TYRES: Kooking up a storm

Building on its current role as the official tyre of the National Rugby League, Korean tyre-maker Hankook has acquired the naming rights for all Monday night football matches in 2012, beginning with the game between the Rabbitohs and the Roosters that was staged at the ANZ stadium in Sydney on March 5 (and won in the final minutes by the Roosters).

According to Hankook Tyre Australia’s managing director Paul Park, the NRL is the ideal platform to promote tyre safety, with Hankook using its presence on Monday nights to raise awareness of the danger of under-inflated tyres.

"Our NRL Pump it Up consumer information campaign will encourage league fans to regularly check their tyre pressures”, he said.

"Our message to fans is that driving on under-inflated tyres is like trying to kick an under-inflated football - the result is reduced performance and less control. Under-inflated tyres reduce handling control, lengthen braking distances and reduce tyre durability to the point where they could suddenly fail," continued Mr Park.

NRL CEO David Gallop said he was pleased to join with Hankook in spreading the tyre safety message.

"We want our fans to get to the game safely and return home safely; regularly checking tyre pressures can contribute to that and the NRL is happy to support that message. We are very pleased to have Hankook Tyre join our select group of corporate partners" he said.

Hankook is currently the seventh-largest tyre company in the world, with sights on securing fifth spot by 2015.

The company is currently an original equipment supplier to General Motors, Volkswagen, Toyota, Renault-Nissan and Hyundai.

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