WAYNE, NJ - Hankook Tire announced the verification of its AH24 Premium Regional Steer/All-Position commercial tire as SmartWay verified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay Technology Program.  This verification recognizes the AH24 as a low rolling resistance tire which provides fuel savings and/or emission reduction benefits for fleet customers.

The AH24 was designed with Hankook's e3 (pronounced e-Cubed) technology which focuses on three main areas: Energy, Economy and Environment. e3 is a part of Hankook's Kontrol Technology philosophy which allows for the design and production of tires that provide a range of benefits across four areas that consumers identified as key when choosing quality tires: Performance, Safety, Comfort and a tire's impact on the Environment.

The design and engineering of AH24 was a partnership between Hankook Tire's Global Research and Design center in Korea and Hankook Tire America Corp.'s Akron Technical Center located in Ohio.  Designed specifically for the North American market, the AH24 became available for fleet customers in the third quarter of 2011.

"AH24's verification as a SmartWay verified Premium All-Position tire is not only a great achievement by Hankook's engineers, but great news for fleets as well," said Brian Sheehey, director of commercial tires "This verification brings our total number of SmartWay verified commercial tires to six, giving commercial fleet customers a wide selection of low rolling resistance, energy efficient tires in multiple use applications to equip their fleets with."

The AH24 is designed as a premium regional haul, all-position tire which focuses on high-scrub applications where endurance, durability and high mileage are vital.  AH24 was also developed with adverse weather conditions in mind and employs solid wide ribs and an improved kerf design to displace water for outstanding grip.  An enhanced sidewall design is intended to prevent damage such as cuts and abrasions and to extend casing durability and tire life cycle performance.

Hankook currently offers 17 truck tire models providing coverage for all truck and bus tire service applications and is available at more than 700 servicing commercial tire dealer locations.  Additionally, Hankook has fitments with several original equipment manufacturers, including Navistar and IC Bus, and trailer companies, such as Vanguard National Trailer Corp., Hyundai Translead, Great Dane Trailers, Cheetah Chassis and Kentucky Trailer Technologies.