Hankook Revises Gravel Tyre Before Acropolis

WRC, Sportrik Media - Hankook has revised its hard-compound gravel tyre ahead of the 2026 Acropolis Rally after its durability attracted criticism in Portugal. The updated Dynapro specification will make its competitive debut in Greece, where high temperatures and rocky stages will again place tyre strength among the principal factors shaping the result.

The change follows concerns raised by several drivers after Rally Portugal. Tyres also influenced the final-day contest, when Sebastien Ogier and Sami Pajari lost important positions because of tyre-related problems. Those incidents increased the pressure on Hankook to improve consistency before the next sequence of hot-weather gravel events.

Hankook has not introduced a completely new tyre construction. The Korean manufacturer has retained the compound, fundamental structure and profile used in Portugal, while making an adjustment to the tread thickness. The limited revision is intended to improve the tyre’s ability to withstand abrasion, rock impacts and repeated heat cycles across long special stages.

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“It’s actually a very small tuning from Hankook’s Portugal specification, so it’s more of an evolution than a new tyre,” Hankook WRC representative Steven Cho said.

Tread thickness has a direct influence on durability and temperature management. A tread that is too thin can wear or suffer damage more quickly when exposed to sharp rocks, while excessive additional material can increase block movement and generate more heat. Hankook must therefore balance impact protection, consistent grip and steering response.

“The compound, construction and profile are unchanged. We’ve made a small adjustment to the tread thickness and, despite the change being relatively modest, we’ve seen a meaningful improvement in overall performance and consistency,” Cho explained.

The validation period before its competitive introduction has been short. WRC teams have used the revised specification during pre-event testing over the past week, allowing Hankook to collect information on temperature, wear rates, deformation and impact resistance. Actual rally conditions, however, will combine speed, dust, loose rocks and deteriorating roads in a way that cannot be fully reproduced during a test.

Acropolis provides an appropriate benchmark because its special stages are traditionally rough and rocky. High ambient temperatures can increase tyre pressure and internal heat, while sharp stones and broken surfaces create risks to both the tread and sidewall. Drivers must also decide when to attack and when to reduce their pace to ensure the tyres survive until the end of a stage.

Tyre strategy will influence the contest between Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, Hyundai and M-Sport Ford. Teams must consider spare-wheel allocation, starting pressures and vehicle management across the roughest sections. Carrying additional spares provides greater protection, but the extra weight can reduce acceleration and place more load on the car.

Hankook’s revision will not eliminate puncture risk completely because damage is also determined by road position, line choice, tyre pressure and the severity of an impact. The consistency of the updated specification will nevertheless determine whether drivers can attack with greater confidence without encountering the performance decline seen in Portugal.

For Ogier and Pajari, Acropolis will also provide an opportunity to assess whether the revised product has addressed the weakness that affected their previous event. Both require a tyre capable of maintaining its structure and grip throughout the stages so their pace is not compromised by conservative driving or the need to change a wheel.

The Greek debut will generate the first complete competition data before the championship continues through its next gravel rounds. If the tread adjustment improves durability without reducing grip, Hankook can retain the specification as a foundation. Should further problems emerge, the supplier will need to continue development before Rally Estonia and the next phase of the 2026 WRC season.