Hankook Tire wins triple honors at Red Dot Design Award 2026

Hankook Tire & Technology announced Friday that it won three "Winner" honors in the product design category at Germany's Red Dot Design Award 2026.

The Red Dot Design Award is one of the world's most prestigious design competitions, organized by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany. Each year it evaluates entries across three categories — product design, brand and communication design, and design concept — judging them on innovation, aesthetics and functionality.

Three Hankook Tire products took home honors this year: the Ventus Evo ultra-high-performance tire, the iON AT eco-friendly tire for electric SUVs and pickup trucks, and the S Fit2 summer performance tire from the company's global brand Laufen.

The Ventus Evo was recognized for its sharp center-section wheel groove design, which improves steering precision and reduces noise. The tire also incorporates a chamfer design and an AI-based eco-friendly EMC to maintain grip while extending tread life by up to 32 percent. A "Vanta Velvet" micro-texture graphic on the sidewall rounds out the design, satisfying both aesthetic and functional criteria.

The iON AT, set for release this year, integrates key electric vehicle performance attributes — energy efficiency, long tread life and low noise — into an off-road-oriented design. Its tread pattern reduces energy loss and contributes to extended driving range, while EMC optimization effectively suppresses heat buildup and wear, earning recognition for innovation and sustainability.

Laufen's S Fit2 features a "Numeric Sidewall" design that reflects the brand's minimalist philosophy, enhancing visual refinement. An asymmetric tread pattern delivers precise handling and strong drainage performance, while an alignment indicator and an EV mark improve user convenience and intuitiveness.