“Kumho has arrived” following tyre test, says Australian MD

Kumho Tyre Australia reports critics had a surprise in store for them when the results of the annual Wheels Magazine Tyre Test were announced. The publication, which has provided Australian motorists with authoritative information for 58 years, gave the Kumho KU39 a ‘podium placing’ by ranking it a close third behind two much more expensive European tyres. Furthermore, Kumho notes, the KU39 “finished ahead of well established and respected Japanese brands in the gruelling and uncompromising Wheels test, making it arguably the best value performance tyre on the Australian market.”

Wheels Magazine concluded that “third place for the Kumho is a great result, and it showed up some big names from Bridgestone and Dunlop.” Kumho notes that the tyres finishing in first and second place – Michelin’s Pilot Sport 3 and Continental’s ContiSportContact 2 – were “up to 35 per cent more expensive than the Kumho Ecsta LE Sport KU39.” The Kumho tyre topped the wet braking test and finished just 1.5 percentage points away from the Continental tyre and 2.9 percentage points away from the Pilot Sport 3.

According to Kumho Tyres Australia managing director Edmund Cho, the result is an undisputed confirmation that Kumho has arrived as a tyre brand delivering tyres that perform at the highest levels at affordable prices. “The performance of the Ecsta KU39 in the Wheels Tyre Test shows it is a world class performance tyre capable of holding its own against any of the acknowledged industry leaders and underlines the fact that Kumho is now one of the world’s top tyre brands,” he said. “It should also help change the views of critics who in the past may have discriminated against Kumho as a result of ill founded perceptions.

“The Wheels Tyre Test is a totally objective and scientific assessment of premium tyres that clearly demonstrates the KU39 is tyre that delivers great performance and a great price,” he added.

Products from seven manufacturers –  Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Kumho, Michelin, Nexen and Sumitomo – were put through their paces in the Wheels Tyre Test. Evaluation was carried out under control conditions using a Kia Optima.