Hankook Truck & Bus Tires in 2026: How to Read the Range and the Codes

Key takeaways

• Hankook organizes its 2026 truck and bus range into five product lines, each built for a different use case: Smart Line (long haul), Ultra-Super Single (wide-base), Smart Flex (regional and mixed service), Smart Work (off-road and construction), and Smart City / Smart Touring / e Smart City (urban, coach and electric bus).
• Every Hankook commercial tire carries a short alphanumeric code — for example AL52, DH37, TL21 — that tells you the axle position, the use case and the product generation before you read a single spec. Learn the code and you can place any Hankook tire in the range in seconds.
• All Hankook truck and bus tires are built on the company’s SmartTec technology platform, which Hankook describes as balancing mileage, cut and chip resistance, retreadability, traction, structural strength and safety.
• The catalog’s data pages follow a consistent layout: size, load range, measuring and approved rims, air pressure, load limits, dimensions, and recommended position. The structure is close to what other major brands use, so the reading skills in this guide carry over.
• This guide is written from the North American edition of the catalog. Sizes and rim approvals can differ by region — confirm with a local Hankook representative before ordering.

Why this catalog matters

Hankook is the seventh-largest tire company in the world by sales, with global sales revenue of USD 6.9 billion in 2024, according to the catalog. The company sells in about 160 countries, runs 7 regional headquarters, 5 R&D centers and 8 manufacturing plants, and employs around 22,000 people worldwide. For truck and bus tires specifically, the 2026 catalog lists original-equipment fitment with major truck and bus builders in North America, including Ford, Hino, Stellantis, International, Freightliner (Cascadia), Navistar, RAM, Hyundai and others. OE fitment changes between catalog editions, so confirm the current list with Hankook.

For a fleet manager or an independent shop, the catalog answers three practical questions:

1. Which Hankook line is designed for my route — long haul, regional, mixed service, urban or off-road?
2. What does the alphanumeric code on the tire tell me before I even look at the spec table?
3. What load, pressure and size does this tire support for the axle I am fitting it to?

This guide walks through the catalog in that order: how the lines are organized, how to read the product code, how to read a data page, how the load tables work, and where the range appears to be heading.

How Hankook organizes the range

Five product lines, by use case

The catalog’s “Product Overview” page groups every truck and bus tire into five families:

A sixth category, Smart Control, is listed in the catalog as optimized for traction and safety in winter driving, though the 2026 edition’s main product pages (as reviewed for this article) are concentrated in the five lines above. Check whether Smart Control has dedicated SKUs in your market or is a feature set applied within other lines.

The positioning map

The catalog includes a “Positioning Map” that plots every product code against two axes: application (long haul, regional haul, urban, on & off-road) and position (steer, drive, trailer). This is a fast way to see, for example, that AL52 and AL21 sit in the long-haul steer position, while AH37 and AH35 sit in the regional/mixed-service steer position, and DL52/DL21 sit in the long-haul drive position.

Segmentation: how to read the product code

This is the single most useful page in the catalog for a buyer. Hankook’s product codes follow a fixed structure with four parts:

1. Position (first letter): A = all-position, D = drive, T = trailer.
2. Circumstance / usage type (second letter): L = long haul (long distance, high average speed on motorways and truck roads), H = regional haul (medium distance, local road conditions), U = urban (frequent stops, city buses), M = mixed service / off-road (rough surfaces, off-road grip and damage resistance), W = winter (snow and ice roads).
3. Sequence number: a generation or model number.
4. Severity (where present): some codes carry an additional qualifier for load or construction (for example the “+”’ suffix on e3 Max AL21+ type variants, or a numeric suffix like DL15+).

Reading a real example: DH37 = Drive position (D), Regional/mixed-service circumstance (H), sequence 37. TL21 = Trailer position (T), Long-haul circumstance (L), sequence 21. AL52 = All-position (A), Long-haul (L), sequence 52.

Once you know this structure, a code like AU56 tells you immediately that it is an all-position urban tire — in this case, the catalog confirms AU56 is listed under e Smart City, Hankook’s electric-bus tire sub-line, described as the company’s first exclusive tire for electric buses.

The product families, line by line

The descriptions below are based on Hankook’s own product text in the catalog. Where the catalog compares a product’s benefits to “the previous tire” or “old” design, that is Hankook’s own before/after claim, not an independent test.

Smart Line (long haul)

Smart Line AL52 / e3 Max AL21 (all-position, steer). A long-haul steer tire built for long mileage and fuel efficiency. Key features described in the catalog: an “Innovative Side Decoupling Groove” with a multi round-edge sipe that mitigates tearing, cracking and uneven wear by reducing movement between sidewall and shoulder; and a tread compound technology with an expanded belt for even road grip, plus a low-rolling-resistance and mileage compound that Hankook says minimizes energy loss and heat generation. Sizes include 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 285/75R24.5 and 295/75R22.5, in load ranges 14G and 16H.

Smart Line DL52 / e3 Max DL21 (drive). A long-haul drive tire built on the same mileage-and-fuel-efficiency positioning as the AL52/AL21 steer tires. The catalog describes a “Main Center Groove Zig-Zag” design with hidden lateral grooves that appear as the tire wears, creating new water channels and gripping surfaces for wet grip; a 3D kerf that reinforces interlocking between tread blocks for traction, stability and even wear; and a closed shoulder for smooth wear and stability. Sizes include 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 285/75R24.5 and 295/75R22.5, load ranges 14G and 16H.

Smart Line TL52 / e3 Max TL21 (trailer). A long-haul trailer tire. The catalog highlights a “Side Decoupling Groove” designed to resist irregular wear, improve durability and promote stability, plus a linear 4-groove pattern for straight-line drivability and an enhanced shoulder rib for road stability. Sizes include 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 285/75R24.5 and 295/75R22.5.

Smart Line AL50 (all-position). A long-haul steer tire described as delivering reinforced traction with high fuel efficiency, using a 4-groove pattern with straight and zig-zag type grooves, a stepped groove design to prevent block deformation, and an “Irregular Wear Prevention Sipe” that disperses stress at the groove edge. Available size 295/60R22.5 (18J) is listed among others. The size listed is one of several; see the catalog for the full AL50 range.

DL11 (drive). A long-haul all-position/drive tire positioned for fuel efficiency with optimized grip. The catalog describes an “Optimized Block Size” for a longer tread life and fuel savings, and a closed shoulder rib for stability and even wear. Sizes include 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 285/75R24.5 and 295/75R22.5, load ranges 14G and 16H.

Ultra-Super Single

e3 Wide DL21 (drive). A wide-base, long-haul-and-regional drive tire. The catalog cites a “New Spiral-Coil Technology” — described as providing an optimized footprint and strengthened casing stability compared with tires that do not use it — alongside seven main grooves with a strengthened shoulder rib to reduce deformation of the outer groove. Size: 445/50R22.5, load range 20L.

e3 Wide DL12 (drive). A long-haul drive wide-base tire with 7 main grooves in a zig-zag pattern and full depth, a “Multi 3D Kerf Design,” and a combined rib-and-block tread pattern. Hankook states this design delivers long original tread life with excellent traction throughout the tire’s life. Size: 445/50R22.5, load range 20L.

e3 Wide TL21 (trailer). A wide-base trailer tire built on the same Spiral-Coil Technology platform as the DL21. The catalog includes a specific weight-saving claim: “Weight savings around 400 lbs per tractor. Rolling resistance reduced by 33% compared to duals,” comparing a 295/75R22.5 dual setup against the 445/50R22.5 wide-base single. This is Hankook’s own comparison, not an independent test, and its test basis is not stated here. Size: 445/50R22.5, load range 20L.

Smart Flex (regional and mixed service — the largest family)

This is the biggest line in the catalog, covering steer, drive and trailer positions for regional haul and mixed-service work.

Smart Flex AH51 / AH24 (all-position). Regional/medium-haul steer tires. AH24 is described with an “Arrowhead-Shaped Groove Wall” and a “Tread Wear Equalized Stepper (T.W.E.S.)” — small step-shaped blocks that even out wear and prevent stone trapping. AH51 uses a “3D Sipe” design with full-depth sipes and a “Hidden Groove” that appears as the tire wears to create new water channels. Sizes include 11R22.5, 11R24.5, 295/75R22.5 and 385/65R22.5.

Smart Flex DH51 / DH37 (drive). Regional drive tires for extreme mileage and traction. DH37 features a rib-and-block tread design with 3D kerfs and a zig-zag center groove for traction and rolling resistance. DH51 adds a wide tread block for increased footprint and grip. Sizes include 10R22.5, 11R22.5, 11R24.5 and 295/75R22.5.

Smart Flex DH52 (drive). Another regional drive tire in the DH family, positioned for extreme mileage and traction with cut-and-chip resistant compound technology. The catalog describes a reactive resin-and-sulfur compound system that increases polymer molecular weight for cut and chip resistance, plus a “Heel & Toe Stopper” in the lateral grooves for self-regenerating sipes.

Smart Flex DL12 / DL15+ (drive). Long-and-regional-haul drive tires using “Self-Regenerating Siping” — grooves that appear mid-life and continue delivering traction until the tire wears out — and a “Bottom Round Edge Siping” to mitigate cracking and tearing.

AH37 (all-position). A regional tire for extreme mileage and fuel efficiency, using 3D Kerf Technology, zig-zag grooves with open shoulders, and deeper grooves with a wider tread for traction and braking performance across weather conditions.

DH06 (drive/all-position). A new all-season tire for variable road conditions, with multi 3D sipes for low rolling resistance and traction, a wide tread width for high mileage, and an innovative rib-type tread pattern with semi-sipes for even wear.

Smart Flex AH35 / DH35 (all-position / drive). Tires positioned for variable road conditions and regional pick-up-and-delivery work. DH35 uses a stone ejector and main zig-zag groove for traction and drainage, plus a slanted groove design to reduce chunking.

Smart Flex DH55 / TH31 (drive / trailer). Trailer- and drive-position tires for variable road conditions, with a lateral semi-groove and a wider three-channel zig-zag groove design.

Smart Work (mixed service, off-road, construction)

Smart Work AM15(+) (all-position). An all-position tire for toughness on site and road stability, using polygonal blocks, an aggressive groove design, an interblock tie-bar for straight-line driving and impact dispersion, and stone ejectors with lateral asymmetrical grooves.

Smart Work AU57 (all-position). An all-position tire for on- and off-road conditions, with extra-wide tread blocks and deep grooves, a sidewall protector against scrub and punctures, and tapered-edge hexagonal blocks for stability and crack resistance, aimed at ultra-high mileage.

Smart Work AM09(+) (all-position). An off-road-focused all-position tire with open shoulder blocks, optimized tie-bars, a rigid shoulder rib for stone rejection and improved traction, and a design intended to increase casing durability for better retreadability.

Smart Work DM09 (drive). An off-road drive tire using an asymmetric groove angle to mitigate stone retention, massive tread blocks and a specific compound for cut and penetration resistance, and a four-belt construction with a shoulder lug for grip and self-cleaning.

DM04 (drive). A drive tire for regional-haul and off-road conditions, listed in the Smart Work overview.

Smart City, Smart Touring and e Smart City (urban, coach, electric bus)

Smart Touring AL22 (all-position, coach). A new all-position coach bus tire for city traffic with frequent stop-and-go driving. The catalog describes 3D sipes that increase block stiffness for traction, wet grip, handling and mileage; a “Tread Wear Equalized Stepper” to control tearing and wearing; and a multi-zig-zag groove for highway traction.

Smart City AU04 (all-position). An urban all-position tire for city traffic. Feature detail for the AU04 is limited here; check the printed catalog page before relying on specific claims.

e Smart City AU56 (all-position, electric bus). Described in the catalog as Hankook’s first exclusive tire for electric buses. Features include a “Tread Wear Equalized Stepper,” a “Hidden Groove” that creates new water channels as the tire wears, a sidewall wear indicator with three reinforced markers (so a shop can visually detect excessive wear from curbing at roughly 40% and 70% wear stages), and an “S-Shaped 3D Sipe” that minimizes pattern movement and reduces rolling resistance by increasing interlocking between lateral and tangential blocks.

How to read a Hankook product data page

Every product page in the catalog follows a similar table structure, close to what other major brands use. The columns are:

• S-Code / Size: the internal stock code, followed by the tire size (for example 11R22.5, 295/75R22.5, 445/50R22.5).
• Ply/Load Rating: the load range letter and its ply-rating equivalent (for example 14G, 16H, 18J, 20L).
• Type: T/L for tubeless (the catalog’s truck and bus tires in this edition are tubeless unless marked otherwise).
• Measuring Rim / Approved Rim: the rim width(s) the size is measured and approved on. Some sizes list more than one approved rim (for example 7.50 and 9.00 inch).
• Max. Air (PSI), Single (S) / Dual (D): the maximum cold inflation pressure for single and dual mounting.
• Max. Load (LBS), Single (S) / Dual (D): the maximum load in pounds at that pressure, for single and dual mounting.
• Overall Diameter / Section Width (inch): the physical size of the inflated tire.
• Tread Width (inch): the width of the tread surface.
• Tread Depth (32nd inch): the new-tire tread depth.
• Revs/Mile: revolutions per mile, used for odometer and mileage calculations.
• SLR (inch): static loaded radius — the distance from the axle centerline to the ground under load.
• Max Speed (mph): the speed rating, typically 75 mph for long-haul products in this catalog.
• Weight (lbs): tire weight.

A short worked example from the catalog’s Smart Line AL21 table: an 11R22.5, load range 16H tire is listed with an approved rim of 8.25 (measuring) / 7.50 (approved), a max air pressure of 120 psi, a max load of 6,610 lbs single / 6,005 lbs dual, an overall diameter of about 41.4 inches, a tread depth of 19/32, and a 75 mph speed rating. Compare that to the 11R24.5, load range 16H in the same family, which steps up to a larger overall diameter (about 43.4 inches) and a higher max load (7,160 lbs single / 6,610 lbs dual) at the same 120 psi. The size code tells you the physical difference; the table tells you the load difference.

Every data page ends with the same footnote convention: “Use inflation pressure specifications dependent on load. Tire construction and material specifications subject to change without notice or obligation. S = Single, D = Dual.” Treat every number in the catalog as subject to that caveat, and confirm current specifications with Hankook before ordering against them.

Basic tire knowledge: the sidewall and the size code

The catalog includes a “Basic Tire Knowledge” reference page that explains how to read a tire size marking, using the example 295/75R22.5 149/146 L:

• 295 — tire section width in millimeters.
• 75 — aspect ratio, calculated as (section height ÷ section width) × 100.
• R — radial construction.
• 22.5 — rim diameter in inches.
• 149 — maximum load index when mounted as a single wheel (corresponds to 7,165 lbs per the catalog’s own example).
• 146 — maximum load index when mounted as a dual wheel (corresponds to 6,615 lbs per the catalog’s own example).
• L — the tire’s maximum speed symbol (75 mph).

The same page defines the physical measurements used throughout the catalog:

• Overall diameter — diameter from tread surface to tread surface, inflated but unladen.
• Tread width — the width of the tread surface designed for road contact.
• Static loaded radius — distance from the axle centerline to the ground at rated load and pressure.
• Section height and section width — the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the inflated, unladen tire.
• Rim width — the distance between the inside of the rim flanges.
• Revs/mile — revolutions of the tire per mile.

The DOT and ISO markings

A separate page in the catalog explains the markings every truck tire must carry: the brand name, an E-mark and number (certifying the tire for use in Europe, alongside country-specific marks such as KS, UTQG, CCC or NORM where relevant), a “Regroovable” mark (denoting that the tire has enough rubber under the grooves to be re-cut by a trained professional for roughly 50% more usable tread), a “Tubeless” or “Tube Type” marking, the construction type (R for radial, D for bias/diagonal, B for the now-extinct belted construction), the pattern name, and the load and inflation pressure standard for that size. The catalog also describes a Tread Wear Indicator (TWI) mark; check the catalog wording for the exact definition.

Load and inflation pressure tables

The catalog includes Load Inflation Pressure Tables for tubeless truck and bus tires, organized by tire size and designation. Three conventions matter when reading them:

• A = Load Limit across an Axle (4 Tires), D = Load Limit across Dual tires (2 Tires), S = Load Limit for a Single tire. Make sure you are reading the column that matches how the tire will actually be mounted.
• The catalog states that tire load limits “are based upon Tire and Rim Association (TRA) standards and tables, except where there is no specification established by the TRA.” In those cases, the design follows European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) standards. For any non-standard application, the catalog directs buyers to contact Hankook’s Technical Service Department rather than inferring a load rating.
• A footnote on at least one table specifies “Operating speed less than 55 mph” for certain load/pressure combinations — a reminder that, as with other brands’ tables, the load limit is tied to a speed assumption, and running faster than that assumption without derating the load is not supported by the table.

As with any manufacturer’s table, the number printed is a maximum, not a target. The correct operating pressure for a given axle should be set from the actual measured load on that axle, cross-checked against the table, and verified with a calibrated gauge — not read off the tire’s maximum rating.

The full load-table grid is not reproduced here. For any load-at-pressure figure beyond the load-index example above, use the printed catalog table.

Matching the code to the job: a quick reference

Use this table as a fast lookup once you know a tire’s product code.

Combine the two: AL = all-position, long haul. DH = drive, regional haul. TM = trailer, mixed service/off-road. The sequence number that follows is a generation or model identifier and does not by itself indicate performance level — compare the actual spec page, not just the number.

How to choose: a step-by-step method

1. Identify the route type using Hankook’s own circumstance letters: long haul, regional, urban, mixed service/off-road, or winter.
2. Identify the axle position: steer/all-position, drive, or trailer.
3. Shortlist by product code. A code starting with the right position-and-circumstance pair (for example DH for a regional drive axle) narrows the field to a handful of products.
4. Confirm size and load range against your vehicle manufacturer’s minimum requirement. The replacement tire’s load index and speed symbol must meet or exceed that requirement.
5. Check the load table at your operating pressure, using the correct S/D/A column for how the tire is actually mounted.
6. Check the approved rim and measuring rim. A size approved on more than one rim width will have different dimensions and dual spacing depending on which rim is used.
7. Decide on wide-base vs. dual, if relevant. The Ultra-Super Single line’s own stated comparison (295/75R22.5 dual vs. 445/50R22.5 single) is a starting point for that conversation, not a guarantee of the same result on every route.
8. Confirm availability and lead time with a Hankook dealer before finalizing the order, since regional stock and specific size availability can shift between catalog print runs.

Where the range is heading

The following is an analyst’s reading of what the 2026 catalog shows, not a statement from Hankook.

• Electrification of urban fleets. The e Smart City line, and specifically the AU56 positioned as Hankook’s first dedicated electric-bus tire, signals that Hankook is building for electric city-bus adoption rather than treating EVs as a niche. The sidewall wear indicator feature (visually flagging 40% and 70% wear) also suggests a design aimed at fleet maintenance programs with less hands-on tread-depth checking.
• Wide-base expansion. The Ultra-Super Single line, with its named “Spiral-Coil Technology” across steer-position-adjacent drive and trailer tires (DL21, DL12, TL21), and the explicit weight/rolling-resistance comparison against duals, points to continued investment in single-wide-tire adoption for long-haul fleets chasing fuel savings.
• Consolidated naming for clarity. The position + circumstance + sequence code system is applied consistently across all five lines, which suggests Hankook is prioritizing a buyer’s ability to self-serve a shortlist from the code alone, rather than requiring a sales conversation to identify the right category.
• A broad regional and mixed-service catalog. Smart Flex is the largest family in the 2026 lineup by page count, covering steer, drive and trailer positions across both regional-haul and mixed on/off-road use. This suggests regional and vocational fleets are a significant focus of the current range, alongside the long-haul Smart Line family.
• OE relationships as a distribution channel. The catalog’s detailed OE Supply section, listing fitment across Ford, Hino, Stellantis, International, Freightliner, RAM, Hyundai and Tata Daewoo platforms, indicates that original-equipment fitment remains a deliberate go-to-market strategy alongside the aftermarket catalog. OE partnerships change over time, so confirm current partners with Hankook.

Company overview: who makes these tires

Hankook Tire describes itself in the catalog as the world’s seventh-largest tire company by sales, with 2024 global sales revenue of USD 6.9 billion. The company reports selling in approximately 160 countries, through 7 regional headquarters, 5 R&D centers and 8 manufacturing plants, with approximately 22,000 employees. Its global R&D center, Technodome, and its corporate headquarters, Technoplex, are both located in Pangyo Techno Valley, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea — Technoplex was designed with the architecture firm Foster+Partners.

For a North American fleet buyer, the more relevant fact is the OE (original equipment) relationship: Hankook supplies factory-fit tires across a range of truck and bus platforms. The catalog’s OE Supply pages list fitment details by vehicle manufacturer and model, including (per the catalog) Ford, Hino, Stellantis, International, Freightliner’s Cascadia and M2, IC Bus, RAM’s 4500 and 5500 series, Hyundai’s Universe, Mighty and Xcient lines, and Tata Daewoo’s Novus/Prima platforms, among others. Each OE listing specifies the exact size and product code fitted at the factory — for example, 11R22.5 with AH37 or DL11 recurs across several platforms, while heavier platforms call for sizes like 315/80R22.5 or 385/65R22.5 with AH31/AH32-family products.

This matters for two reasons. First, if your fleet runs a vehicle on the OE list, the factory-fit size and product is a reasonable starting point for replacement, though not an obligation — any tire meeting or exceeding the vehicle manufacturer’s size and load requirement is acceptable. Second, the breadth of the OE list is a rough proxy for how widely tested a given product has been across different vehicle types and duty cycles, even though it is not a substitute for checking the spec table against your own axle weights.

OE programs change between model years, so confirm fitment directly with Hankook before relying on specific vehicle-to-product mappings.

How the five lines map to a fleet’s actual routes

It helps to translate Hankook’s five-line structure into the kind of route decisions a fleet manager actually makes day to day.

If most of your miles are interstate, at a steady speed, with few stops: start with Smart Line (steer, drive and trailer) or, if you are chasing weight and fuel savings on the drive or trailer axle, the Ultra-Super Single wide-base line. Both are built around the long-haul (L) circumstance code.

If your trucks run a mix of highway and local stops — regional distribution, pick-up and delivery, multi-stop routes: Smart Flex is the line to shortlist first. It is the largest family in the 2026 catalog, covering steer, drive and trailer positions, and splits further by the H (regional haul) and M (mixed service/off-road) circumstance codes depending on how much of your route is paved versus rough terrain.

If your vehicles are construction, utility or off-road vocational trucks: Smart Work is built specifically for toughness, traction and casing durability on aggressive surfaces, with stone-ejection and sidewall-protection features repeated across its product pages.

If you run city buses, coaches or electric buses: Smart City, Smart Touring and e Smart City are the dedicated lines. The split matters — Smart Touring targets passenger comfort for coach applications, Smart City targets even wear under frequent stop-and-go driving, and e Smart City is specifically engineered for the torque and battery-range characteristics of electric buses.

A fleet that runs more than one of these route types — for example, a regional carrier that also operates a few long-haul lanes — may reasonably run two different Hankook lines across its tractors rather than forcing one line to cover every route. The positioning map exists precisely so a buyer can check, size by size, whether a single product covers both needs before splitting the fleet’s tire program.

A worked comparison on the same route

Comparing two products from the same family is the fastest way to understand what a spec table is really telling you. Take two long-haul steer tires in the Smart Line family: the e3 Max AL21 and the older-generation Smart Line AL52.

Both tires sit in the same cell of the positioning map — long-haul steer — and share the same basic groove philosophy (a decoupling groove that reduces movement between sidewall and shoulder to fight uneven wear). The practical difference, per Hankook’s own product text, is in the compound generation: the AL21 is described with an LRR and mileage compound aimed at reducing heat generation and improving fuel efficiency, which the catalog frames as an improvement over the “Old” belt-loading behavior shown in its own comparison diagram.

For a fleet, the question is not which tire has the newer-sounding name. It is whether the size, load range and rim approval match the axle. The product code and position on the positioning map get you to the right shortlist faster than reading every spec page from page one.

A similar comparison applies on the drive axle: DL52 and e3 Max DL21 share the long-haul drive position and a similar zig-zag center-groove traction design, with the newer DL21 adding the hidden-lateral-groove feature that reveals new water channels as the tire wears. Again, the generational naming does not replace checking the actual load table for your size.

Common mistakes when reading the catalog

Most ordering errors come from a handful of habits, not from the catalog itself.

Reading the product name instead of the code. “Smart Flex” and “Smart Work” sound similar, and a buyer skimming for “something tough” can end up comparing the wrong two tires. Read the position-and-circumstance letters first (A/D/T and L/H/U/M/W), then the product name second.

Assuming a higher sequence number means a better tire. The number after the position-and-circumstance letters is a generation identifier, not a performance score. A DH52 is not automatically superior to a DH37 for your application — compare the actual tread design, compound and size availability for your axle.

Mixing up single, dual and axle load limits. The catalog’s S/D/A convention (Single, Dual across two tires, Axle across four tires) answers three different questions. Using the axle figure to check a single wide-base tire, or the single figure to check a dual pair, is one of the most common ways to misjudge a load limit.

Treating the measuring rim and the approved rim as interchangeable. A size can be approved on more than one rim width, and the dimensions, dual spacing and in some cases the load rating can shift depending on which approved rim is actually mounted. Confirm the rim in use before citing a dimension from the table.

Setting pressure from the maximum rating instead of the actual load. As with any manufacturer’s table, the printed pressure-and-load pairs are maximums. The right inflation pressure comes from the measured axle load, checked against the table, and confirmed with a calibrated gauge — not from rounding up to the tire’s top rating “to be safe.”

Forgetting that OE fitment is not a universal recommendation. A tire’s presence in Hankook’s OE Supply list for a specific truck model tells you it was fitted at the factory for that vehicle and that application. It does not mean every size in that product line is the right fit for a different vehicle or a different route.

FAQ

What does the letter in a Hankook tire code mean? The first letter is the axle position (A = all-position, D = drive, T = trailer). The second letter is the use case (L = long haul, H = regional haul, U = urban, M = mixed service/off-road, W = winter). The number that follows is a generation or model sequence.

Is Ultra-Super Single the same as a “wide-base” tire from other brands? Functionally, yes — it is Hankook’s wide-base, single-tire line intended to replace a dual set on applicable axles. Compare the specific size’s load rating against your dual setup’s combined rating before switching.

Does “Smart Flex” mean the tire is for off-road use? Not necessarily. Smart Flex covers both regional-haul (on-pavement, local-route) and mixed-service/off-road products. Check the specific product’s circumstance letter (H or M) in its code, or its listing in the positioning map, before assuming its intended surface.

What is the e Smart City line for? It is Hankook’s dedicated line for electric buses, built around mileage under high torque, battery-range considerations and load capacity, with the AU56 described as the company’s first tire exclusively for electric buses.

How do I know the correct inflation pressure for my load? Use the catalog’s Load Inflation Pressure Tables, reading the column that matches your mounting (S for single, D for dual across two tires, A for an axle of four tires), and set the pressure the table specifies for your actual measured load — not the tire’s maximum rating. For non-standard applications, the catalog directs buyers to Hankook’s Technical Service Department rather than estimating.

Can I regroove a Hankook truck tire? Only tires marked “Regroovable” have enough rubber under the tread grooves for this, and the catalog specifies that regrooving should only be performed by a trained tire service professional.

Sources and notes

• Hankook Tire, 2026 Truck & Bus Tire Catalog (Hankook Tire America, Nashville, Tennessee), 36 pages. Used for the product line overview, segmentation/naming system, positioning map, product descriptions, data-page structure, basic tire knowledge definitions, and load table conventions.
• Company figures (global ranking, sales revenue, employee count, number of selling countries, manufacturing plants, R&D centers) are Hankook’s own figures as printed in the catalog and can change between catalog editions, so check them for currency.
• Any specific performance claim attributed to Hankook (“27% improvement,” “33% reduction,” etc. — note: the 33% rolling-resistance figure appears in this catalog, not the Continental one) is the manufacturer’s own comparison against a predecessor product or against duals, not an independent test result.