Hankook deploys new material, design and tread technologies to extend the premium status of the SmartFlex product range.

 

Hankook deploys new material, design and tread
technologies to extend the premium status of the
SmartFlex product range.

• Debut of several Hankook premium tyre technologies
• Significant reduction in rolling resistance and CPK
• Improved mileage and wet performance
• Self-regenerating treads – performance in all conditions from first to last millimetres of wear
• SmartLife technology for up to 250% multiple lives performance

Within its successful SmartFlex series, Hankook has introduced new treads in the truck segment for regional up to long-distance traffic in Europe. The SmartFlex AH51 for the steering axle, and the SmartFlex DH51 for the driving axle, respectively offer 15 and 20 percent better mileage in comparison to the previous models. In addition to numerous other features from the Hankook SmartLife concept, with both new tread patterns technologies self-regeneration of tread patterns will be established within the Hankook truck tyre family. The first six dimensions will be available in a selection of European markets starting November 2021.

Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 31^st August 2021 – As part of the Hankook truck tyre portfolio, the successful SmartFlex line covers a particularly wide range of applications, ranging from regional to local traffic distributions. The spectrum even extends, to the long-haul transportation and construction site applications, if necessary. In addition, this will all be possible throughout the calendar year thanks to the 3PMSF certification. Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook is now further expanding its tyre portfolio within the successful SmartFlex line with two completely new treads, the SmartFlex AH51 for the steering axle and the SmartFlex DH51 for the driving axle.

Compared to their predecessors, there has been a considerable increase in mileage performance for both new tyre patterns, 15 percent for the steering axle and 20 percent for the driving axle. Moreover, the 10 percent reduction in rolling resistance for the AH51/DH51 contributes to a further reduction in fuel consumption when compared to the already well performing 31 series tyres. When looking at the CPK indicator (cost per kilometre), which is becoming increasingly important for the entire transportation industry, both new SmartFlex treads are able to support economical fleet operations in an increasingly sustainable manner.

“Hankook Premium truck and bus tyres have long been in the premium category globally and have therefore been used for some time now by many well-known and leading vehicle manufacturers as original equipment worldwide,” says Sanghoon Lee, President of Hankook Tire Europe. “As a company, we place a high value on the sustainability of our products, and therefore our newly developed smart treads fulfil our aspirations for ensuring sustainable and future-proof tyres, and of course also in conjunction with significantly increased customer benefits.”

In the development of both tyres, the company’s design engineers used the Hankook SmartLife concept, which particularly focuses on sustainability. The focus here is on the requirement for the products to always offer the highest possible performance from the first to the last millimetre of tread depth. Like all modern Hankook truck tyres, the two new treads can be regrooved several times thanks to the latest technologies and are of course retreadable. In addition, the Hankook SmartLife Premium casing, in combination with the Hankook Premium retreading, ensures an increase in tyre life of up to 250 percent and thus an even further increase in resource conservation and cost efficiency.

“As a premium tyre maker, the focus of our tyre development is always on premium quality and long service life. In addition, permanent operational safety and achieving the highest possible performance are also decisive criteria,” explains Guy Heywood, Marketing Director Truck & Bus Tyres at Hankook Tire Europe. “Intensive testing has shown that, compared to competitors in the premium category, both new SmartFlex products achieve significantly higher performance standards in the lifetime performance chapter, even when the tyre are 2/3 worn, for example in terms of braking distance on wet roads as well as grip and safety in a wide range of road conditions.”

A distinct feature for both new tyres was notch-tough tread compounds, where special high-performance resins improve the resistance and durability by increasing the molecular weight of the polymers used, thus contributing to an overall higher mileage performance. The base compound of both patterns was consistently designed for efficiency. The increase in the proportion of low-damping materials contributes significantly to the reduction of principle viscoelastic power loss throughout the tread, therefore less energy is lost, and fuel efficiency is improved. The sidewall compounds were also freshly developed for the new SmartFlex generation. Hankook developers have placed a considerable emphasis on significantly increased resistance to crack formation and material fatigue. Thus, the overall resistance of the SmartLife carcasses used on AH51 and DH51 has been further enhanced compared to the predecessor treads.

The innovative Hankook mixing process IMS (Innovative Mixing System) ensures an even distribution of carbon black particles and rubber molecules within the compounds. In combination with the extension of the mixing times at lowered temperatures, a significant increase in the bonding rate between the carbon black and rubber molecules can thus be achieved. As a result, SmartFlex tyres generate less heat during operation.

The SCCT (Stiffness Control Contour Theory) design technology used in SmartFlex products, patented by Hankook, ensures that the internal pressure distribution is as evenly balanced as possible depending on the application. This results in more stability and less movement in the tyre casing during use, which leads to high durability of the SmartLife carcasses and very good retreadability. For both the belt plies and the carcass itself, the AH51 and DH51 each use special high-strength steel cord materials. Together with the SCCT contour, this results in a consistent contact patch for even wear, as well as improved traction and braking performance.

3D sipes with self-regenerating tread features incorporated into the AH51 and DH51 treads emerge after a degree of wear of between 40 and 70% in the tread pattern. The task of these “regenerating” grooves is to lock the tread blocks together in the rolling movement and thus ensure higher overall tread stability and thus resulting in extended mileage over the entire service life. They also make the tyre more robust and less susceptible to external influences, such as poor road surfaces. So-called “hidden grooves” appear from a wear level of around 70 percent and ensure continued high traction and wet grip even in wet conditions until the tread is completely worn out.

The wide tread blocks of the SmartFlex AH51, which can also be used as an all-position tyre, are equipped with additional supports (T.W.E.S. – Tread Wear Equalised Stepper) in the outer grooves and significantly increase the tread stiffness in conjunction with its broad tyre shoulder ribs. They ensure particularly even wear across the entire width of the tyre. This results in further improvements in mileage and rolling resistance. The SmartFlex DH51 has a wider contact patch than its predecessor, which increases traction while improving mileage and rolling resistance. Special sipes on the shoulder blocks, which naturally are under stress on drive axle tyres, help to reduce cracking even during peak loads. In addition, they support tread drainage to further increase traction performance.

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Available sizes of the SmartFlex AH51/DH51

available from market launch in Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland:

Profile	Size	LI/SS	EU label		M+S	Market launch
SmartFlex AH51	315/70R22.5 *	156/150L	C/B/A (72dB)	þ	þ	Nov 2021
315/80R22.5	156/150L (154/150M)	C/B/A (72dB)	þ	þ	Nov 2021
385/65R22.5 20PR	160K (158L)	B/B/A (72dB)	þ	þ	Nov 2021
385/65R22.5 24PR *	164K	B/B/A (72dB)	þ	þ	Nov 2021
SmartFlex DH51	315/70R22.5 *	154/150L	D/B/B (76dB)	þ	þ	Dec 2021
315/80R22.5	156/150L (154/150M)	D/B/B (76dB)	þ	þ	Feb 2022

* Size also available in Nordics, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland.

Range will be progressively extended during 2022 in sizes and markets.

Technical properties of the SmartFlex AH51 and SmartFlex DH51

Hankoook premium tyre technologies

Hidden groove (AH51/DH51)

• New gripping surfaces and water evacuation channels appear on the tyre tread in worn
• Ensure consistent traction and wet grip from the first to last millimetre of tread wear

SmartFlex DH51:

3-dimension sipe (AH51/DH51)

• Zigzag interlocking sipes extending to the base of the tread reduce block movement in the tyre contact pattern.
• Delivers high traction and braking performance during the whole tyre life
• Improved overall mileage

Optimised tread block size and Tread Wear Equalisation Step (T.W.E.S.), AH51

• Delivers increased tread block stiffness
• Ensuring even wear across the entire width of the tyre
• Improvements in mileage and rolling resistance

Performance diagram (AH51)*

• Premium materials, design and tread technologies deliver significant gains in tyre performance

*compared to predecessors

Wide tread block (DH51)

• Increases tread width and reduced channels 5 to 4 mean increased tyre contact area
• Improved traction performance
• Increased mileage, improved traction and reduced rolling resistance

Horn-shaped self-regenerating sipes (DH51)

• Full depth sipes and regenerating tread groove
• Enhanced water evacuation and tread block cooling
• Improved milage and traction

Performance diagram (DH51*)

• Premium materials, designs and tread technologies deliver significant gains in tyre performances

*compared to predecessors

Test results: Comparison with worn tyre

• Hankook premium tyre technologies deliver benchmark grip and safety in all conditions from first to last millimeter of tread. 
• Shorter braking distance and safer driving

Tyre size: 315/70R22.5

Location: Korea automobile testing & research institute Proving Ground

Vehicle: Mercedes Benz Actros 25t tractor

80 km/h to 0 km/h – 5mm tread depth remaining

About Hankook Tire

Hankook Tire manufactures globally innovative, award winning radial tyres of proven superior quality for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks, and buses as well as motorsports (circuit racing/rallies).

Aspiring to bring consumers the utmost excellence in product quality, technological excellence and driving satisfaction, Hankook Tire continuously invests in research and development maintaining five R&D centres and eight production facilities around the world. Bespoke tyre solutions for the European markets as well as European Original Equipment according to the requirements of leading premium car manufacturers, are developed in the company’s regional Technical Centre in Hanover/Germany. Production for the European region is taking place in the state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Rácalmás/Hungary which was inaugurated in June 2007 and is continuously being expanded. Currently around 3,000 employees produce up to 19 million tyres a year for passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks.

Hankook Tire’s European headquarters are located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main in Germany. The manufacturer operates further branches in Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK and Ukraine. Hankook products are sold directly through regional distributors in other local markets. Hankook Tire employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide and are selling their products in over 180 countries. Internationally leading car manufacturers rely on tyres made by Hankook for their original equipment. Approximately 34 percent of the company’s global sales are generated within the European and CIS-Region. Hankook Tire has been represented in the renowned Dow Jones Sustainability Index World (DJSI World) since 2016.

For more information please visit www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com or www.hankooktire.com

Contact: Hankook Tire Europe GmbH | Corporate Communications Europe/CIS | Siemensstr. 14, 63263 Neu-Isenburg | Germany
Felix Kinzer Director tel.: +49 (0) 61 02 8149 – 170 f.kinzer@hankookreifen.de	Lisa Schmid PR Manager tel.: +49 (0) 6102 8149 – 172 l.schmid@hankookn.com	Stefan Prohaska Public Relations tel.: +49 (0) 6102 8149 – 171 s.prohaska@hankookreifen.de