Nankang at a glance
Nankang Rubber Tire Corp., the maker of Nankang tyres, began in Taiwan, where a group of engineers founded the company. 1959 is regarded as the official year of foundation, although the company's roots go back to the 1940s. Nankang is Taiwan's oldest major tyre manufacturer still in business. As early as 2006, around a third of its revenue came from America and a third from Europe. The company has been export-focused from the very start.
Nankang is an independent company listed on the Taiwanese stock exchange, with no major outside owner. Its headquarters are in Taipei. Most of its output comes from two factories in Taiwan, and since 2003 the company has also had a factory in China's Jiangsu province. Its tyres are sold in more than a hundred countries. Nankang sits in the mid-range price bracket and suits drivers looking for a more affordable alternative to the premium brands. The brand is also well known among track-day drivers.
For Nordic winters, Nankang offers the Ice Activa ICE-1 non-studded tyre and the Snow Viva SV-3 and Winter Activa SV-4 snow tyres. The SV series is designed for Central European winters. The best-known summer tyres are the Econex NA-1 and the sporty Sportnex AS-2+. On track days the semi-slick Sportnex NS-2R is a popular choice. For anyone after an all-season tyre, Nankang offers the Cross Seasons AW-6, which carries the snowflake symbol.