Kumho hosts dealers for conference at Tottenham Hotspur
Kumho recently utilised its role as Official Tyre Partner to Tottenham Hotspur by holding a key customer conference at the Premier League football club’s new stadium.
Kumho recently utilised its role as Official Tyre Partner to Tottenham Hotspur by holding a key customer conference at the Premier League football club’s new stadium.
In recent years, the products of Korean tyre producer Kumho Tire have received a number of iF, Red Dot, IDEA and Good Design awards. Now the company has added two more Good Design awards into its already bulging trophy cabinet. The patterns recognised on this occasion are both passenger car products – the Majesty 9 Solus TA91 and ECSTA PA51.
The latest global tyre market share figures from tyre industry analyst Astutus Research show how long-established, leading players headquartered in Japan, Europe, and North America have seen their volume share diminish, while Chinese, ASEAN, and selected other markets’ tyre manufacturers’ share has risen. The analyst states that in aggregate, the ten leading PCLT tyre manufacturers based in Japan, Europe and North America (J-E-NA) have lost almost 6 percentage points of market share since the end of 2011 (OE and replacement segments combined, volumes in tyre units). In part this reflects a strategic choice of some to focus on the higher value premium segments of the market.
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Fans of Czech First League club FK Mladá Boleslav will see a lot more of Kumho Tyre in future. As exclusive tyre partner for the coming three years, Kumho Tyre gains a logo presence on the back of players’ shirts and the front of their shorts during all First League and cup matches as well as on digital signage along the length of the playing field. The sponsorship arrangement also covers hospitality options and a presence within the club’s media activities.
The latest eco-friendly offering from Kumho is the Ecowing ES31. This successor to the KH27 is now available in a total of 46 sizes for 14- to 17-inch rim diameters, and around 70 percent of these carry an EU label grade of ‘B’ for rolling resistance. The sizes include all key fitments for bestselling small and medium-sized hatchbacks and saloons such as the VW Polo and Golf, Fiat 500, Audi A1, A2, A3 and A4, BMW 1 and 2 Series, Peugeot 208 and Renault Clio.
US-based industrial union the United Steelworkers reports that it now represents approximately 325 workers at the Kumho Tire factory in Macon, Georgia. The workforce’s status as a bargaining unit comes almost two years after an initial vote on the matter was held.
Zufall Logistics of Germany has set up a subsidiary to consolidate its tyre logistics services in the country. Zufall Tire Logistics will take over the services previously handled by sister company Müller + Partner. The company is reportedly serving customers including Korean suppliers Hankook Reifen Deutschland and Kumho Tire Europe.
Kumho’s 4×4 tyre range has was recently extended by the addition of the Road Venture AT61 tyre. While there are a range of Kumho 4×4 products from which to choose, the majority of requirements are covered by on-road products as the Crugen HP91 and KL33, plus the cross-functional Road Venture patterned MT51 and newly-launched AT61. Between them they cover everything from such top end SUVs as the Range Rover and BMW X5 to the ever-popular Land Rover Defender.
One of the many highlights of Kumho Tyre’s partnership agreement with Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur is the annual five-a-side tournament the club lays on for Kumho’s UK customers. Kumho considers this a money-can’t-buy experience that is “eagerly anticipated” by all concerned.
Kumho Tyre is the new Premium Partner for German football club Bayer 04 Leverkusen and, for the annual DFB Cup knockout competition, sleeve partner. The two-year partnership between the tyre maker and football club got underway on Saturday when the Bayer 04 players took to the field in their new kit for the first round of the DFB Cup, a match that saw them defeat Alemannia Achen by four goals to one.
The Kia range recently grew with the arrival of the Seltos. The compact SUV officially debuted in India on 20 June, and in addition to spearheading Kia’s planned growth in that market, Seltos models will be exported around the world. The Seltos is heading our away soon and will reach Europe from September. It will be wearing Kumho tyres when it arrives in showrooms.
Kumho has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with BMW, having for many years supplied tyres for the 1, 2 and 3 Series ranges. Recently, it also supplied original tyres for the latest X3 and MINI Countryman. Now the new 5 Series BMW has joined the supply list, with Kumho’s Ecsta PS91 Super Sports tyre in 245/45R18 XL 100Y size delivered to the German marque’s Dingolfing plant in Bavaria.
Matthias Bode was appointed head of Kumho’s European Technical Centre (KETC) in Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany at the beginning of June. The 50-year-old is responsible for the development of all Kumho products for the European original equipment (OE) and replacement markets.
Kumho has developed a 20-inch commercial vehicle tyre in 45 profile, a product it calls a world first. The manufacturer will supply the PorTran KC53 in size 245/45R20C 115/113R to Hyundai as original equipment on the Solati Limousine. The minibus was originally shod with 16 inch tyres, with a number of tyre manufacturers tasked with increasing the tyre size prior to Kumho satisfying the car manufacturer’s needs.
Kumho Tire has produced the world’s first 20-inch, 45 profile tyre for light commercial vehicles, and is supplying it as an original equipment fitment for the Hyundai H350 in global markets. Purchasers of the Hyundai van who select the Kumho tyre will receive the PorTran KC53 in size 245/45 R20 C 115/113R.
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