Major Korean tire manufacturers are accelerating their investments in Europe, drawn by the region’s strategic advantages for timely tire supply to local customers. The move comes amid surging demand for high-margin, value-added premium tires, which are increasingly favored in the European market. Hankook Tire, Korea’s largest tire maker, is expanding a production line at its Racalmas factory in Hungary to produce an additional 800,000 commercial vehicle tires annually by 2027. Once completed, the factory’s total production capacity will reach 18.8 million tires. Europe is Hankook Tire’s largest market, representing 45 percent of the company’s total sales last year. The firm’s tire business posted a third-quarter operating profit of 519.2 billion won ($350 million), up 10.4 percent from a year earlier. Hankook Tire attributed the double-digit earnings growth to strong sales of high-margin tires over 18 inches, particularly from European customers. Kumho Tire is also moving to expand its investment in Europe, recently confirming plans to build a new manufacturing facility in O