Hankook is returning to the super-sport tyre segment with the Ventus evo Z, a road-legal summer tyre developed for high-performance cars and occasional track use. The launch gives tyre retailers and performance specialists a new option for drivers seeking a more durable alternative to semi-slick tyres without moving away from sharp handling.
The Ventus evo Z, also known as the Z001, marks Hankook’s first product in this category for more than a decade. The company says the tyre is aimed at sports car drivers, tuning customers, motorsport enthusiasts and junior racing competitors who need an ECE-approved product for road use.
The tyre is positioned between conventional ultra-high-performance summer tyres and semi-slick products. Hankook says it offers greater tread depth and durability than a semi-slick while retaining high grip and handling levels for track driving.
The launch also follows wider Hankook activity in performance and motorsport. Tyre News has recently covered Hankook’s FIA Global Partner agreement, which links motorsport development with future mobility work. Tyre News also reported that Hankook won performance and EV tyre titles at the 2025 WhatTyre Awards, including recognition for the Ventus evo range.
Hankook says development work for the Ventus evo Z drew on its motorsport experience. The tyre was tested on the HWA EVO, a modern reinterpretation of the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II racing car. Lessons from those tests were then applied to the production version.
For the trade, the key point is the tyre’s dual-use positioning. It gives workshops and performance tyre dealers a product for customers who want occasional circuit capability but still need road legality, everyday usability and statutory tread compliance.
The Ventus evo Z uses an asymmetric tread pattern with grooves of varying depth and width. Hankook says this layout is designed to support stability under high load and during dynamic cornering.
The tyre also uses an aramid-reinforced belt to improve tread rigidity and dimensional stability. Closed cut lateral grooves on the outer shoulder are intended to increase the contact area and strengthen block stiffness when cornering.
The compound uses liquid resin and a high-temperature-resistant resin mix. Hankook says the formulation draws on motorsport development and is designed to maintain performance under elevated thermal loads.
Hankook will introduce the Ventus evo Z across 25 sizes from 18 to 21 inches. Widths will range from 225 mm to 355 mm, with aspect ratios from 25 to 45.
The range is designed for models including the Porsche 911, BMW M cars, Audi RS vehicles and Mercedes-AMG applications. Nearly all sizes carry the speed index (Y), meaning approval for speeds above 300 km/h. Remaining sizes carry Y approval up to 300 km/h.
The launch extends Hankook’s performance tyre story beyond EV and mainstream UHP products. Tyre News previously covered the Hankook Ventus evo global launch, as well as the company’s Formula E-related iON activity for electric performance vehicles.
For tyre retailers, the Ventus evo Z could help address a narrow but valuable customer group. Drivers of high-performance vehicles often seek specialist advice on grip, heat resistance, speed ratings and legal road use.
The tyre also gives Hankook a clearer presence in a segment where brand trust is shaped by motorsport visibility, OE associations and independent performance credentials. Its success will depend on availability, fitment coverage and how well it performs against established road-legal track tyre rivals.
Tagged with: Hankook Ventus evo Z, super-sport tyre, performance tyres, road-legal track tyre, summer tyres, UHP tyres, sports car tyres, ECE approval, tyre retailers, motorsport tyres, Hankook Ventus, tuning tyres
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