Hankook wins design award for SmartFlex AH31all-season truck tyre

Hankook has been awarded an iF Design Award for its all-season truck tyre SmartFlex AH31. Incorporating advanced design and technology to improve performance, Hankook’s SmartFlex AH31 line-up will be extended significantly in 2015. The tyre will be displayed at the CV Show in April.

Hankook’s SmartFlex AH31 steer axle tyre is designed for operation on long and regional distances.  The tyre features M+S and 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake)  markings, as well as a pattern with wide tread and shoulder design. Hankook’s Tread Wear Equalised Stepper (TWES) technology is applied to the tyre’s block design pattern, making it wear more evenly, resulting in longer tyre life.

The tyre will be available in three additional sizes (385/65R22.5, 385/55R22.5, and 315/60R22.5) as of Q3 2015 and a reinforced version with increased load index (295/80R22.5, LI 154/148) as of Q2 2015.

Established in 1953, the iF Design Award assesses entries based on various evaluation criteria including design quality, functionality, safety, visualisation of intended use and intuitiveness and environmental impact. Hankook makes the point that tyres could be said to be inherently functionalist in terms of design, as the aesthetics of the tread pattern design directly affect performance features, such as its ability to channel water.

Last year, Hankook received recognition for it technological leadership and design capability from four of the world’s top design awards: the iF Design Award, Red Dot Design Award, IDEA, and Good Design Award.