Hankook

Hankook Tire was founded in 1941 in Seoul, South Korea under the name Chosun Tire Company, making it one of the oldest tire manufacturers in Asia. The company changed its name to Hankook in 1968, a word that means Korea in the Korean language, signaling an ambition that extended beyond the domestic market. For the first few decades, Hankook focused on building its position in Korea while developing the engineering capabilities that would eventually support a real international expansion.

The push into the premium segment came through OEM supply contracts with major German automakers. Earning a fitment on a BMW M model or a Porsche requires extended testing, strict performance standards, and the kind of consistent quality control that not every manufacturer can deliver at scale. Hankook met those requirements and became original equipment on specific BMW M and Porsche models, a credibility gain that translated directly into consumer confidence in markets where German engineering is the benchmark. Hankook also built a significant R&D center in Hanover, Germany and opened a manufacturing facility in Hungary to develop and produce tires closer to the European market.

From 2011 to 2023, Hankook was the exclusive tire supplier for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, better known as DTM. It's a technically demanding touring car series with high visibility in Europe, and supplying it meant building tires capable of handling high-powered cars in close racing over the course of a full season. Hankook has also served as the tire supplier for Formula E, which connects the brand to EV performance development. Both programs produced real engineering data that has influenced consumer products.

Today Hankook is one of the better values in the performance tire market. The Ventus S1 evo3 competes with Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and Continental SportContact at a noticeably lower price, backed by OEM fitments on German performance cars. The Kinergy touring and all-weather lines cover daily driving needs at similarly accessible prices. For buyers who want near-premium performance without paying flagship pricing, Hankook consistently punches above its price point.