Pangyo, South Korea — Hankook Tire & Technology is building up its technical capabilities to meet evolving OE requirements for high-performance premium SUVs and electric vehicles worldwide. The tire maker aims to evolve from a mere component supplier into a core technical partner for automotive manufacturers.
To support its original equipment business, Hankook invests approximately $221 million in R&D every year. Its three major infrastructure sites form a complete innovation chain: the global headquarters Technoplex for project planning, the main R&D center Technodome for technology development, and the Technoring test track for product validation.
Hankook now supplies OE tires for more than 300 vehicle models across 50 automotive brands, including 38 models from premium marques such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. This summer, Porsche selected the Ventus S1 evo Z as original equipment for its iconic 911 Carrera. Hankook developed custom tire sizes for the sports car: 235/40 ZR19 for front wheels and 295/35 ZR20 for rear wheels, after completing rigorous manufacturer testing. Beyond the 911, Hankook also supports Porsche Cayenne, Panamera, 718 Boxster, Taycan and Macan EV models.
Hankook notes that strong OE fitments create a pull-through effect for the replacement tire market, as many vehicle owners tend to repurchase the factory-fitted tires during replacement.
Demand for premium SUV and light truck tires continues to rise, especially in North America. In the US market, Hankook delivers OE tires for 33 models from 11 automakers including BMW, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lucid, Nissan, Rivian, Stellantis and Volkswagen. 22 of these models are SUVs, light trucks and vans. Its production plant in Clarksville, Tennessee acts as a strategic hub for global OE supply. Working together with the Technoplex team, the site enables localized real-time OE strategy for the Americas, cutting lead times and deepening collaboration with OEM partners.
In China and other regions with fast EV adoption, Hankook has established a solid position in the premium EV tire segment. Within China alone, Hankook develops OE tire solutions for 24 EV models from 11 brands, all based on its dedicated iON tire range. The iON series is engineered to handle EV-specific challenges including heavy battery weight, high torque and road noise reduction.
EV adoption in the United States remains gradual, yet Hankook sees OE growth potential from hybrid vehicles and autonomous ride-hailing fleets such as Waymo.
For 2026, Hankook sets qualitative growth targets for its passenger and light truck OE sales: over 51% share for 18-inch and larger large-rim tires, and more than 33% share for electric vehicle tires.
