Kumho OE for US Market Sprinter

Kumho Tire has announced the supply of their products as OE on the US market version of the Sprinter van. The Sprinter, which sports the Mercedes-Benz badge in UK and European markets, will go on sale in the US under the Dodge and Freightliner brand names in the first quarter of 2007.

Under the agreement, the Kumho Road Venture KL78, size LT215/85R16, will be fitted both to the front wheels and to the rear, where a dual tyre arrangement is used. According to Kumho, the South Korean tyremaker conducted extensive cooperative testing with DaimlerChrysler and worked closely to ensure that the KL78 met with DaimlerChrysler’s tyre quality standards.

Commenting on the agreement, Kumho’s vice president of sales and marketing, David Hudrlik, said “This is Kumho’s first fitment with DaimlerChrysler on a vehicle that’s sold in the US. We’re on other DaimlerChrysler vehicles in Europe, such as the Mercedes A Class and the European version of the Chrysler Sebring. But the Sprinter fitment will help give us more recognition and credibility with US consumers and make it easier for our dealers to sell the Kumho brand.”