Hankook's Tire Sales Grew in Second Quarter
Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd.’s tire division posted sales of $1.7 billion during the second quarter of 2025, an 8.4% year-over-year increase.
Hankook’s tire division operating profit during the quarter totaled $249.1 million.
The company’s total 2Q 2025 sales amounted to $3.8 billion, while its overall operating profit during the period totaled $254.3 million.
Replacement sales
Tire sales were driven “by strong demand for replacement and original equipment tires in global markets and a higher proportion of high value-added products,” according to Hankook officials.
During the first half of the year, 18-inch and larger tires accounted for 47.2% of Hankook’s passenger and light truck tire sales, up .6% versus the same period in 2024.
OE channel
In the OE channel, electric vehicle (EV) tires “accounted for 24% of sales, marking a 7% point increase from a year earlier and reinforcing Hankook Tire’s competitive position in the expanding EV segment.”
During the second quarter, Hankook “expanded its portfolio of top-tier OE clients,” supplying tires for Lucid Motors’ first electric SUV, Kia's first sedan-type EV and other models.
“The company now serves approximately 50 global automotive brands and more than 280 vehicle models,” say Hankook officials.
U.S. activity
TBR tire production at Hankook Tire America Corp.’s Clarksville, Tenn., plant is expected to begin as early as this year, Rob Williams, the company’s president, told MTD this past May.
The plant, which will be Hankook’s first TBR tire manufacturing facility in the U.S., is currently in the second phase of a multi-year, $1.6 billion investment that will also double the factory's consumer tire production capacity.
Initial, daily TBR tire production targets at the plant will total 3,000 units, with “annual, total production of about one million” tires, Williams recently told MTD.
“It is a priority for Hankook to invest in the U.S. market as a growth driver, which includes the TBR market. Hankook is already producing TBR products at its global production bases. Our Tennessee plant positions Hankook to enable local-to-local production, improving supply chain efficiencies with some of our key suppliers” and customers.
More recently, Hankook announced the roll-out of the first highway-terrain tire for electric light-duty pickup trucks to its iON lineup. The Hankook iON HT, which will be available in August, features an "XL" load designation to accommodate additional cargo that's customary with light truck owners, in addition to the vehicle's heavy battery pack.
The company also unveiled its SURETIRE warranty plan offers 30- to 100-day free trials on several Hankook tires, including products in the Ventus, Dynapro, Kinergy, Weatherflex, i*cept, i*pike, and iON lineups.
SURETIRE provides "ongoing limited manufacturer, treadwear mileage and road hazard warranty protection," according to Hankook officials.