What’s Treading with Tire Review

What happens when we decide to take on some of Moab's toughest slickrock on Milestar tires? Tire Review Publisher Bobbie Adams heads to Utah for the 2026 Milestar Ride & Drive Experience, taking Jeeps equipped with three Milestar Patagonia tires (the Patagonia M/T-02, Patagonia X/T and Patagonia A/T Pro) across Fins N’ Things and Hell’s Revenge – two trails filled with sand, steep climbs, narrow ridges, ledges and technical rock obstacles.

We provide a hands-on Milestar tire review and explain the differences between the Patagonia M/T-02, Patagonia X/T and Patagonia A/T Pro. The M/T-02 is the lineup’s most aggressive mud-terrain tire, combining a three-ply sidewall and stone ejectors with surprisingly civilized on-road manners. The Patagonia X/T fills the rugged-terrain space between an all-terrain and a mud-terrain, adding a cut-and-chip-resistant compound, three-ply sidewall construction, stone and mud ejectors, and the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) designation on every size. The Patagonia A/T Pro targets drivers who spend more time on pavement but still need meaningful off-road capability. It carries 3PMSF certification and features Milestar’s MILETECH compound, a square shoulder profile, and an aggressive sidewall design. Stone ejectors complete the package.

How do Milestar Patagonia tires perform off-road? Traction, sidewall strength and control over uneven terrain are tested in the ultimate testing ground. You’ll also learn why Milestar believes their products can deliver broad vehicle coverage, strong product support and capability that punches above its price point.

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Hunter Engineering: www.hunter.com

An OE tire can begin taking shape two to three years before its intended vehicle even reaches the market. During that window, engineers developing Nexen OE tires work alongside automakers to translate a vehicle’s performance goals into measurable targets – from steering response and ride comfort to treadwear, rolling resistance, braking and grip.

Aaron Neumann, head of the Nexen Tire America Technical Center, talks through that collaboration, from the initial sourcing package through virtual development, physical tire submissions and final vehicle testing. He also discusses how frequently the two engineering teams exchange data, where performance compromises may be necessary and how Nexen determines which targets a tire can realistically achieve.

Neumann also takes us inside Nexen’s testing process, including its use of force-and-moment measurements, vehicle simulators and real-world evaluations. An $8 million dynamic simulator can narrow the field. However, he says final details of Nexen OE tires still require testing in an actual vehicle.

Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
Hunter Engineering: www.hunter.com

Giti Tire USA is making a major push into the U.S. market, and it has a clear message: Giti engineers and manufactures these tires in America, and it builds them for American roads.

We visited Giti’s manufacturing and R&D facility in Richburg, South Carolina, to examine how the company plans to build trust with dealers and consumers. We break down the new Giti Tire USA lineup, including touring, all-terrain, rugged-terrain, all-weather and winter products, while also looking at the expanded GT Radial light truck portfolio.

In addition, we also explore how Giti’s connected U.S. manufacturing and R&D operations could improve product development, supply efficiency and speed to market. We also examine the GitiGuardian support package, which gives dealers additional tools when presenting a less familiar brand to shoppers.

Along the way, we experience GT Radial’s Formula DRIFT program and take the new Adventuro ATZ and Adventuro RT off-road. The bigger question is whether Giti can combine American engineering, domestic production, global experience, warranties and proven performance into a tire brand that earns a place at the dealer counter – and ultimately with U.S. drivers.

For tire dealers, the launch represents a new value-focused option backed by domestic supply and support.

Tire Review: www.tirereview.com
Hunter Engineering: www.hunter.com

In this episode of What’s Treading, we delve deep into one of the biggest questions facing tire dealers and auto repair shops right now: Where does AI for tire shops actually belong in the business?

Clay Whitaker, founder of Auto Shop Agents, joins the show to explain why AI works best when it is used in low-risk, practical ways, instead of as a full replacement for the people who build trust with customers every day. Should you use AI to cover missed calls? AI voice tools? Service advisor training? To investigate data or customer behaviors?

Clay also shares what AutoShop Agents has learned from analyzing shop phone calls, including why giving a price too quickly, failing to build value and not asking for the appointment can cost shops business. He explains how AI-powered practice, coaching and performance tracking can help solve these issues. AI for tire shops can also help service advisors improve close rates across tires, brakes, oil changes, diagnostics and more.

Plus, the discussion introduces Service Advisor League. This gamified platform helps advisors compete and see how their conversations stack up nationally.

The Hankook Clarksville plant puts a lot of big tire industry talking points under one very large roof: domestic production, product availability, supply chain stability and proof-of-product testing.

I visited Hankook’s Tennessee campus for a closer look at the company’s North American manufacturing strategy, including the Phase Two expansion that is expected to add another 4.5 million to 5 million consumer units of annual capacity. The plant first began domestic production in 2017 with about 4.5 million units of annual capacity, and Hankook is also beginning medium commercial tire production at the site, with plans to reach up to 1 million medium truck units.

“I think we’re all aware of what’s going on in the market with tariffs. A lot of product is coming in from all over the world, and we feel it’s very important to have domestic production with an American-made product," said Rob Williams, President and CEO of Hankook Tire North America. "It’s good from a supply chain standpoint. It’s also very important for dealers to be able to get product just in time.”

Inside the facility, automation plays a major role, from AI-driven forklifts to highly technical equipment operated from control panels. Hankook also benefits from sister companies that help build the equipment and technology used in its tire production process.

“Today, with any production, automation is very important. Innovation is very important. It still has the human element, though," Williams said. "We never want to feel like the technology overshadows the human element. However, today we can employ people who know they can work on state-of-the-art equipment. You’ll see forklifts running around that are all AI-driven. We literally can have one operator operate multiple pieces of equipment because in a lot of cases, they’re really just overseeing the control panel.”

The visit also included drive time on several Tennessee-made products, including the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme, Laufenn X Fit AT2, Dynapro XT and DynaPro MT2. Between the expanded plant, warehouse space and proving ground behind the facility, the Hankook Clarksville plant is becoming a major part of how the company plans to grow in North America.

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