(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire U.S.A. will supply race tires to Intersport Racing for the upcoming 2007 American Le Mans Series season. Intersport, which runs an AER-powered Lola in the ALMS LMP2 class, will race on Kumho tires for the first time at the Mobil One Twelve Hours of Sebring on Mar. 17.
Kumho Tire USA’s annual dealer meeting is currently underway in Cancun, Mexico, and new CEO B.K. Kim has used the event as an opportunity to unveil the company’s aspirations for the coming years.
According to media sources, Mr. Kim announced Kumho’s plans to open three new production facilities during the next few years, and with this increased production base the company is aiming for an output of more than 76 million tyres by 2010. Anticipated output for 2007 is 52 million units.
Korea’s Kumho Tires has announced a tyremaking first, namely that it has developed products that incorporate a new environmentally friendly material known as Lyocell. Kumho will use the material in the production of tyre cord for ultra-high performance products, and the company claims that the use of Lyocell can mimimise the production of hazardous materials during the manufacturing process.
KUMHO’s ECSTA KH11 tyre has been chosen by the Chrysler Group to be original equipment on the 2007 Chrysler Sebring. The ultra-high performance tyre, in size 215/55R18, will be a top-of-the-line plus-size option on the Chrysler Sebring in international markets, the company reports. The vehicle will be available in the UK from June 2007.
Hankook Tire Co. has reported that its third-quarter profit fell 16 per cent on higher raw material costs and a stronger currency. Net income was 44.4 billion won ($47 million) in the quarter that ended 30 September compared with 52.9 billion won ($56 million) a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales rose 7.9 per cent to 526.4 billion won ($558 million). Operating profit fell 27 per cent to 40 billion won ($42 million).
(Las Vegas/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA officially launched its latest touring tyre line – the Solus KR21 – during the SEMA Show. The Solus KR21 replaces Kumho’s 732 and 795 products. Kumho said the Solus KR21 delivers a refined balance of high mileage, low noise and exceptional ride comfort, along with all-season traction and confidence-inspiring handling.
The KR21 will be a “megaline” tyre, which Kumho said will reduces the number of SKUs a dealer will have to carry. The KR21 carries a T speed rating and a UTQG of 600, and will be available in the first quarter of 2007 in nearly 50 sizes, ranging from 155/80R13 to 235/65R18.
(Las Vegas/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA’s scented tyre, which was introduced as a concept at last year’s SEMA Show, is reportedly coming to fruition. A lavendar scented version of the tyre will hit the market early next year in three sizes, Kumho said. Based on Kumho’s Ecsta DX, the tyre features specialty scented compounds that replaces the smell of tyre rubber with the scent of lavender. The compound includes heat resistant oils that add the scent to the tyre. Kumho has tried a number of different scents, including lavender, jasmine, rosemary and neroli.
According to Rick Brennan, Kumho’s brand director, the company is bringing the DX aroma tyre to the market to help build brand awareness and differentiate Kumho in the marketplace. The new DX is targeted at female consumers who drive sedans such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Ford Taurus. The scented Ecsta DX Aroma tyre will initially be available in sizes 205/60R16, 215/60R16 and 235/60R16.
(Las Vegas/Tire Review) The new Road Venture APT KL51, an all-purpose touring tyre designed for light trucks and SUVs, was introduced by Kumho Tire USA during the SEMA Show. Kumho officials said the new tyre features an all-season tread compound formulated to “deliver excellent wet and dry traction and enhanced mileage performance,” as well as “a comfortable ride, decreased road noise and driving stability.” The APT KL51 will be available in the first quarter of 2007 in 25 sizes with black sidewalls, ranging from 225/70R15 to 255/60R18, and in 11 sizes with outlined white letters, ranging from 225/75R15 to 255/65R17.
(Las Vegas/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA expanded its lineup of run-flat tyres with the addition of the Ecsta SPT XRP. Initially, Kumho will offer 13 run-flat sizes of the Ecsta SPT XRP, ranging from 195/55R16 to 245/45ZR18. “Owners of vehicles that are equipped with run-flat tyres don’t have a lot of options when it’s time to replace those tyres,” said Rick Brennan, Kumho’s director of brand management. “The SPT XRP will offer these drivers an ultra high performance alternative to the OE runflats.” The SPT XRP enables a driver who experiences a loss of tyre air pressure to get his vehicle to a place where the tyre can safely be changed or repaired. The SPT XRP can be driven up to 50 miles at 50 mph with no air in the tyre, Kumho said.
Kumho Tires has announced that it has developed an ultra-large tyre with a 32 inch rim diameter for the SUV (sports utility vehicle) conversion market. The 305/25R32 size tyre is claimed to be the world’s first ultra-large UHP (ultra-high performance) tyre and extends the boundaries of the SUV conversion market still further.
Kumho Tires Co. has begun construction on a tyre plant in Vietnam in a bid to corner the fast-growing Southeast Asian market. The company said it would invest US$155 million into the new plant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s economic hub, by early 2008. Kumho plans to increase its annual output by 3.15 million units through the investment. The company currently has a total global production capacity of 51 million units.
(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire Co. has received approval by regional government authorities to build a $380 million tyre plant in southern Vietnam’s Binh Duong Province. Production is expected to begin in March 2008, with an annual output of 3.15 million units, according to Kumho. Jongsun Sun, general director of Kumho Tire (Vietnam) Co. Inc., said the tyre maker would invest $155 million for the first phase of the project, which will begin next month.
Irish rally ace Eugene Donnelly and co-driver Paul Kiely have wrapped up their third successive Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship title in fine style. Their dominant overall victory last Saturday (2 September) in the Philip White Tyres Ulster Rally earned them maximum points and an unassailable lead in the series with one round to go. The Kumho-backed pairing, in their nine-year old, ex Didier Auriol, Toyota Corolla WRC, held the lead after Friday’s night stages but the right choice of Kumho wet tyres for the heavy rain on Saturday morning helped Donnelly to open up an ever-increasing gap: “I think when it got drier it was even slippier due to the mud pulled out on the second runs, but I really enjoyed the rally. The conditions made it such a challenge,” commented Donnelly. The win, Donnelly’s second Ulster title in a row and his fifth major win of the season, puts him 19 points clear of Eamonn Boland who finished second on Saturday.
(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA Inc. announced that it will increase prices on 1 October. Passenger, light truck and commercial truck tyre prices will increase up to 5 per cent, depending on tyre model. Continuing price increases for raw materials and rising transportation costs were the reasons for the increase, according to David Hudrlik, vice president and director of sales.
Flexsys America L.P. has announced that the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has ordered that its patent infringement action against Sinorgchem Co., Shandong (Sinorgchem), Kumho Tire USA, Inc., Kumho Tire Company, Inc. (Korea), Korea Kumho Petrochemical Company, Ltd. (“KKPC”), and Sovereign Chemical Company be reopened.
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.
