Hankook Tyre UK will exhibit at RTX Ireland 2026 on 15 and 16 April at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn, marking the brand's first trade show appearance in Northern Ireland. The event, organised by the team behind the established Stoneleigh flagship and last year's inaugural RTX Scotland, follows a record-breaking 2025 edition at NAEC Stoneleigh that drew 14,161 visitors and prompted the RTX series to expand into two new regional markets. With more than 50 exhibitors confirmed and 7,000-plus visitors expected, RTX Ireland is positioned as a significant new date for commercial transport professionals across both sides of the border.
Hankook will exhibit on Stand C15 alongside TyreCall and Tractamotors, its exclusive distributor for the Irish market, with whom it has maintained a commercial relationship for 40 years. For Irish fleet managers and tyre buyers, that distributor presence is the more immediately actionable element of the announcement: purchasing conversations that previously required travel to Stoneleigh or direct contact with the UK commercial team can now happen in person, on home ground, for the first time.
Among the products on display will be the e-SMART City AU56, Hankook's dedicated electric bus tyre, introduced in 2024 and carrying the M+S label and 3PMSF snowflake symbol for year-round service. Engineered to handle the high torque and heavier battery loads of fully electric urban buses, it features reinforced sidewalls and a three-stage sidewall wear indicator, and is sized initially at 275/70 R22.5 for all axle positions. For public transport operators in Belfast, Dublin, and other Irish cities accelerating their electric bus procurement, a tyre designed specifically for this application represents a direct operational consideration, particularly given the lifecycle cost implications of regrooving and retreading capability built into the product.
Also on show will be the Smart Work AM11+, developed for UK regional and local distribution and targeted at front steer applications in demanding stop-start environments such as waste management. Hankook's SmartFlex range will be represented by the AL51 steer and all-position tyre and the DL51 drive axle tyre, both designed to deliver consistent performance across their full tread life and both confirmed as regroovable and retreadable. For fleet operators managing total cost of ownership, the retreading compatibility of these products is a meaningful specification point: a casing that can be legally retreaded and returned to service extends asset life and reduces unit cost per kilometre in a way that a standard replacement cycle does not.
Completing the stand will be the Laufenn commercial range, including the LF95+ trailer tyre, LF22 all-position tyre, and LZ22 drive axle tyre for regional haul. Developed using Hankook's engineering infrastructure, the Laufenn portfolio targets cost-conscious operators seeking full retreadability and reduced environmental impact without the premium pricing of the flagship brand. The Laufenn365 initiative, which the press release references without detailing, is understood to represent a service and support framework for the range.
For fleet tyre businesses and operators in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, RTX Ireland removes a practical barrier that has historically limited direct engagement with major tyre manufacturers at trade level. The ability to assess Hankook's full commercial range, including EV-specific bus fitments and the value-tier Laufenn products, alongside the distributor responsible for supply, in a single two-day visit is a genuine operational convenience. Fleet procurement managers who are evaluating EV bus tyre specifications, or weighing the total cost implications of retreadable versus single-life casings, would be well served by attending. Registration is free at roadtransportexpo.co.uk/northernireland.
Jon Cottrell, Hankook Tyre UK Truck and Bus Sales Manager, described the event as an opportunity to build connections with both existing and prospective customers and to gain insight into the Irish truck tyre market, adding that the 40-year partnership with TyreCall and Tractamotors made the occasion particularly significant for the brand.
Visit Hankook on Stand C15 at RTX Ireland 2026 to meet the team and discover the right tyre solutions for your operation.
Register for a free ticket at: https://roadtransportexpo.co.uk/northernireland/en/page/home
Tagged with: Hankook, RTX Ireland 2026, Road Transport Expo, SmartFlex, e-SMART City AU56, Laufenn, TyreCall, commercial vehicle tyres, truck tyres, fleet tyres, EV bus tyre, Eikon Exhibition Centre
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