Demonstrating its advanced SUV tyre technology to North American customers, Hankook Tire took part in the prestigious King of the Hammers off-road race in California’s Johnson Valley on 6 February. This gruelling event, which challenges drivers across desert, rock and mud, is a major North American motorsport spectacle, annually drawing over 500 teams, 80,000 spectators and millions of online viewers.

For the competition, Hankook equipped the vehicles of drivers Joel Dulac, Justin Dulac and Jacob Pacheco with its extreme-terrain Dynapro MT2 tyre. This model is engineered to provide exceptional traction, grip and durability on severe off-road surfaces. Its specialised tread pattern enhances performance on mud and gravel, while a robust V-shaped sidewall design offers protection against sharp rocks and obstacles. The tread block design also ensures stable control and comfort across both on- and off-road environments.

The Dynapro series represents SUV tire technology already validated in major North American motorsports. At last year's King of the Hammers, drivers Dulac and Pacheco achieved outstanding results using the Dynapro MT2, and at the 2024 Antigo Off-Road National, Michael Funk earned a podium finish with Dynapro tyres. Beyond performance, the tyre’s innovative design has been globally recognised, winning a Red Dot Design Award in 2020.

Hankook Tire is actively strengthening its North American market presence through innovation and its premium unified brand. Beyond sponsoring teams at events like King of the Hammers, the company engages customers at major automotive exhibitions such as the SEMA Show and Overland Expo. It further amplifies its technology-driven brand image through partnerships in sports and entertainment, including its role as an Official Tire Partner and Founding Partner of the US-based Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) presented by SoFi.

Looking forward, Hankook intends to solidify its global market leadership by leveraging performance data from its involvement in over 70 motorsports events worldwide, such as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the FIA World Rally Championship. This strategic use of real-world racing insights will advance the development of its core ultra-high-performance tire technologies.

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Thomas Womble, CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling, a prominent player in North America's tyre recycling sector, has been named Dealmaker of the Year by Pittsburgh Smart Business Dealmakers, an honour that places him among a distinguished group recognised for their decades-long influence on local industry and innovation. This accolade, presented by the Pittsburgh Dealmakers Hall of Fame, celebrates leaders whose work has produced a groundbreaking impact not only within their own organisations but across the broader regional business landscape.

Womble’s leadership was formally celebrated at the Smart Business Dealmakers Conference on 19 February, where the 2026 class of winners collectively illustrated the strength and vitality of Pittsburgh’s business community. Under his direction, Liberty Tire Recycling has evolved into a nationwide environmental services leader, operating a vast network of processing plants and employing more than 3,500 people while helping customers advance their sustainability objectives through large-scale tyre recycling.

A defining moment under Womble’s tenure came with the company’s USD 1.5 billion acquisition by I Squared Capital, a transaction that underscored Liberty’s critical position in circular economy infrastructure. This milestone, coupled with ongoing strategic acquisitions and operational growth, positions the company for sustained expansion as it continues to deliver environmentally responsible solutions for tyre manufacturers and distributors.

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Maxion Wheels, a division of Iochpe-Maxion and a global leader in wheel manufacturing, is playing a key role in bringing Daimler Truck’s vision for more sustainable commercial vehicle manufacturing to life through a collaborative effort on a concept refuse collection truck. This innovative vehicle will be showcased at IFAT Munich, the premier global gathering for the recycling and environmental sector taking place from 4 to 7 May 2026 at Trade Fair Center Messe München. Designed to highlight a commitment to circular materials, resource efficiency and forward-thinking industrial processes, the concept truck serves as a tangible demonstration of how the commercial vehicle sector can embrace environmentally responsible practices.

As the wheel supplier for this project, Maxion Wheels is translating its deep expertise in sustainability into direct action. The company is supplying steel truck wheels engineered through a combination of lightweight construction, optimised design strategies and advanced material science. By incorporating both primary and recycled materials into the manufacturing process, these wheels are specifically developed to help reduce emissions and lower the overall carbon footprint of the vehicle, reinforcing the project’s broader goals of environmental stewardship and industrial innovation.

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Hankook Tire marked the conclusion of TGL presented by SoFi Season 2 as the league’s inaugural Official Tire Partner and a Founding Partner. The championship event was held on 23–24 March 2026 at Florida’s SoFi Center. Throughout the season, Hankook Tire leveraged the platform to elevate its premium brand presence across roughly 150 countries. This initiative directly reflects Chairman Hyunbum Cho’s vision of uniting mobility and sports through technological innovation, allowing Hankook to deliver a fresh and engaging brand experience to fans worldwide.

The championship itself was a best-of-three clash between two first-time finalists, Jupiter Links GC and Los Angeles Golf Club. In the opening match on 23 March, Los Angeles secured a dramatic one-point comeback win, highlighted by Sahith Theegala’s strategic use of ‘THE HAMMER’ on the 15th hole to claim two crucial points after his team had fallen behind. The following day, Los Angeles continued their momentum. Although Jupiter Links initially surged ahead behind Tiger Woods, the opposition quickly levelled the score and then reeled off four straight points. A pivotal 10th hole saw both teams activate ‘THE HAMMER’ for a maximum three-point swing, with Justin Rose defeating Max Homa to help seal a 9–2 victory and lift the SoFi Cup.

With Los Angeles Golf Club crowned champions, TGL’s Season 2 drew to a dramatic close. Looking ahead to Season 3, the league will expand to seven teams with the addition of Motor City Golf Club based in Detroit, furthering its ambition to build a premier global stage for team golf competition.

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Tyrecycle recently joined Fenner Conveyors in celebrating the opening of the K‑MIX Materials Innovation Hub in Kwinana, Western Australia, marking a significant advancement for sustainable materials innovation nationally.

For Tyrecycle, the event’s focal point was the unveiling of Fenner’s InfinitySeries, the first conveyor belt manufactured using locally sourced recycled material stemming from the pair’s strategic partnership. During the launch, Tyrecycle welcomed mining community members to its East Rockingham facility for guided tours of its recycling operations, demonstrating the processing of old conveyor belts, off‑the‑road (OTR) tyres and passenger tyres into high‑value reusable materials for local supply chains.

This collaboration represents a pioneering closed‑loop ecosystem, transforming end‑of‑life conveyor belts into new, high‑performance products that support mining operations in achieving decarbonisation and circularity objectives. Tyrecycle expressed pride in standing alongside Fenner Conveyors to continue developing sustainable pathways for the mining sector and beyond.

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