Hankook opens ‘field office’ at Nürburgring 

Neu-Isenburg, Germany – Hankook Europe Technical Centre (ETC) has officially opened a new field office in Meuspath, near the Nuerburgring race track complex in southwest Germany.

The workshop, which has been operational over the past few months, will support ‘real-world testing’ of high-end tires during development, the South Korean tire maker announced 7 Dec. 

The focus will be on both racing tires and OE tires for high performance vehicles, said Hankook, noting a “massive growth” in the volume of OE demand. 

Hankook has been carrying out extensive tests of its ultra-ultra-high-performance (UUHP) tires for OE fitments at the Nordschleife north loop track for several years.

In the sports car segment, the company said it uses the “green hell” track for "extensive test drives" to ensure the tires meet the requirements of vehicle manufacturers and their customers. 

“These final product tests are an integral part of the process and are clearly defined as a decisive acceptance criterion for many high-end vehicles,” said the tire maker.

Opening the workshop in the immediate vicinity of the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife enables Hankook to carry out performance and load tests “much more efficiently,” it added.