Kumho’s Smasher and Sealant tyres have been honoured with 2016 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). The company said that the US awards, which complete a trio of the world’s top three design accolades, alongside Germany’s Red Dot and iF International Forum Design, mean that its design and technological capabilities have now been recognised by the industry as a whole.
For 15 successive years, Kumho has supplied all the tyres for Europe’s top F3 teams to compete in the annual Zandvoort Masters meeting. In 2016 the event takes place on the weekend of 20-21 August, more than 20 of the latest crop of would-be Grand Prix drivers will push their Kumho ECSTA race tyres to the limits at this famous former Formula One circuit.
In addition to refreshing its summer products for cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles and returning to the truck tyre market, Kumho Tire has also introduced several winter products of late. The tyre maker believes that drivers in the UK are now far better educated about the benefits of winter and all-weather tyres than before the big freeze of 2011, and says it Kumho new cold-weather range recognises an across the board rise in demand for these products. The current range includes:
In addition to partnering with Tottenham Hotspur FC for the coming two years, Kumho Tire has entered into a sponsorship agreement with French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais. The deal covers the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons and will give Kumho an advertising presence in the club’s home ground, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, as well as hospitality options at games and mascot visibility during Ligue 1 matches.
Kumho Tyre has become Tottenham Hotspur’s “Official Tyre Partner” for an initial two years from the start of the 2016-17 season.
The partnership, which was announced on 19 July, was launched at the football club’s Hotspur Way Training Centre, with four Spurs players and senior representatives from Kumho present. Kumho were joined by club manager Mauricio Pochettino and players Heung-Min Son, Christian Eriksen, Ryan Mason and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Kumho made Reifen 2016 the occasion of its new UHP winter tyre’s world premiere, in addition to displaying its role in a project to optimise the fuel efficiency of existing diesel technology. The company’s 300sqm stand in Hall 3 also featured the company’s current portfolio of products for a wide variety of tyre segments, including electric and hybrid vehicles.
Kumho reports that it’s Ecsta PS91 is now only weeks away from UK availability. The PS91 is positioned as Kumho’s optimum high-performance road product, sitting above the ever-popular Ecsta Le Sport KU39. Squarely aimed at supercars and such ultra-quick passenger saloons as BMW M cars, Mercedes-Benz AMG models and Audi RS ones, the entire range will be Y-rated and offered in sizes from 18 to 20 inches in diameter. The focus is on maximum grip and braking performance in the dry, combined with outstanding feel. Nor – says the company – have any of these qualities been achieved at the expense of other key factors. It also has a 3D dimple design which cools the tyre at high speeds, optimising durability and wear rates.
Kumho Tire has held a ceremony to mark the opening of its new factory in the USA. The facility in Macon County, Georgia, enters operation with the capacity to produce up to four million tyres a year, and will later be expanded to a capacity of up to ten million tyres per annum.
We can expect at least one world premiere from Kumho Tire at Reifen this year. In addition to showing off its current car, SUV, van and truck portfolio, South Korean tyre maker’s more than 300 square metre presence (Hall 3, Stand A40) will include a brand-new winter UHP tyre, the Wintercraft WP 71. According to Kumho, the tyre is aimed large and luxury cars (D and F-segment vehicles) and offers improved braking characteristics over the predecessor tyre – Kumho claims a 14 per cent shorter distance on wet road surfaces.
It’s almost four years since Gangnam Style fever swept the world and Psy enthused us with his catchy lyrics and equestrian dance moves. The South Korean performer still enjoys a strong following, particularly in his homeland, and Kumho Tire has capitalised on Psy’s popularity by collaborating with him to produce a new music video commercial. The result of this joint effort has now been released.
For the fifth consecutive year, Kumho Tire has been honoured with a Red Dot Design Award. Kumho’s winning entries within the product design category of this year’s awards were the K-Silent Tyre and Road Venture MT51.
For many years, Kumho Tire has supported projects organised by the ADAC, Europe’s largest motoring organisation. Its relationship with the German association includes support of the ‘Gelber Engel’ road-safety programme, and Kumho reports that this partnership has was extended ahead of the launch of a new roadshow that aims to bring road safety education to teenagers.
Kumho’s return to the UK commercial tyre market one year ago signaled the Korean manufacturer’s intention to become a major player in a sector it temporarily left. Having rejuvenated its distribution, products and personnel, its relaunched truck tyre department has a new sales structure led by ex-Bridgestone and Michelin truck tyre specialist, Steve Miller. His experience has since been put to work on the task of reintroducing the brand to an already crowded sector of the business.
Kumho has designed a “futuristic” all-terrain tyre for the innovative Hyundai Carlino compact SUV unveiled at Auto Expo 2016 in Delhi. The tyre, designed in collaboration with the South Korean car manufacturer, has been engineered to adapt to all manner of surfaces while maintaining optimum grip. With strong on- and off-road performance, the Kumho-shod Carlino […]
Kumho has been appointed a key partner and official tyre supplier to Britain’s premier rallying series, the MSA British Rally Championship (BRC). Having developed new products for the 2016 season, Kumho joins rival tyre suppliers Michelin, Pirelli and Dmack in a four-way battle over seven gravel and tarmac rounds, encompassing the slippery asphalt of Ireland, the gravel of the Kielder forests and more surfaces.
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