LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Hankook Tire America Corp. previewed a long- and regional-haul drive position radial truck tire at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville.
The Smart Flex DL12 will be available to customers in the third quarter.
The new tire is designed to offer improved traction, handling and durability, according to Brian Sheehey, director of commercial tire sales.
Hankook plans to offer the tire in six configurations: 11R22.5—14 and 16 ply, 11R24.5—14 and 16 ply; 295/75R22.5; and 285/75R24.5.
Among the Smart Flex DL12's design features are: a four-channel full-depth zig-zag groove tread pattern; an “optimized” carcass structure for better ride and handling; an improved bead profile for enhanced retreadability; and a multiple 3-D kerf design for traction and to help prevent irregular wear, Hankook said.
The tire joins two other recently launched Hankook truck tires: e3 Wide DL07 and e3 Wide TL07 Ultra Wide Base drive and trailer position tires the tire maker displayed at its trucking show booth.