Kumho Introduces Eco-Friendly Tyres at Essen

Amongst the 30 products Kumho displayed at the Reifen Essen show was the company’s new eco-friendly tyre, the Solus KH19. This flagship environmental product is based on proprietary technologies including KADAS (tyre structure simulation technology), ESCOT (tyre contour optimisation technology) and TTIA (tyre-terrain interaction analysis). The Solus KH19 boasts a 35 per cent improvement in rolling resistance and a six per cent decrease in CO2 emissions. Its construction is of eco-friendly materials, including low PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) oils and non-petroleum fillers, and a tread pattern that Kumho refers to as ‘nature based’. This pattern, says the South Korean manufacturer, is not only intended only to reinforce the tyre’s green image; it also provides a smoother ride. The Solus KH19 will be available from this autumn.

“This is a milestone year for Kumho as we strengthen our focus on making ‘greener’ products,” said Sae-chul Oh, CEO and president of Kumho Tires. “These new tyres improve fuel efficiency, lower CO2 emissions and run more quietly. We have also re-engineered our manufacturing process to make it more environmentally friendly. Kumho has taken this leading role in environmental issues because it allows us to provide tangible benefits to our customers, while simultaneously helping the planet.”

Along with the KH19, Kumho presented several other new products, including its NRBT (natural resource based tread) tyres, which were developed using non-synthetic materials including rubber, filler and oil. The Solus KL21 offers a low rolling resistance and a bamboo-inspired tread pattern. The I’ZEN KW27 provides notable braking power in wet and slippery conditions while the ECSTA X-Speed KU38 was designed to allow supercars to drive at speeds of up to 360 km/h. Examples of Kumho’s range of run-flat tyres were also on show.

The Kumho truck and bus tyres displayed at the show included its KLS03, KLD03 and KLT01(+) models – all products offering fuel efficiency and resistance to abrasion.