Hankook: driving safety and performance through tyre selection
Tyre manufacturer Hankook has emphasised the importance of understanding a tyre’s features and benefits when selecting products, in the context of an abundant choice in the UK commercial vehicle market.
The firm offers an extensive portfolio which it says is designed to meet the exacting requirements of both vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators.
“Tyres represent the only contact point between a vehicle and the road surface, making driving safety critically dependent on a relatively small contact area,” said the company.
“In the commercial vehicle sector, each tyre must be carefully matched to specific axle positions and service applications to optimise not only safety but also endurance, performance, and economy.
“As a premium tyre manufacturer, Hankook provides products engineered to meet the demands of various road conditions and customer needs – from UK regional operations to intercontinental travel, and across diverse applications including on/off-road, mixed road usage, and urban environments.”
For regional operations, Hankook’s SmartFlex all-season range is said to deliver five core performance attributes: safety, mileage, anti-chip and cut resistance, retreadability, and traction. The range comprises the AH51 for steer axles and the DH51 for drive axles, and TH31 for trailer axles.
The SmartFlex range also includes a versatile hybrid application solution. The AL51 is for steering axle and all-position use and the DL51 is for drive axles designed for long-distance and regional transport. The SmartLine AL50 is for steering axle and all positions, and the DL50 for drive axles are specifically designed for the requirements of long-haul vehicles.
“Each tyre delivers outstanding performance from the first to the last millimetre of tread depth and, like all modern Hankook truck tyres, can be regrooved and retreaded, maximising both cost efficiency and sustainability,” said the manufacturer.
For the construction industry and fleets operating in demanding on/off-road conditions, the SmartWork range is said to provide optimal solutions matched to specific axle fitments and environments.
Said Hankook: “For harsh conditions, options include the AM09 and AM15+ for steer axles and all-position use, the DM09 for drive axles, and TM15 for trailer axles. For milder on/off-road applications, Hankook offers the AM11, DM11 and TM11 for steer, drive, and trailer positions respectively.
“The AM11+ is the most recently launched pattern, specially designed for applications with lots of stopping and starting and increased demands for robustness, such as the waste management sector, where vehicles regularly make contact with kerb edges. Also designed for strong driving power in the mud on construction sites is the DM04, a traction-focused drive axle tyre designed for tough off-road use.”
Given the significant investment that tyres represent for vehicle operators, service life extension is a valuable proposition, says the company.
“Combined with proper tyre husbandry practices – including rotation and pressure maintenance – regrooving can substantially extend tyre life, reduce costs, and deliver environmental benefits such as improved fuel efficiency.
“Tyres designed for regrooving feature additional rubber beneath the main tread and are engineered specifically to optimise their full lifecycle as efficiently as possible, maximising mileage potential with minimal rolling resistance. All suitable Hankook tyres are clearly marked for regrooving.
“Hankook recommends regrooving when tread depth reaches no less than 3mm, recutting to match the existing tread pattern. This should only be performed by appropriately trained personnel using specialist equipment with correctly configured cutting blade depth and width to ensure consistent recut depth. Detailed regrooving guidance for Hankook tyres is available in the current Technical Manual.”
Hankook recognises that the world’s resources are finite and that environmental considerations must inform every stage of design, manufacture, and product use. By engineering quality products with recycling and reuse in mind, it says, regrooving represents one method of extending tyre life and reducing costs.
“Retreading offers an even more environmentally friendly solution with additional cost savings.
The contribution retreading makes – both economically and environmentally – through reduced lifecycle costs and diversion of worn tyres from the waste stream cannot be overstated. You can achieve up to 100 per cent more mileage from your Hankook premium hot-cured retread, while paying 30-40 per cent less than the cost of a new tyre.
“Retreading also brings major sustainability benefits: 70 per cent of raw materials used in manufacturing a new tyre are saved when a tyre is retreaded. Additionally, 1,000 retreaded tyres save approximately 60t of CO2 during production and reduce water and land use by 19 and 29 per cent respectively.”
Hankook will be attending the Devon Truck Show on 22-25 May at Smeatharpe Airfield, Honiton. Visitors to its stand will be able to explore a comprehensive selection of truck and van tyres including the SmartFlex AH51 (steer) and SmartFlex DH51 (drive). Also featured will be the SmartFlex TH31 trailer tyre, alongside the newest commercial van tyre, the Vantra Transit — a summer tyre specifically developed for modern commercial vans and transporters.
Complementing the Hankook range, the company will also present a selection of tyres from its Laufenn brand, including the LZ22, an all-weather drive tyre optimised for regional applications; the LF21, an all-position tyre offering exceptional wear resistance; and the LF95, a robust trailer tyre engineered for high durability and mileage.
In addition to its role as a main event sponsor, Hankook will also sponsor the ‘Best Truck’ and ‘Best Van’ award categories, open to all drivers showcasing their vehicle at the event.
