CV show launch for Hankook retread range
At last September’s IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany, Hankook UK sales director Barrie Horrocks told Tyres & Accessories of plans to introduce a bead-to-bead retread range in 2013. He also shared that the UK would serve as a pilot market for the new truck tyre retread line, which will be marketed under the ‘Alphatread’ brand name. Hankook now reports it will unveil its first Alphatread products at the Birmingham-based Commercial Vehicle Show in April, ahead of their UK launch in the second quarter of 2013.
As is the case with other tyre majors, Hankook’s aim with Alphatread is to provide commercial vehicle operators with a package that covers multiple tyre lives and minimises overall running costs; Hankook says a retreading line is an essential component of any fleet portfolio these days. And while Alphatread has already been successfully trialled in Spain through Grupo Soledad, the UK is Hankook’s largest truck tyre market in Europe, and therefore the range’s rollout here will be one the company watches closely.
Commenting on the new retreading range, Hankook Tyre UK managing director Tony Lee said “Hankook firmly remain one of the market leaders in research and development as we continue to invest in the development of environmentally conscious products which aim to reduce running costs and meet the demands of our valued customer base. The new Alphatread range acts as an all-encompassing ‘cradle to grave’ tyre solution.”
The Alphatread R-DH05 (the ‘R’ stands for remould) shall initially consist of two drive axle tyre sizes, 295/80 R22.5 and 315/80 R22.5; Hankook says both provide “excellent wet and dry performance with a wide profile for stability and unique compound for long lasting wear.” The Alphatread R-TH22 trailer axle tyre will be available in 385/65 R22.5 proving a “bespoke five rib tread design and cool running compound for optimum performance.” All three sizes mirror new tyre patterns. Horrocks said the Alphatread range will be remoulded in the UK by a major independent remoulder, using only first life Hankook casings; Bandvulc was later named as the company that will produce UK Alphatreads.
Delving into the Alphatread range in greater detail, Hankook says the remoulds boast a “unique tear-resistant tread design” for maximum durability and a wide, flat profile that “improves stability and reduces uneven wear.” Deep grooves are present to “help to ensure maximised mileage potential in all weather conditions.”
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