traction and shorter braking distances thanks to their high-grip mixture. Hankook also offers a 19in all-season tire, designed specifically for electric vehicles, as original equipment for the model.
“We are proud of having developed the perfect tire in close cooperation with Cupra for the brand’s new all-electric top model,” said Klaus Krause, vice president and head of Europe Technical Center at Hankook.
One of the key highlights of the iON SUV tire is its noise reduction. With a noise level under 66dB, the tires remain below the development target of 68dB for the whole car. Hankook used its Opti Pitch technology to keep the tire noise within the target.
Hankook’s engineers also succeeded in reducing the rolling resistance and achieving quiet rolling behavior as well as high resilience. Compared with standard tires, the iON tires offer more range per battery charge for EVs. Moreover, Hankook reports that the tires were designed for Cupra Tavascan’s all-wheel-drive powertrain.
The Tavascan comes with a large battery, which makes it heavier. Using durable aramid fibers, Hankook has managed to counteract the deformation forces from the high torque. The tread mixture features a high natural resin content for durability and a high silica content for wet grip.
The iON evo tire also contains a high concentration of plant-based oils for sustainability and durability of the tread strip. Low weight and aerodynamic design are the other key features of the tire. Sealguard technology automatically seals punctures up to 5mm in diameter in the tread.
