Hankook Introduces New High Performance Ventus at SEMA

Hankook is displaying the new Ventus V2 Concept High Performance All-Season tire at its booth at the SEMA Show. The tire features a patented design and special compounds that allow it to match the performance capabilities of most summer tires, but with twice the snow traction, the tiremaker said.

Hankook also will preview several other tires being developed with its Kontrol Technology philosophy including:

• enfren eco, the first U.S. offering of a high performance tire specifically designed to minimize energy consumption for max fuel efficient vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid. enfren eco will be available in the third quarter of 2011.

• Dynapro HT, which will be Hankook’s premium all-season performance tire for light trucks, vans and SUVs. Developmental testing shows this new tire will excel in snow traction and braking performance, the company said. Dynapro HT will be available in the third quarter of 2011.

• Optimo H426, the next-generation all-season grand touring performance tire, will sport 20% lower rolling resistance than its predecessor. Already a big hit with OEMs such as Ford, Hyundai and Kia, the replacement market version will be offered in more than 40 sizes covering a wide range of vehicle applications, Hankook said. Optimo H426 will be available in the second half of 2011.

“The North American market has always been important to our brand, and now more than ever Hankook is investing its resources in this region,” said Soo Il Lee, president of Hankook Tire America Corp. “We understand how important it is to keep up with market trends so we continue to invest not only in technology and manufacturing capacity, but also in our marketing initiatives. We believe our expanding investments will influence more and more consumers, develop brand equity and ultimately drive more business to our network of loyal Hankook tire dealers.”

At its booth located in the south hall as part of the Global Tire Expo at SEMA, Hankook will showcase its technology and is planning some very exciting booth activities driven right off the bat by the interactive Hankook Home Run Derby.

The tiremaker also is offering an in-booth promotion: the virtual Hankook Home Run Derby. Participants who complete a short iPad registration form will each get one pitch on a Nintendo Wii gaming system to try and hit a home run. If they hit a home run, their name will then be entered into a daily random drawing. Each day, 30 minutes before the close of the show, one person will be selected to win a set of the new Hankook Ventus V2 Concept tires.

GRI recently conducted programs in Sri Lanka to empower women and motivate children under its Green x Circle initiative. The company said these endeavors aimed to address the needs of the community, focusing on both women empowerment and youth motivation.

GRI recently organized a training program titled "Management of household finance under current economic conditions" at the Ingiriya Rubber Collecting Center in Sri Lanka, South Asia led by Shashika Nimali, an NLP practitioner and life coach. The company said this initiative provided women in the industry with essential skills and knowledge to effectively manage household finances. GRI's tailored training sessions equipped participants with tools for informed decision-making, ultimately fostering greater financial security and independence, the company said.