Hankook Tire inaugurates the largest tire test track in Asia

Hankook Tire & Technology inaugurated its newly-built tire test track that the company calls the proving ground. It opened in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, on Wednesday, May 26.

According to The Korea Times, the tire test center is the largest track facility in Asia, and its size is equivalent to about 125 football fields. The ground has a total of 13 tracks, and the lot area measures 1.26 million square meters.

The Hankook Technoring proving ground will offer high-speed driving tests for cars running at over 250 kilometers per hour speeds. The goal of opening the facility is to develop innovative tire products that will allow the company to compete against its rivals on the global stage.

It was added that performance tests for various types of tires are required for developing cutting-edge products such as the ones suitable for electric vehicles or EVs and high-performance vehicles. Almost all the tests are possible at the Hankook Technoring ground, where 50 cars could be tested at the same time at the facility.

Aside from cars, trucks, buses, and other types of vehicles could also be driven here to evaluate tire performance using state-of-the-art devices. There are also high-tech control towers, workshop areas, EV charging stations, and office buildings in the track center.

"Tires, being the only media in a vehicle that makes contact with the road surface, is the key for maximizing vehicle performance, providing safety, satisfying fuel efficiency, and driving comfort," Hankook & Company's chief executive officer, Cho Hyun Bum, said in a press release. "This is why we at Hankook recognize the need for various testing grounds to ensure the best product quality in all conditions."

He further said during the inauguration, "Recently, innovative changes in the automobile industry such as autonomous driving and EV are taking place rapidly, we are also keenly aware of the fact that we could be eliminated unless we try to innovate."

Finally, with the opening of Hankook Technoring, the tire firm said it is prepared to build synergy with its other infrastructure, including Hankook Technoplex and Hankook Technodome research and development center for mid to long-term business strategy.