Hankook Tire & Technology said on the 6th it will supply the performance tire "iON evo" from "iON," the world's first full-lineup tire brand dedicated to electric vehicles, as original equipment for Ford's all-electric sport-utility vehicle (SUV) "Mustang Mach-E."
The Mustang Mach-E is a core model symbolizing Ford's electrification strategy, with its key point being a reinterpretation of the high-performance DNA of the existing Mustang in line with the electrification paradigm. The high-performance "GT Performance" trim delivers up to 487 horsepower and blistering acceleration, reaching 100 kph from a standstill in just 3.3 seconds. It also offers a maximum driving range of about 451 km per charge under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard.
Hankook Tire, through technical collaboration with Ford, succeeded in developing original equipment tires optimized for the "Mustang Mach-E." The 19-inch "iON evo" fitted to the vehicle features the "iON Innovative Technology" design, Hankook Tire's proprietary technology framework.
The iON evo has 10% higher cornering stiffness, and with a super-fiber aramid hybrid reinforced belt, it delivers greater handling stability at high speeds. Hankook Tire also enhanced water evacuation through customized widths of lateral and longitudinal grooves on the tread surface, further strengthening braking and grip on wet roads.
In addition, noise-reduction technologies tailored for low noise cut interior noise during driving by up to 18%, and significantly lowered rolling resistance—which affects electric-vehicle range—improving energy efficiency by up to 6%. A blend of high-concentration silica and eco-friendly materials reduces irregular wear and increases mileage by up to 15%.
A Hankook Tire official said, "We plan to further cement our global top-tier technological prowess by devoting ourselves to research and development (R&D) innovation leveraging world-class, state-of-the-art infrastructure such as the headquarters 'Technoplex,' the high-tech research center 'Hankook Technodome,' and Asia's largest tire proving ground 'Hankook Technoring.'"