Hankook UHP tire to be OE on BMW Cooper S

June 2, 2011

Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. has been selected as new original equipment manufacturer for the BMW Group. The current version of the MINI, which Hankook says is often praised for its direct handling characteristics, will be factory equipped with Hankook tires.

Initially, the new ultra high performance (UHP) tire Ventus Prime2 has been tested by the car manufacturer and will now come factory-installed in the dimension 195/55 R 16 V, the size originally fitted to the Cooper S models.

In addition, Hankook Tire will deliver the Ventus Prime2 in the same size as an optional tire set to the assembly lines at the MINI factory in Oxford, England for the One, Cooper, and Cooper D models.

“The BMW Group is known around the world for its cars with highest technical standards as well as for its long tradition of sporty, dynamic automobiles. We are very pleased to be able to now support the company with Hankook tires as original equipment,” says Jin-Wook Choi, executive vice president and European head of Hankook Tire. “The BMW Group stands for perfection and innovation in automobile manufacturing. Hankook most certainly shares this passion. I’m therefore convinced that this is the beginning of a long and successful partnership.”

Currently, the tires for the MINI are being produced at Hankook’s head plant in Geumsan, South Korea. Specially designed for the manufacture of UHP, the manufacturing facility was recently expanded to include a new production area for high-end tires. In addition to the tires for the MINI, the facility also exclusively manufactures the Ventus S1 evo.