Hankook Tire to Support Car Hauler Segment with New SmartLine AL50 TBR Product

Hankook Tire for the challenging and unique commercial car hauler segment with its new SmartLine AL50 truck bus and radial (TBR) tire

Leading global tire maker Hankook Tire announced support for the challenging and unique commercial car hauler segment with its new SmartLine AL50 truck bus and radial (TBR) tire. The SmartLine AL50, in addition to Hankook’s other commercial product lines, are part of the company’s strategic vision. The current expansion of Hankook’s U.S. manufacturing plant in Clarksville, Tenn., which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, will enable the production of one million TBR tires annually.

“Our SmartLine AL50 TBR product is another key step in our plans to further support the commercial transportation industry, especially across some of its more nuanced applications, such as the car hauler segment,” said Rob Williams, President of Hankook Tire North America. “Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to continue that growth and continued investment in the U.S. commercial vehicle market upon the completion of the expansion of our Tennessee Plant which is underway and adds capabilities for TBR production in Clarksville.”

Due to the height restrictions for loading vehicles, the car hauler segment poses considerable challenges in developing a tire that can accommodate significant load-bearing stresses, long-distance durability required for vehicle transportation, and a lower profile construction to address common clearance challenges. The SmartLine AL50 features a maximum load range of 7,390 lbs. per tire in its 60 series specification (295/60R22.5), which provides an advantage over other common 75 series specifications.

Equipped with a three-peak mountain snowflake rating (3PMSF), the SmartLine AL50 is engineered with muti-season performance in mind and technology to help commercial operators go the distance with innovations including:

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