What color code for the new Hankook tires in WRC?

2025 in the WRC will experience a small technical revolution. Not only with the withdrawal of the controversial hybrid system, abandoned with three seasons of controversies of all kinds, but also with the arrival of a new tire manufacturer: Hankook. The South Korean firm will become the exclusive supplier of the World Rally Championship from 2025, replacing Pirelli in this position. A major change which, even if it is accompanied by many questions and doubts about the performance of these new compounds, will have the merit of shaking up everyone's certainties.

Like Pirelli in its time, Hankook will use a specific color code on the sidewalls of its tires to identify the different compounds that will be available and used depending on the terrain. Thus, the tires intended for asphalt – the model called Ventus – will have an orange sidewall, the Dynapro tires for rallying on dirt / gravel will have a yellow sidewall, and the I'cept and I'Pike tires intended for snowy roads will have blue sidewalls. Unfortunately, as was also the case for Pirelli tires, there will be no visual distinction between soft tires and hard tires for the Ventus and Dynapro tires.

© Hankook

Will Hankook be able to answer the doubts?

Hankook, which has signed a three-year WRC contract until 2027, has had a relatively short period to develop its tyres for the premier class, with just one year between the officialisation of the partnership with the WRC (in December 2023) and the first round of the 2025 season, at Rally Monte Carlo (January 23-26). Despite a short experience in ERC Since 2023, the South Korean manufacturer has only been able to benefit from around ten test sessions organized in 2024 with the three manufacturers present in Rally1. Nevertheless, the discipline is not worried about Hankook's lack of experience.

“We have already established a successful partnership with Hankook for the ERC and we are particularly pleased to now extend it to the WRC, says Jona Siebel, Managing Director of WRC Promoter GmbH, ahead of the start of the 2025 season.. Hankook has worked hard to develop tyres that meet the specific requirements of the WRC and we are already looking forward to the premiere at the Rallye Monte-Carlo in January.”

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