Hankook has received original equipment (OE) approval for its Ventus Evo SUV summer tyre on the Volkswagen Tayron, adding to its existing approval for the Volkswagen Tiguan, according to Hankook’s press release. The Ventus Evo SUV is Hankook’s new-generation, top-tier summer tyre for SUVs, replacing the Ventus S1 evo3 and its Korean-market K12x sibling models.
The Tayron, a mid-size SUV sold as either a five- or seven-seat crossover, is positioned above the compact Tiguan in Volkswagen’s line-up. Volkswagen states that over one million Tiguan units are registered in Germany alone. Hankook fits the Ventus Evo SUV directly on the assembly line for both models: four sizes for the Tayron, and five sizes spanning 17 to 20 inches for the Tiguan.
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A new name for Hankook’s top-tier SUV summer tyre
The Ventus Evo SUV succeeds the Ventus S1 evo3 and its Korean-market K12x sibling as Hankook’s high-performance summer tyre for sport utility vehicles, aligning its SUV range with the Ventus evo naming convention already in use for its passenger-car tyres. The OE fitment on the Tiguan was first announced in late 2024, and the new Tayron approval extends that relationship to VW’s other core SUV nameplate.
OE approval means the tyre passes a car maker’s own durability, handling and NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) testing on the specific vehicle before it can be fitted from the factory — a process that typically takes many months and is separate from any aftermarket rating. For drivers, it signals that the tyre’s characteristics were tuned to the Tiguan’s and Tayron’s chassis rather than being a generic size match.
| Volkswagen model | Body style | Ventus Evo SUV sizes offered |
|---|---|---|
| VW Tiguan | Compact SUV | 5 sizes, 17–20 inch |
| VW Tayron | 5- or 7-seat crossover SUV | 4 sizes (inch range not specified in the announcement) |
Positioning in the high-performance SUV summer segment
The Ventus Evo SUV competes in the high-performance summer-tyre segment for SUVs. Securing OE contracts with popular models like the Tiguan and Tayron is a significant strategic move against rivals such as Continental’s PremiumContact and Michelin’s Primacy and Pilot Sport SUV lines. Gaining OE fitments on high-volume models provides tyre makers with consistent factory-fit volume and, indirectly, greater aftermarket visibility once those cars reach replacement age.
Hankook’s Ventus evo family has performed well in recent independent testing: the standard (non-SUV) Ventus evo achieved victories in Auto Bild allrad’s 2026 SUV summer test and contributed to Hankook ranking highly in Auto Bild’s 2025/2026 manufacturer ranking. The Ventus Evo SUV carries that positioning into the OE channel for VW’s SUV range specifically.
What it means for drivers
Buyers of a new Tiguan or Tayron ordered with the standard summer tyre package can expect the Ventus Evo SUV fitted from the factory, in one of the sizes matching their trim. For existing Tiguan and Tayron owners shopping the replacement market, the Ventus Evo SUV is now sold in the same size ranges as OE (17–20 inch for Tiguan; four sizes for Tayron), positioning it as a like-for-like swap once the original tyres wear out. Hankook has not published independent test scores, EU label ratings or pricing for the Ventus Evo SUV alongside this OE announcement.