
Hankook Tire announced a new truck bus and radial (TBR) tire designed for the commercial car hauler, the company announced Wednesday.
The SmartLine AL50 will be manufactured in Clarksville, Tenn.
"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," says 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."
The car hauler is difficult to design a tire for, Hankook says, because of height restrictions. Tires require a lower profile construction to address clearance challenges. The SmartLine AL50 features a maximum load range of 7,390 lbs. per tire in its 60 series specifications.
The tire also comes with a three-peak mountain snowflake rating, stiffness control contour technology, hidden grooves to improve wet grip and traction, and an innovating mixing system that strengthens the bond between carbon black and rubber in the tire's material.
Hankook's other car hauler tires include the AH37, DH37, TH31 and AH37.