Hankook works closely with a chosen university every two
years to produce these stunning concepts. This year, Hankook teamed up with the
University of Design, Engineering and Business in Pforzheim, Germany to create
the concept tires, meant to reflect the brand’s research and development
initiatives going forward.
Hankook revealed three concepts of wheels that are
capable of changing their shapes dynamically, altering their performance
through rapid changes in terrain and conditions. The
“Boostrac” tire is essentially a dune buggy-type wheel
made up of hexagonal tread blocks that can expand, changing up the traction to
plow through sand or scale a steep mountain path.
“Alpike” is the tire that can expand its circumference,
making driving through snow much easier. When the tire expands, the gaps in the
tread and exposed studs grip icy surfaces better, as well.
Lastly, the
“HyBlade” has a water-wheel-like design and pop-out fins to paddle through
water like a riverboat.
The notion of rubber-and-air
tires is constantly being challenged by new innovations, and the concept of a dynamically adaptive tire
system is an in invention just waiting to be made. It’s likely that, if a
company like Hankook can make this technology applicable, we may be the
generation that sees the reinvention of the wheel.
