WRC
Hankook unveils new soft tyre ahead of Safari Rally Kenya
Hankook Tire will debut a new soft-specification gravel tyre at this week’s Safari Rally Kenya as crews prepare for one of the toughest events on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar.
The new Dynapro R213 soft compound has been developed over the past year following feedback from drivers and manufacturers during Hankook’s first season as the championship’s exclusive tyre supplier. While the tyre retains the same tread pattern used on gravel rallies last season, key changes have been made to its internal construction and compound.
Hankook’s Stephen Cho explained that the development programme focused on improving compliance and performance in cooler or damp conditions while maintaining the durability demanded by rough gravel rallies.
“This tyre has been in development throughout the last year. In fact, since the announcement of our tyre supply in 2024, we’ve been working closely and diligently on tyre specification development together with the FIA and the manufacturers,” he said.
“This particular tyre was developed by taking a lot of the feedback we received from the manufacturers and the drivers as they started to better understand our product.”
Cho said the initial gravel specification introduced last season proved durable but competitors were keen for improvements in certain conditions.
“Some of the key feedback we received was that our first specification, which we launched last year, was generally well received. Aside from extremely rough rallies - or situations where punctures are unavoidable - our reliability and durability have been strong points,” he explained.
“However, drivers also told us that a little more compliance would be welcome. They wanted a bigger performance delta between the hard and soft compounds, and a bit more compliance to improve performance in lower temperatures, particularly in damp or wet conditions.”
Hankook’s engineers responded by modifying both the tyre’s construction and compound.
This year's Safari Rally is expected to be extremely challenging
© WRC
“The construction has been modified to make the tyre slightly softer and more compliant, allowing a little more movement in the tyre. This should provide better feedback to drivers,” Cho said.
“The compound has also been updated, with a focus on improving usability in low temperatures and wet conditions.”
The new specification arrives as crews brace for another punishing Safari Rally. Cho said early reports from reconnaissance suggest conditions could be even tougher than last year’s already brutal event.
“Last year, when we came to Kenya for the first time, people were already saying it was the roughest Safari anyone had seen in a while,” he said.
“So I asked them how this year compares, and the answer was: even more difficult.”
“Heavy rain has brought a lot of mud onto the roads, and that mud is now exposing large rocks, bedrock and other hidden hazards. So we’re expecting another incredibly difficult and challenging event for the drivers, teams and of course for our tyres as well.”
