NEXEN TIRE has secured an original equipment (OE) contract for the Kia Tasman, the carmaker’s new global pickup truck model. The Tasman will be fitted with NEXEN’s ROADIAN HTX2, an all-season tyre designed to meet the demands of both on-road driving and off-road terrain. The fitment applies to vehicles exported to Latin America—a key market for growth in SUV and pickup truck segments.
The ROADIAN HTX2 features a 3D Kerf tread pattern developed by NEXEN TIRE to improve traction and snow handling, a critical performance area for varied road conditions. The tyre also integrates a proprietary compound that enhances stability and wear resistance—important for the higher loads and dynamic forces encountered by pickups.
Heat dissipation technology is embedded in the tyre structure, helping manage durability under high-speed, high-load scenarios. According to NEXEN, the tyre has been validated through multiple cross-market test cycles in both North America and Korea, including off-road trials with deep grooves and steep gradients.
The tyre's performance benchmarks were tailored for the Latin American region, where road conditions can range from mountainous switchbacks to desert heat and seasonal winter hazards. By ensuring a balance between ride comfort and off-road resilience, the ROADIAN HTX2 aims to support Kia’s regional ambitions for the Tasman.
NEXEN TIRE’s inclusion on the Tasman supports its ongoing strategy to grow within the global OE market. The company already supplies tyres for several Kia electric models—including the EV3, EV4, EV6, and EV9—demonstrating dual competencies in both electrified and traditional vehicle segments.
This OE deal reinforces a broader trend where tyre makers must offer products that bridge the gap between utility and adaptability. Tyres like the ROADIAN HTX2 are part of a shift towards multipurpose designs that cater to both conventional and evolving mobility demands, including electrification, regional terrain adaptation, and load-bearing resilience. With emerging markets like Latin America showing sustained growth in the pickup and SUV segments, OE fitments aligned with local conditions will remain key to global tyre strategies.
Tagged with: NEXEN TIRE, Kia Tasman, ROADIAN HTX2, pickup truck tyres, SUV tyres, OE tyre supply, Latin America, all-season tyres, off-road performance, Kia OE tyres
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
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