Thanks to a range of improvements, Hankook’s newest offering in the truck tyre space is delivering an increased tyre life of up to 20 per cent.
The new AH51 and DH51 models build on the success of their predecessors, the AH31 and DH31, but with significant improvements. The AH51 offers 15 per cent better mileage, while the DH51 goes even further with a 20 per cent improvement.
Both models also reduce rolling resistance by 10 per cent, making them more cost-effective for operators.
A trusted name in tyres, Hankook has a truly global presence, with eight factories and five research and development centres located throughout the world.
Hankook Tire & Technology began in 1941. Today it produces in excess of 102 million tyres each year, which are supplied to over 160 countries.
Hankook Australia began in 1998 and has grown into the biggest subsidiary in the Asia Pacific region, operating from five branches and four warehouses.
In April, Hankook Tyre Australia launched its SmartFlex Series, featuring truck tyres designed for regional to long-distance travel – with sustainability and future proofing in mind.
Managing director of Hankook Tyre Australia, Junghee Cho, spoke of the company’s commitment to producing tyres that deliver long-lasting performance.
He said Hankook’s unique ‘SmartLife concept’ focuses on maintaining peak performance throughout the tyre’s lifespan. As a result, Hankook tyres can be re-grooved and re-treaded multiple times, potentially increasing tyre life by up to 250 per cent.
The AH51 and DH51 tyres both feature ‘notch-tough’ tread compounds, enhancing resistance and durability for higher mileage performance.
Additionally, Hankook’s Innovative Mixing System or IMS ensures even distribution of materials within the compounds, reducing energy loss and improving fuel efficiency.
This new sub tread compound reduces tyre rolling resistance, while enhanced casing endurance is offered by applying a new side wall compound with improved fatigue resistance and anti-crack performance.
The SCCT design technology provides balanced pressure distribution for stability and durability, further enhancing the tyre’s performance and longevity.
Incorporating self-regenerating tread features, the AH51 and DH51 tyres offer extended mileage over their service life, with 3D sipes and hidden grooves maintaining traction and grip even as the tread wears.
The hidden grooves are designed to appear as the tyre wears, creating new water channels and gripping surfaces, and thus providing better wet grip traction.
What’s more, wide tread blocks enhance the tyre’s rigidity and improve mileage, while delivering a low rolling resistance.
The AH51 features small step-shaped blocks that provide even wearing and prevent stone trapping, resulting in a long tyre life.
The DH51 on the other hand has a wider tread block, increasing the tyre footprint and grip, leading to an improved mileage performance and rolling resistance.
Adding to the list of features, applying full depth, zig-zag sipes helps to maintain a binding force between blocks in the AH51.
Whereas with the DH51, the centre zigzag grooves create a binding effect on each tread block contributing to better rolling resistance and traction.
The DH51 also features horn-shaped self-regenerating sipes, which reduce stress on the tyre’s shoulders and prevent cracks. They also provide enhanced water evacuation which delivers improved wet performance.
The directional v-shaped sipes on the DH51 enhance grip and regenerate as the tyre wears to give maximum performance throughout the lifespan of the tyre.
While the DH51’s full depth 3D sipes deliver excellent mileage and traction during the whole tyre life by reinforcing interlocking between blocks.
The SmartFlex AH51 is designed for all positions, with additional supports in the outer grooves for even wear, while the DH51 boasts a wider contact patch for improved traction and rolling resistance.
With features tailored for Australian road conditions, including enhanced durability, improved fuel efficiency, and reliable traction, the Hankook SmartFlex AH51 and DH51 tyres offer a sustainable and future-proof solution for Australian truck operators.
For more information, visit hankooktire.com/au.