Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook Tire’s associate brand Laufenn is celebrating 10-year milestone of the brand’s presence in Europe.

The brand started with passenger car tyres since 2015 and added commercial vehicle treads to its portfolio five years later. Laufenn today boasts market presence in over 100 countries, offering passenger car tyres in 341 sizes along with a commercial vehicle portfolio of 18 sizes. Hankook intends to boost marketing expenditures in order to raise awareness of its Laufenn brand. In addition, a new generation of passenger car treads for the summer and winter will soon be introduced. Laufenn will increase its market share and supply original equipment tyres to a European automaker in 2025, in addition to its current offering in the passenger car replacement market. Laufenn has also been an official sponsor of the UEFA Europa Conference League since the 2021/22 season, further emphasising its position in strategically important sales markets.

Laufenn first made its foray into the market with performance and touring summer tyres for passenger automobiles. The X Fit Van summer tyre for SUVs and passenger vehicles, as well as the i Fit, the first winter tyre for SUVs and passenger cars in Western and Central Europe, came next. The i Fit ICE, a studded winter tyre for passenger automobiles and SUVs, marked Laufenn's entry into the Northern and Eastern European markets over the ensuing time frame. All-season tyres are now part of the range in addition to summer and winter tyres. Laufenn unveiled the improved summer tyres S FIT EQ+ and G FIT EQ+ in 2020. Laufenn's total market share in Europe has increased fourfold since its launch.

Laufenn is also commemorating a significant milestone in the commercial vehicle tyre industry: the company has been providing truck, bus, and trailer treads throughout Europe for five years. In 2025, the 18 sizes that are now available in the commercial vehicle portfolio will be expanded to include additional sizes, beginning with the trailer tyres LF95 and LR02, which are 265/70 R19.5.

In an effort to further innovate the truck market, Laufenn is this year launching ‘Laufenn365’, a new digital platform that will make it easier to resolve unintentional damage claims for the company's commercial vehicle tyres and provide clients with additional insurance against unforeseen expenses. Initially, this platform will be available in the United Kingdom. Laufenn intends to reach further European markets with its smart product and tyre warranty. The launch of another affiliate brand, Optimo, is a recent illustration of Hankook's strategic brand growth. Optimo serves a market niche with increasing demand for passenger automobiles and enhances Hankook's sibling and premium brands.

Jongho Park, President and Chief Operating Officer, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “With our associate brand Laufenn, we offer tyres that deliver excellent value for money without compromising on safety, reliability and quality. Customers benefit from the many years of experience of the Hankook brand and get a product that meets the highest standards. This allows us to create a win-win situation in every respect.”

Jang Hyuk Moon, Vice President – Marketing Department, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “Laufenn has established itself as a strong associate brand to Hankook with a steadily expanding portfolio and growing international presence. The brand will continue to focus on quality and customer relationships in order to further build on its success.”

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ZC Rubber presented its comprehensive tyre portfolio at the China International Tire Expo (CITEXPO) 2026 in Shanghai, featuring an integrated display of its five core brands: WESTLAKE, GOODRIDE, TRAZANO, CHAOYANG and TIANLI. The exhibition booth was organised to cover a wide range of applications, including passenger car, commercial vehicle, agricultural and off-highway segments. Prominently featured were large-format TIANLI agricultural tyres alongside commercial vehicle offerings, effectively illustrating the extensive scope of the manufacturer’s production capabilities.

Beyond product displays, the company utilised the event to emphasise its expanding global footprint. Attendees were given insights into ZC Rubber’s international business network, strategic brand partnerships and ongoing initiatives in sustainable manufacturing practices. Throughout the expo, the company engaged in extensive dialogues with customers and industry stakeholders from diverse markets, addressing specific product inquiries, regional market demands and potential avenues for future collaboration.

The expo participation underscored ZC Rubber’s commitment to strengthening its worldwide presence across multiple dimensions, from manufacturing and branding to market development. Moving forward, the company reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating with international partners to adapt to changing global market requirements and to pursue emerging business opportunities.

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Hankook Tire has secured a three-year agreement to serve as the official tyre supplier for the RC2, RC3 and RC4 classes of the Kroon-Oil Belgian Rally Championship. Already the exclusive tyre provider for the FIA World Rally Championship and numerous other international series, the company continues to leverage motorsport to validate its high-performance competition tyres.

This new Belgian commitment expands Hankook’s rally portfolio following its Global Partner status with the FIA, while distribution will remain with Kronos Tires to ensure operational continuity. Celebrating its 85th anniversary, the South Korean manufacturer operates across 160 countries with eight production facilities. Its global motorsport footprint now exceeds 70 events, where it supplies tyres or provides team support, reinforcing its technological credentials.

Xavier Schene, Director General of RACB Sport, said, “Throughout 2027, 2028 and 2029, tyres for the RC2, RC3 and RC4 classes in the Kroon-Oil Belgian Rally Championship will be supplied exclusively by Hankook. For competitors, these tyres offer an attractive solution from a competitive perspective as the Korean manufacturer has been the exclusive tyre partner of the FIA World Rally Championship since 2025. From next season onwards, this will also give WRC drivers the opportunity to use Belgian Rally Championship events as test rallies in preparation for WRC events. Hankook tyres are also used in the Junior ERC.”

Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director, Hankook Motorsport, said, “Naturally, we are very pleased and proud that Hankook will become the exclusive tyre partner of the Kroon-Oil Belgian Rally Championship for the next three seasons in RC2, RC3 and RC4 classes. The BRC is one of the strongest national rally championships in Europe and will provide an excellent showcase for the performance and quality of our asphalt competition tyres.”

 “As BRC Promoter, we are delighted that a global tyre brand such as Hankook has committed to becoming the exclusive tyre supplier of the Kroon-Oil BRC. The competitive package of the tyres is an important asset in this respect and will help us keep costs manageable for our teams,” said Stevy Courteyn on behalf of BRC Promotion.

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Doublestar Tire emerged as a standout exhibitor at the 21st China (Shanghai) International Tire & Wheel Expo (CITEXPO), which commenced on 2 September at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. The event, recognised as a premier professional gathering in the Asia-Pacific region, attracted over 400 international exhibitors displaying the latest industry innovations. Among them, Doublestar distinguished itself with a portfolio focused on high differentiation and added value, capturing significant attention from attendees.

In response to varied overseas requirements, the tyre manufacturer presented a comprehensive product range addressing commercial and passenger vehicle applications. For the commercial sector, the flagship TBR tyre D902 was engineered with an abrasion-resistant compound and an advanced tread design. This configuration ensures stability and longevity under high-temperature, long-haul conditions, offering fleet operators a balance of dependable performance and economic efficiency.

The passenger vehicle lineup featured the EV95 SAFORT tyre, a specialised product for new energy vehicles incorporating the company’s proprietary ‘Safort’ support technology. This innovation addresses critical new energy vehicle demands, including reduced rolling resistance and minimal noise levels. The exhibition also included additional differentiated products, underscoring Doublestar’s commitment to understanding and fulfilling evolving consumer preferences through targeted engineering.

Throughout the expo, the company’s booth drew sustained interest from domestic and international buyers, with the overseas sales team outlining technical benefits and application-specific advantages. These interactions led to substantive discussions and positive indications for prospective partnerships. Looking ahead, Doublestar intends to persist in developing safer, more energy-efficient tire solutions, reinforcing the competitive standing of Chinese tire manufacturers in the global marketplace.

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BendPak has announced that all current models within its Ranger line of wheel balancers and tyre changers now feature ETL certification as a standard offering. This independent validation, conducted by Intertek Testing Services, confirms that the equipment complies with applicable UL and CSA safety standards for both the United States and Canadian markets. The certification rigorously covers electrical, pneumatic and mechanical safety requirements, ensuring robust operator protection and adherence to workplace compliance regulations.

The achievement of this certification was the result of an extensive 18-month internal project focused on comprehensively redesigning critical components. The initiative mandated sweeping upgrades across the equipment's electrical architecture, structural framework and both mechanical and pneumatic systems to meet the stringent criteria. Every aspect of the machines was scrutinised to ensure they could withstand the demands of the certification process.

Throughout the development cycle, a primary emphasis was placed on mitigating operator risks inherent in daily tire service tasks. Engineers systematically assessed potential hazards, including pinch-point dangers, moving parts, electrical and fire risks and high-pressure systems. When existing configurations fell short of the required benchmarks, teams implemented complete redesigns, replaced substandard parts and integrated new protective safeguards to address these vulnerabilities.

Following these extensive modifications, each piece of equipment underwent a battery of rigorous tests to verify its safety and performance prior to final approval. The certified lineup includes models such as the DST30PX, LS45DS, RB30T, DST2420X, R745, R980XR, R76ATR, R980DP, R80EX and R26FLT. These certified units are now clearly identifiable by the ETL mark displayed on their product labels.

Jeff Kritzer, President and CEO, BendPak, said, “The end result is not just a certification mark. Certification represents a fundamentally higher level of product engineering, component quality, mechanical and electrical safety, durability and overall North American compliance, giving customers confidence that their Ranger equipment is built to the highest standards.”

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