Hankook DH51 — a tire designed for the harsh rhythm of regional transportation, where the route doesn't choose the road, and the weather doesn't ask for permission. The model is created for the driving axle, which takes on peak loads during acceleration, braking, and operation on unstable surfaces.
Tread with increased support surface
The manufacturer deliberately increased the width of the working surface. This solution has two goals:
- reducing contact pressure — even distribution of the load over the working footprint slows down abrasive wear and eliminates local overheating;
- rolling resistance — optimized pressure reduces hysteresis losses in the rubber compound, which directly affects fuel consumption.
Geometry working on resource
Volumetric 3D-lamellas perform the function of micro-fixators of the block. They limit the mobility of the tread element under load, preventing "swaying" and wear. This eliminates the formation of feathering and stepped wear characteristic of the driving axle during intense operation. The key feature of the tire is the notches with a V-shaped geometry, which have the ability to self-renew. As the tread wears out, their profile does not become smoother, but retains a gripping edge due to the variable depth of the notches. This means that the tire does not lose its traction properties even when approaching the wear indicator.
Hidden grooves
During operation, as the top layer is naturally erased, additional drainage channels open in the tread structure. This is not just "wear compensation", but a designed evolution of the pattern. As a result:
- restoration of water-repellent properties at deep stages of wear;
- formation of new gripping edges in areas that previously worked as support;
- maintaining grip on wet surfaces.
Shoulder area protection
The shoulder sectors are equipped with plates with a self-healing effect. Their function is to relieve peak stresses in the most loaded area of the tread during maneuvering and contact with curb elements. The result:
- prevention of microcracks and delamination in the shoulder area;
- additional water diversion from the contact patch due to the directed geometry of the plates;
- maintaining the integrity of the tread array during cyclic deformations.
Main features of Hankook DH51:
- increased tread width — even pressure, reduced rolling resistance, slowed down wear;
- 3D-lamellas — block fixation, prevention of uneven wear;
- hidden drainage channels — evolutionary pattern, opening a second contour of water diversion as it wears out;
- possibility of operation on commercial vehicles in any period of the year.
