Kumho Develops Specialist Rally-Raid Tyre

Kumho Tyres was ready to steal a march on its competitors by producing a special 18-inch Rally Raid tyre in time for the cancelled 2008 Lisbon-Dakar Rally. The tyre will now see action in similar events in the future and, according to the manufacturer, no other tyre manufacturer produces a comparable tyre in this size.

The monster tyre with its enormous tread blocks is designed for optimum pace and durability over the sand and rock conditions that tend to prevail on events like the fearsome Lisbon-Dakar Rally. It employs the ultra-tough synthetic fibre ‘aramid’ (short for aromatic polyamide) in its construction for optimum weight and strength.

The new 275/65R18 tyre was to have been fitted to the three semi-works Bowler Nemesis 4x4s on the 2008 Lisbon-Dakar Rally. The tyres were also to be supplied to the five other teams running these awesome new specialist vehicles that, in common with previous Bowlers, have been developed with support from Land Rover. The new Kumho tyres were to have been fitted to no less than 10 entries in the Buggy class too, including that of Philippe Gache who won the Solo division on Kumho rubber last year.

Kumho engineers from both the European Technical Centre in Birmingham, England (where the tyre was developed) and the company’s headquarters in Korea had planned to support the Kumho-shod teams during the event.

Said Drew Bowler: “To contest the Dakar takes guts and determination and nobody should underestimate the demands it makes on each and every component of the car. Kumho Tyres has amply demonstrated the total commitment required to be involved in this event and other such events.”

Kumho Europe Technical Centre managing director Roger Jenkins added: “It was exciting to consider that we were to provide tyres to almost 10 per cent of the car class on this event and very sad that it had to be cancelled at the last minute. However, we have a long term agreement with the Bowler team who have enjoyed so much success on the Dakar Rally over the years, and believe it will be the basis of a very fruitful partnership.”