Hankook Supplies EV Tires for Hyundai
On January 23, 2026, Hankook Tire officially announced that it will supply the European version of Hyundai's next-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the NEXO, with its ultra-high-performance Ventus S1 evo3 ev tires. This collaboration not only represents technological synergy between companies but also reflects a new industry trend of deep integration between the tire industry and the new energy vehicle industry. The OEM market is rapidly iterating towards environmental friendliness, high performance, and specialization.
Although hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and pure electric vehicles differ in their power source, their core requirements for tire performance are highly similar, both needing to overcome the design limitations of traditional gasoline vehicle tires.
While hydrogen fuel cell vehicles eliminate engine noise, the characteristics of electric motor drive make tire noise more prominent. Simultaneously, the vehicle's load is higher due to the fuel cell system, posing a dual challenge to the tires' quietness, load-bearing capacity, and stability. Hankook's customized 18-inch Ventus S1 evo3 ev tires for the next-generation NEXO are a product specifically designed to address these pain points.
This tire's technical design is deeply adapted to the characteristics of new energy vehicles. It utilizes a new energy-specific rubber compound to significantly reduce rolling resistance, directly improving the energy efficiency and range of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles—crucial for models relying on hydrogen for range.
Simultaneously, its aramid-mixed cords effectively resist tire diameter deformation caused by centrifugal force, reducing lateral force impact and enhancing handling stability during cornering, addressing the driving pressure brought by the high power output of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
The interlocking external tread groove design balances grip on wet surfaces with handling on dry surfaces, avoiding the risk of slipping in rainy weather, while the optimized lateral tread groove volume minimizes road noise, meeting the quiet driving requirements of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
This tire's use is not an isolated case, but rather a concentrated reflection of industry trends. Currently, the rapid expansion of the new energy vehicle market is driving the tire original equipment market away from the era of generalization and towards specialized R&D for specific scenarios.
Michelin previously supplied low rolling resistance tires for Symbio hydrogen fuel cell heavy trucks, optimizing the tire carcass structure to address the high torque and high load requirements of hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles, collecting data to iterate on tire technology specifically for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Nexen Tire also announced in July 2025 that it will supply OE tires for the next-generation Hyundai NEXO, utilizing AI-optimized load distribution and noise reduction technology to adapt to the performance upgrades of hydrogen-powered SUVs.
The stringent regulations in the European market are further driving technological upgrades, becoming a significant driver of the original equipment market transformation. Europe has world-leading requirements for vehicle energy consumption, noise control, and environmental standards.
As a hydrogen-powered vehicle primarily targeting the European market, the next-generation NEXO's original equipment tires must meet these stringent standards. Hankook's tire has passed EU tire labeling regulations certification, meeting standards in energy consumption, noise, and wet performance, demonstrating the technological breakthrough in compliance for tires specifically designed for new energy vehicles.
From an industry perspective, tire companies are building competitiveness by partnering with leading new energy vehicle manufacturers and focusing on specific technology segments. Hankook's participation in this original equipment market expands its new energy tire portfolio from pure electric vehicles to the hydrogen fuel cell field.
Previously, this tire was used in electric vehicles from brands such as Volkswagen, Audi, and Tesla, forming a product matrix covering multiple new energy vehicle categories. Behind this technological extension lies tire companies' in-depth research into the power characteristics and driving scenarios of new energy vehicles, and it also marks a shift in the OEM market from "adaptation" to "collaborative R&D."
In the future, with the technological iteration of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and pure electric vehicles, tires will be further integrated into the overall vehicle performance system. The application of environmentally friendly materials and the integration of intelligent sensing technologies may become new directions.
The collaboration between Hankook and Hyundai demonstrates that only by accurately capturing the performance needs of new energy vehicles and building core capabilities through specialized technological breakthroughs can tire companies gain the upper hand in the increasingly segmented OEM market and promote a deeper collaborative development ecosystem between the tire industry and the new energy vehicle industry.
