Hankook exhibits new tyres at CV Show 2013

Hankook unveiled several new commercial tyres at the CV Show, including the bead to bead retread truck tyre the Alphatread. Additionally Hankook’s latest truck tyres, which aim to fill a gap it identifies between medium and long haul transportation, were displayed, while the brand raised interest in its stand through its sporting sponsorships. Tom May and Phil Dowson, players from Northampton Saints RFC visited the stand, while Hankook also ran a competition to win VIP tickets to football’s Europa League semi-final, a partnership that was announced at last year’s show.

“Hankook maintain a very close relationship with our customers, which enables us to develop innovative tyre solutions,” promised managing director of Hankook Tyre UK, Tony Lee before the show, and the presence of the Smartflex, Hankook’s new all season range provided evidence of this approach.

The Smartflex line-up has been designed for medium to long haul purposes and consists of sizes for the steer and drive-axle position. With its adopted new technologies it aims to meet customer demands focussing on safety and economically conscious customers. The tyre range is designed to be smart and flexible – hence the name – consisting of three main sizes for steer and drive axles The range hopes to fulfil today’s demand for increased load capacities too.

The Smartflex AH31 is a five-rib steer axle tyre for medium to long haul, available in sizes 295/80R22.5, 315/80R22.5 and 315/70R22.5. It is equipped with Hankook’s Spiral Coil Technology – a winded steel belt between the traditional high-tensile steel cord belts, which is designed to improve belt durability. The new technology increases tyre life and load capacity, while stabilising footprint shape for better steering and rolling characteristics. A ‘Tread Wear Equaliser Stepper’ – small support blocks at the outside of ribs two and four works to prevent one-side irregular wear.

The Hankook Smartflex DH31, again available in sizes 295/80R22.5, 315/80R22.5 or 315/70R22.5 are the corresponding drive axle tyre for medium to long haul purposes. Its six-rib tread design has tread blocks in six-angle shape for improved grip, higher mileage and reduced irregular wear. Hankook’s patented “self-regenerating” kerfs in the centre of each block prevent tearing at block edges thus providing good traction throughout the tyre’s life. All Smartflex tyres come with a newly adapted three-dimensional full depth kerf solution. 

“The transportation business can be seen as the veins of the industrial society with just in time deliveries for nearly every product as today’s standard”, explains Hee-Se Ahn, vice president for marketing & sales at Hankook Tire in Europe. “So it is our duty to provide products that make our fleet customers able to keep their promises as flexible as possible and regardless of weather conditions, road or vehicle requirements. This has led us to develop our all new Smartflex range of all-season truck tyres that provides a smart and safe solution combined with the highest flexibility.”

The tyres will be available in Europe from the second quarter in 2013, with the 295-sizes available from the 4th quarter 2013.

Alphatread bead to bead retread

The Alphatread bead to bead retread truck tyre range is designed for medium haul purposes with drive and trailer axle sizes. Hankook says it aims to meet customer demands for reducing fleets running costs by providing a ‘cradle to grave’ tyre solution.

The Alphatread R-DH05 is a drive axle tyre for medium haul, available in sizes 295/80R22.5 and 315/80R22.5. It has a wide outline and compound to improve wet and dry traction as well as longer wear. While the extra wide tread and deep grooves improve mileage, the optimised block shape provides increased rigidity under heavy loads. The Alphatread R-TH22 sized 385/65R22.5 is the corresponding trailer tyre. It has a five-rib tread design and a so called “cool running compound”, alongside optimised zigzag grooves for stone ejection and crack prevention. Hankook says the wide, solid shoulder area provides a higher mileage and helps to prevent belt separation. Its kerfless centre rib enhances free-rolling on axle, increasing the trailer’s riding stability.

“Hankook invest constantly in research and development to provide our customers with environment-friendly products”, said Hee-Se Ahn. Above that our new Alphatread range aims to reduce running costs thus meeting the demands of our customers.” The tyres are produced by Bandvulc and will be available in the UK from the second quarter in 2013.