Valencia/Spanien, 30^th September, 2011 – Hankook is looking into the future. The DTM’s exclusive tyre partner has only just unveiled the new tyre for the 2012 racing season, but it is already catching attention again with more innovative developments and presentations and now launches the concept of a particularly aerodynamically effective sidewall-design. The prototype tyre named Hankook Ventus Aero has been developed with the focus on maximising the tyre’s effectiveness by increasing downforce and pulling effects at high and highest speeds. Hankook already filed patent application for this all-new technology.

Core to the development has been the idea to scoop out the so far largely unused aerodynamic possibilities when it comes to tyre design. Six winglets are integrated into the Ventus Aero’s sidewall, acting like spoilers and thus creating the downforce directly at the car’s axles. Additionally, areas above three of the winglets in the tyre sidewall’s upper section feature a so-called dimple-structure. These dimples create micro-vortexes and thus reduce the drag caused by the winglets’ lower surface.

The field of applications for these new technologies are racing tyres as well as probably a new generation of Hankook Super Sport tyres for especially powerful and fast sports cars.