Hankook’s updated Dynapro hard compound tyre, refined for enhanced durability, will make its debut at next week’s Acropolis Rally in Greece, the opening of a seven‑rally gravel stint.
Hankook Hard Compound Tyre Revamped for Greece
The tyre’s core composition—compound, construction, and profile—remains unchanged, while a subtle increase in tread thickness delivers a noticeable boost in consistency and longevity on hot, rough surfaces.
WRC engines will receive the updated tyre under a hastily arranged pre‑event validation cycle, following its first release of a new soft compound tyre for the Safari Rally in Kenya earlier this season.
Short‑Term Testing Drives Confidence
Teams clocked the revised hard tyre during last week’s on‑track test, reporting a meaningful improvement despite the limited data set. Hankook’s WRC representative Steven Cho noted that the revision is an evolutionary step rather than a brand‑new product, taken from the recent Portugal specs.
“It is a very small tuning from Portugal’s formula, more an evolution than a new tyre,” Cho said, adding that the change better handles the demanding Greek gravel stages.
Hyundai Seeks to Exploit Rough Gravel Advantage
Hyundai has framed the return to gravel rallies as a chance to challenge Toyota’s dominance, citing three victories in four recent Greek outings. 2024 Acropolis winner Thierry Neuville remarked that rough gravel rallies with abundant grip play to the team’s strengths, though the introduction of Hankook’s new tyre adds a layer of uncertainty.
Neuville added, “If the weather plays in our favour, we could start strong, but there are still unknowns with the new Hankook tyres.”
With the voltage on the gravel, teams will be watching Hankook’s hard compound as they push the limits of grip and endurance.
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