After initial documentation suggested in excess of 40,000 Kumho Solus tyres were being recalled in the US, on 9 August National Highway Traffic Safety Administrion (NHTSA) officials wrote to the Korean tyre maker revising down the figure to 1,238.
Kumho Tire U.S.A., Inc. has recalled a number of its Solus passenger car tyres due to a sidewall cracking issue. According to the company’s submission to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administrion (NHTSA), certain 225/45 R17 Kumho Solus KH25 produced 21 August 2011 through 23 June 2012 have an issue which could develop into cracking in the sidewall, which could result in air loss and in turn in a potential tyre failure.
Kumho Tire USA has signed on as this year’s premier tyre sponsor for the California-based Inland Empire Auto Show, which takes place on 24 to 26 August. Explaining its decision to serve as show sponsor, the tyre maker’s US operation says that “with a recent upswing in the economy, Kumho Tire management stated it felt the need to begin placing the company in a greater light in front of its core consumers, the auto enthusiasts.”
Guangzhou, China-based newspaper Yangcheng Evening News reports that Kumho intends to capture 15 per cent of China’s high-end tyre market. The newspaper quoted an unknown company source as saying Kumho is increasing its activities in this area, and as part of this it intends to open 350 new retail outlets in China by the end of the year.
The GB Taekwondo team has begun its final preparations for London 2012, and as the squad limbers up to kick its rivals into next week GB Taekwondo has announced a new partnership with Kumho Tyre UK, a company every bit as Korean as the sport its members practice.
Kumho Tire USA Inc. has released the KMD41 medium truck and bus radial for on- and off-road applications, reports Tire Review. Designed for applications such as refuse, construction and mining and logging, the Kumho KMD41 shows improved traction against the previous offering, and “removes the 55 miles per hour speed restriction of the previous product, increasing the speed certification to 65-miles per hour for normal highway driving,” the tyre-maker said.
Kumho Tires has gained “official recognition” for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 13,339 tons over the past five years. In a press statement, the Korean company’s Australian subsidiary reported that Kumho Tires achieved this reduction through upgrading production facilities and adopting renewable energy strategies while at the same time working to develop and manufacture more efficient fuel saving tyres. Kumho’s CO2 reduction plan was launched in 2005 by Kemco (Korea Energy Management Corporation) and was devised in response to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Kumho Tire U.S.A. has appointed Ron Gilbert its new director of Commercial Tire Sales. In his new position, Gilbert will head up the tyre maker’s truck and bus radial sector.
At the end of May, Kumho Tire China and the Qingdao University of Science and Technology signed a strategic cooperation agreement. According to the university, under the new agreement the two entities will increase their joint work in a number of areas. Graduate students will be trained at a Kumho-established research and development centre, which is described as being a world class facility, and both parties will cooperate on developing tyre industry solutions, such as the development of environmentally-friendly materials.
Four tyre makers at this month’s Reifen 2012 show in Germany spoke of ‘AA’ label rated tyres. One of these was Kumho Tyres, whose new “Ecowing ES01” took pride of place on the company’s exhibition stand. The “all-new standard performance tyre”, as Kumho calls it, will be available in various sizes from spring 2013 and will – at least in size 195/65R15 91H – come with an A/A/71dB label rating. According to Kumho Tire Europe GmbH sales director Michael Zirnzak, the range will be available in 21 dimensions between 14 and 16-inches and feature rolling resistance and wet grip label ratings of A to C. More precise details of each individual tyre’s performance will be released in the near future; Kumho says it will apply label information to all tyres produced after 30 June.
Kumho Tire U.S.A. has signed on as the “official tyre sponsor” of the United States Soccer Federation and the men’s and women’s national teams. “Kumho's sponsorship of the U.S.S.F. fits well with our national branding campaign that encourages an active and adventurous lifestyle, further highlighted by our 'Let's Go' motto," said Rick Brennan, vice-president of marketing, Kumho Tire U.S.A. "With the upcoming London Olympics, we are honoured to be an official sponsor of United States Soccer."
The Kumho-shod cars of Team Peugeot RCZ Nokia finished first and third in SP2T, the category for 1600cc turbocharged cars) in last weekend’s Nürburgring 24 Hours. First past the flag was car 100, shared by Paul Englert, Steven Palette, Guillaume Roman and Julien Rueflin, which covered 2,077.82 miles at an average speed of 86.58mph during the course of the race.
Kumho, who only recently was appointed official tyre supplier to the global Auto GP Series, has now also won the contract to supply all the tyres for the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile's (FFSA) F4 single-seater racing championship.
Kumho Tires claims to have developed a tyre capable of achieving an ‘A’ rating in the European tyre label for both rolling resistance and wet grip. The tyre in question is the Ecowing ES01, which Kumho intends to launch in Europe in the second half of 2012.
Kumho’s motorsport division has topped its previous best performance in the upper tiers of rallying with its tyres’ performance in the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally (April 6-7), according to its management. Drivers using the company’s rubber are currently leading two classes of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, as well as leading the Group N class of the Irish Tarmac Championship and the Irish Forestry Series. European Motorsport manager, Steve Thompson said: “We’ve achieved some great results in rallying over the last few years, but this beats our previous record at this level of the sport.”
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
