Kumho brings optimum passenger car tyre tech to SUV market
The rise and rise of the SUV has been the dominant feature of the car market for some time now, and it’s having a fundamental effect on Kumho’s related tyre range, as confirmed by the most recent addition to the company’s SUV/4×4 line-up – the ECSTA PS71 SUV.
Specially developed for powerful SUVs such as those made by Land Rover, BMW and Audi etc, the pattern is closely related to that of the company’s much-praised ECSTA PS71 high-performance passenger car tyre.
It features the High Dispersible Micro Silica (HDMS) and fifth generation Solution Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (S-SBR) that have been so effectively employed for the passenger car tyre’s tread compound.
The pattern’s handling on both dry and wet roads and the sporty and precise steering that also results have been much praised by consumers and professional testers alike.
The SUV version of the ECSTA PS71 is currently available in some 12 sizes, but by the end of 2022 the range will have been extended to more than 50 sizes, including 15 in the increasing popular 21 and 22-inch bracket.
Eventually succeeding Kumho’s current mainstream on-road 4×4 product, the Crugen HP91, the new product will meet the ever increasing demand for on-road 4x4s to ride and perform like their passenger car counterparts.
Now there is even a version of PS71 dedicated to the rapidly expanding parc of electric cars. Standard equipment on ‘Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year’, the Kia EV6, the so-called PS71 EV features Kumho’s patented ‘K-Silent’ low noise technology and will be available in some 15 sizes from 16 to 20 inches by the end of this year.
Crugen HP91
Aimed at owners of SUVs who seek the optimum driving experience from their prestige vehicles, the high-performance Crugen HP91 features an asymmetric tread pattern combined with four wide circumferential grooves.
Its silica-enhanced compound results in exceptional wet weather handling and braking, and a rolling resistance comparable to that of most passenger car tyres. The product’s other major attributes include: strong high speed stability, low wear rates, and outstanding resistance to aquaplaning.
HP91 is manufactured in V, W and Y speed ratings and is available in 48 sizes up to 22 inches to fit, for example, the Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque, BMW X5 and X3, and Volvo XC90 and XC60.
Crugen HP71
The recipient of a prestigious Red Dot design award in 2017, the HP71 is aimed squarely at the mid-sized line-up of SUVs currently constituting the fastest growing sector of the UK vehicle market.
Its symmetrical tread pattern features four circumferential grooves for optimum water displacement, reinforced shoulders for strong cut and chip resistance, and a zig-zag solid centre rib for maximum stability.
It also boasts an impressive degree of traction and low noise output. HP71 is currently available in some 17 sizes for rims from 16 to 19 inches in diameter and a mix of H and V speed ratings.
Road Venture AT61
Another important cross functional offering, AT61 features: two-step sipes for improved snow performance; larger, stiffer tread blocks for increased mileage; and zig-zag grooves for enhanced traction.
The sidewall offers strong resistance to penetration and a rim protector to safeguard the alloy wheels that are standard fit on most on-road vehicles these days. The AT61 is available in a selection of eight sizes to fit 15, 16 and 17 inch rims.
On the horizon and debuted at The Tire Cologne 2022, is the AT52. Specifically designed for fitment to SUVs and pick-up trucks, the newcomer is a serious all-season offering with 3PMSF certification and enhanced traction in all road conditions. Ultimately available in a total of some 54 sizes to fit wheels from 15 to 20 inches in diameter, it is due to enter production this winter.
Road Venture MT51
The mud terrain MT51 provides the perfect combination of balanced on/off road driving and excellent off-road traction, while the braking performance is equally impressive on surfaces as diverse as tarmac and gravel.
The stiff sidewall construction minimises punctures, while notable shoulder notching maximises the tyre’s rock crawling performance.
The eye-catching sidewall livery conjures up images of the type of heavy plant MT51-shod vehicles may well rub shoulders with from time to time. It is currently available in 15 popular sizes to fit rims of 15 to 17 inches in diameter.