Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. will provide the 2016 Toyota Tacoma with its premium highway all-season Dynapro HT tires in the size of P245/75R16S. This latest agreement reinforces Hankook's partnership with Toyota, and also raises the tire maker's brand presence in original equipment orders for North American pickups.
Hankook Tire’s first OE contract with Toyota was for its 2013 Corolla. This new agreement will allow Hankook Tire to supply Toyota’s bestselling pickups in North America, diversifying its OE portfolio for the Toyota brand. Demand for pickups in the U.S. is increasing, accounting for approximately 14% to 15% of the light vehicle market.
“We believe that this new agreement with Toyota is a meaningful step forward for Hankook Tire as we seek to improve our presence in the North American OE business, particularly in the pick-up truck segment,” says Seung Hwa Suh, CEO and vice chairman of Hankook Tire. “Our long-term partnership with Toyota once again demonstrates that Hankook Tire’s continued investment in R&D to develop cutting-edge tires meets the demands of one of the automotive market’s most significant players.”
The Dynapro HT will be equipped 100% with the steel wheels standard on the SR and SR5 versions, two of five trim levels of the latest generation of the Tacoma pickup.
Hankook’s Dynapro HT was designed as a premium highway all-season tire for light trucks and sport utility vehicles, providing drivers with improved snow traction, lower rolling resistance for improved vehicle fuel economy, and an extended product lifespan. While the tire’s 3.5% wider tread offers better driving comfort as well as longer mileage, the Dynapro HT also utilizes a stiff center block and an advanced multi kerf design to provide better handling and noise performance all year round. In addition, the Dynapro HT’s optimized footprint design was developed with the help of advanced computer simulation, creating a more consistent footprint shape that generates less noise and provides excellent grip even in the most extreme driving conditions.
For more information, visit Hankook Tire’s global website at www.hankooktire.com/global.
