Laufenn expands portfolio with all-season SUV product

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It's been a busy few weeks for Hankook Tire America Corp.

A few weeks after announcing a $1.6 billion expansion at its plant in Clarksville, Tenn., the U.S. subsidiary of Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. has launched an all-season SUV tire to its Laufenn brand portfolio.

The Laufenn X FIT HP tire, for SUV and CUV vehicles, will be available in 28 sizes, in rim diameter ranges from 16 to 22 inches. Hankook said it will offer a "comfortable and quiet ride without sacrificing performance across wet, dry and winter driving conditions."

The Laufenn X FIT HP uses tread and compound technologies that provide a "well-rounded" and affordable product, the company said. Its optimized stiffness distribution and a wide square tread profile reduces road noise, Hankook said, while delivering improved mileage and performance.

The tire's tread pattern features four circumferential grooves with complementary lateral and multi-layer patterns, enabling the product to excel in water evacuation, maintain stability in wet conditions, and prevent potential surface hazards such as hydroplaning, Hankook claims.

"In keeping with our brand ethos of delivering a life-fit product, this latest addition to our Laufenn FIT product line offers SUV and CUV owners an exciting option to enrich their driving experience," Rob Williams, Hankook's senior vice president, North American sales, said.

"The Laufenn brand fulfills the consumer desire for a product that focuses on quality, yet delivers a tailor-made feel for a great value. Our X FIT HP tire is a perfect example of that."

This latest X FIT HP tire joins a Laufenn portfolio that includes the S FIT, G FIT, X FIT and I FIT models.