Kumho ‘lifestyle’ SUV, off-road tyres added to ‘comprehensive’ 4×4 range

Kumho has recently enhanced its 4×4 tyre range with the addition of the Crugen HP91 and Crugen KL33 SUV tyres, fitments which seek to attract interest from road-going owners of vehicles in the segment, as well as 14 SUV sizes in its Solus 4S HA31 range. The newest tyres in the range join the cross-functional new Road Venture MT51 and established KL71 to cover most fitments for popular 4×4 and SUV vehicles. Between them, Kumho states that they cover everything from such top end SUVs as the Range Rover and the BMW X5 to the evergreen Land Rover Defender.

Aimed at owners of the latest lifestyle and luxury SUVs who seek the optimum driving experience from their prestige vehicles, the high-performance Crugen HP91 will eventually replace Kumho’s long serving KL17. The newcomer features an asymmetric tread pattern combined with four wide circumferential grooves. Its silica-enhanced compound results in improvements in wet weather handling and braking, and rolling resistance the manufacturer says is comparable to that of most passenger car tyres. The product’s other major attributes include: strong high speed stability, low wear rates, and resistance to aquaplaning. The HP91 is manufactured in V, W and Y speed ratings and is available in sizes to fit, for example, the Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque, BMW X5 and X3, and Volvo XC90 and XC60. Kumho UK first demonstrated the HP91’s attributes in the demanding environment of the Rockingham Motor Speedway.

Jeep’s selection of the Crugen KL33 for original equipment fitment on its Renegade model proves the tyre’s all-round credentials, Kumho states. Developed for the particular needs of the ever-expanding SUV sector, the all-season KL33 aims to increase driving comfort at all speeds, coupled with good handling characteristics and low levels of noise, embodying the road orientated direction in which the segment has moved in recent times. The symmetric tread has four grooves to prevent aquaplaning, while 3D shoulder blocks improve wet weather grip. The tyre also has balanced traction characteristics in both wet and dry conditions. The KL33 is currently available for rims of 17 to 19 inches in diameter and a mix of H and V speed ratings.

The Solus 4S HA31 SUV is available in 16- to 18-inch sizes in sizes to fit vehicles such as the VW Tiguan, Nissan Qashqai, Vauxhall Mokka, Audi Q3/5/7 and BMW X3/4/5. The SUV version is tailored to the greater weight of crossover and SUVs, with a reinforced shoulder area and stiffer tread blocks. All Kumho Solus 4S HA31 SUV sizes are marked with both M+S and 3PMSF (3 Peak-Mountain-Snowflake) symbols and have gained an EU tyre label rating of ‘C’ for rolling resistance and either ‘C’ or ‘E’ ratings for wet grip.

Road Venture range Kumho’s answer for off-roading

Kumho’s Road Venture MT51

Moving into the more cross-functional segment with another newcomer to the Kumho 4×4 range, the Road Venture MT51 is the company’s latest offering, that for the UK market will sit between the yet to be launched replacement for the AT KL78 and the MT KL71 in terms of off-road performance. It provides a combination of balanced on/off road driving and off-road traction, while the braking performance is tuned for balance across surfaces as diverse as tarmac and gravel. The stiff sidewall construction minimises punctures, while shoulder notching maximises the tyre’s rock crawling performance. The tyre features an eye catching sidewall invoking the type of heavy plant MT51-shod vehicles may rub shoulders with from time to time. It is currently available in 12 popular sizes to fit rims of 15 to 17 inches in diameter.

The aforementioned Road Venture MT KL71 is designed to provide greater durability and off-road traction in more challenging off-road environments, while also promoting comfort on-road. A wider footprint has the advantage of better floatation on soft surfaces, such as sand and bog, and superior stability on-road. Kumho singles out the tread itself as the tyre’s “most innovative” feature. Off-road, the tyre is equipped with shoulder lugs providing traction on soft surfaces. On the road, the tread pitch sequence and centre elements have been designed to give a quieter ride than typical MT tyres. The centre area of the tread is strong and solid, which maximizes on-road stability and braking. The high void directional pattern has improved aquaplaning resistance and increased self-cleaning properties. Though a comparative veteran in the Kumho range, the tyre has test-winning heritage; it was the joint winner of an ‘ultimate tyre test’ organised by 4×4 Magazine and Land Rover World to establish the best mud-terrain tyre on the UK market.