New products aplenty at Kumho’s Reifen stand

Kumho Tire used this year’s Reifen show for a number of global premieres. The Korean tyre maker introduced the new all-season Kumho Solus HA31, which will enter the market in autumn and gradually replace the Solus Vier KH21. The new range will be available in a total of 35 sizes for 13 to 16-inch rim diameters and 80 to 50 profiles. Compared with the predecessor tyre, Kumho claims marked improvements in key performance areas, including wet handling and braking on snow. And while the Solus HA31 demonstrates Kumho’s interest in the growing all-season segment, the tyre maker also presented a new dedicated winter product at Reifen.

The tyre maker reported at the Essen show that the new Kumho WinterCraft WP51 will replace the high performance I’Zen KW23 winter tyre. The new line will be available for the coming winter season in 18 sizes for 14 to 16-inch rim diameters and 65 to 50 profiles. Kumho claims advances on the previous-generation tyre in every area, and has been singled out as an area of particular improvement. The WP51 is said to be 20 per cent better in this regard. The WinterCraft WP51 is aimed at compact and medium-size cars.

Kumho also offers a new winter tyre for vans and campers, the PorTran CW51. Another new tyre, specifically developed for use in Northern Europe, is the studdable WinterCraft WI31; this also enjoyed its launch at Reifen and is now available on the market.

Kumho’s “Sealant Tyre”

Another Reifen debut was Kumho’s Majesty Solus KU50, the first Kumho tyre to feature sealing technology. At Kumho’s show stand, the company shared the following information: “When penetrated by nails or screws with a diameter up to five millimetres, a viscous layer within these tyres immediately seals the resulting hole and enables further, problem-free driving. In future, around 85 per cent of punctures will be able to be avoided through this technology.” The company added, however, that its “Sealant Tyre” technology is not yet ready for series production.