Kumho tires. Kumho tires Kumho tires solus manufacturer country

Manufacturer:
Kumho Tires Co. Inc.
A country:
South Korea

Company `s logo

President and CEO
Yong Ho Kim

HQ (headquarters) Gwangju plant555, Sochon-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, Korea (TEL: 062-940-2114)

Address of representative office in Russia
MOSCOW
OFFICE# 604, ENTRANCE 3,
WORLD TRADE CENTER
KRASNOPRESNENSKAYA NAB. 12,
123610 MOSCOW, RUSSIA
TEL: 7-495-258-1133
FAX: 7-495-258-1133
Electronic mail (E-mail)

About company

In Korea, in 1946, in the city of Gwanggyu, in the south of the Korean Peninsula, an enterprising local resident, In-Chun Park, founded a transport company. At first, its fleet consisted of only two old Ford trucks, but the company developed quickly.
Soon a new war began, lasting from 1950 to 1953, as a result of which Korea was divided into two states. Mr. Park's business was destroyed. However, he created a new company, which eventually grew into Korea's largest intercity bus company, Kwang Ju Highway Lines.
In 1960, Ying-Chun Park decided to create a tire manufacturing company, Kumho Tires. In 1965, the first Kumho tires were exported to Thailand.
In the mid-60s, the company entered the US tire market, receiving permission to operate from the Department of Transportation. Tire production volumes are constantly increasing, and in 1974 a new plant in Gwangyu was put into operation, where the production of the first radial tires began.
In 1975, Kumho developed a brand for the European market - Marshal. Tires are developed by the European Technical Center (Birmingham).
In 1976, the company received a certificate allowing the production of tires for the US Air Force. In addition to the fact that this contract significantly improved the financial situation of the company, it served as a wonderful advertising campaign for Kumho. And in 1978, the company opened its first representative office in Europe and took part in the largest Essen exhibition of automobile tires, where its products received high praise.
In order to keep up with the times, in the early 80s, the newest research center at that time was created in the city of Gwangyu, where all the company’s developments were tested. The continued growth in sales of Kumho tires led to the construction of another plant in Goksaenggon in 1989.
In 1991, Kumho was one of the top ten most popular car tire manufacturers. At the same time, the production of tires for aircraft continues.
During the 90s, Kumho received almost all the world's quality certificates for its products. All of the company's factories also received environmental certificates. In 1999, the company was one of the first in the world to develop a tire that can be used for some time after a puncture.
By 2002, the Kumho was ranked second in a survey conducted by a reputable automotive publication in popularity among consumers.
In 2003, an automatic tire production plant was built in Pyung Tak, and Kumho became one of the top nine tire companies in the world.

As an advertising campaign, in 2005 the world's first colored tire, Smoke Tire, was released, which, in addition to having its own color, emits red smoke during active braking and acceleration, which street racers really liked.
In 2007, Kumho entered into a contract with the Mercedes-Benz automaker for the supply of tires. In the same year, two more important events take place for the company: a car shod with Kumho tires becomes the winner of the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and the company presents the world's first aromatic tire.
In 2008, tires produced by the company received the “Recommended Tire” category in Germany.
In Russia, the popular magazine “Behind the Wheel” constantly conducts tests of various tires. In 2008 and 2009, Kumho summer tires showed the best results. In terms of sales volume, Kumho confidently competes with Michelin and Continental. Volkswagen has chosen Kumho tires for some models.

The reason was reports that the Chinese Kumho plant was using too much material from waste tires in the production of new tires, which could cause tread breaks, the Chinese government said in a statement.

Kumho is one of the largest tire makers in China, where the company's market share was estimated at 16% last year. China also accounts for about 30% of Kumho's total sales.

Even though Lee Han-Seop, director of Kumho China, publicly apologized on CCTV, which was the first to report the defective tires, many consumers expressed their distrust of the company, and some even demanded legal action. responsibility of those involved in the production of low-quality tires. Mr. Lee promised that the defective tires would be recalled, but did not specify when or how many tires would be recalled.

Following an inspection at the Tianjin plant, Kumho admitted that some internal standards were not fully met, prompting the dismissal of both the plant manager and employees responsible for quality control.

In a statement, Kumho said it had notified relevant organizations of the voluntary tire recall and pledged to fully cooperate with the Chinese government, adding that it would "address all product quality issues solely from the consumer's perspective."

In the same statement, Kumho emphasized that it did not use recycled rubber, but rubber residues left over from tire production, and that it did not contain chemical additives.

Kumho noted that this rubber is used by all tire manufacturers and that it fully complies with production standards. At the same time, the company admitted that the Tianjin plant used more of this rubber in production than required by internal standards. “The ratio of residuals to new tires in Tianjin reached 1/2, while according to the company’s internal standards it should not exceed 1/3,” Xinhua quoted a Kumho representative as saying.

"We acknowledge that we have had some product quality issues at the Tianjin plant, but using rubber left over from production is not unusual in the tire industry," a Kumho spokesman also said.

However, Chinese buyers were unsatisfied with Kumho's explanation, and Xinhua reports that many of them have put off purchasing a new vehicle until all the defective tires are recalled. Auto dealers in Shanghai also complain that their consumer hotlines are overwhelmed by calls from customers concerned their tires may also be faulty.

Chinese auto companies such as Chery, Great Wall, Dongfeng, as well as local branches of Hyundai, VW and GM were quick to issue statements that the Kumho tires installed on their cars were not produced at the Tianjin plant. Great Wall announced that it would refuse further cooperation with Kumho altogether.

Market analysts are confident that this scandal will inevitably damage Kumho's reputation in China, which is one of the most promising markets for the Korean company. At the same time, many experts note that it is not yet clear whether Kumho will be able to regain the trust of its Chinese customers and clients among automakers.

So far, experts say there has been no damage to the reputation of Hyundai, one of Kumho's key partners, but Hyundai may want to prevent such a risk by switching to tires from another company, such as Hankook.

“In China's original equipment (OE) sector, Kumho's market share (23%) was the largest, but due to CCTV reports, this may change,” Park Sang-won, an analyst at the Seoul-based agency, told Xinghua. Eugene Investment & Securities. – Kumho has a strong position in the OE sector, which usually contributes to increased sales in the aftermarket. Now the company can still minimize the damage to its reputation, but only on the condition that it continues to cooperate with auto companies.”

“Kumho reportedly used rubber left over from production rather than recycled materials, and if the misunderstanding is cleared up, the situation may not hurt the company as much,” added Lee Sang-hyun, an expert at NH Investment & Securities. “As for Hyundai, this company will not suffer, since it can easily start purchasing tires from other manufacturers if Chinese buyers are more distrustful of Kumho products.”

Many drivers on Russian roads are often puzzled by replacing tires with the wheels of their “iron horses”. The huge range of products sold at each specialized retail outlet puts most of them at a dead end. In order to understand among a large number of models and make the right choice, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the size range or price, but also to study the reviews of drivers who have tried the products of a particular brand, or the opinions of experts who conduct independent evaluations of products from different factories . Kumho tires have long been recognized as one of the most popular types of products on the Russian market.

Kumho is a well-known global brand that produces tire products and is one of the 20 largest similar enterprises in the world, founded in 1960 in South Korea. Today, almost 60 years after the start of its production activities, the company has 2 more large factories in addition to the Korean one - in China and Vietnam, as well as brand sales offices in almost every developed country in the world. Thus, the company’s products have the following features and advantages over competitors:

Kumho plant in Korea

• Tire production is carried out in the most advanced Asian countries, where labor is relatively inexpensive, which allows the company to take a leading position in terms of price and quality ratio.
• The company has its own scientific and technical base, which deals with innovative technologies in the production of rubber, which allows year after year to improve the quality and level of driver safety when driving any vehicle.
• The presence of a design office allows the company to produce tires with new designs and engineering solutions, ensuring shape stability in hot weather, eliminating hydroplaning in the rain or hardening of the treads at low temperatures.
• Each model that comes off the assembly line is a certified product, as evidenced by the results of laboratory and field tests for all modifications of the brand.
• The long history of the brand has allowed management to develop a huge range of products for any type of vehicle, from budget compact sedans to mining dump trucks.

Over the history of the brand, millions of people around the world have become regular customers of the company and leave only positive reviews and words of gratitude for each model, which allows the company to confidently maintain a leading position in global ratings.

All-season tire Kumho

How to choose an original all-season tire "Kumho"

If a car enthusiast lives in a region with a mild climate, where the temperature does not drop below -5 degrees Celsius throughout the year, and snow cover does not greatly impede traffic, he can choose all-season tires for his car and not worry about the painful and costly process of changing shoes 2 once a year.

The Kumho company has a large range of similar products, and the driver needs to pay attention to the following factors before choosing tires:

• For a special note in the marking line of the original product, which can be 4S (4 season), AS (all season) or AW (all weather), when the manufacturer himself lets the driver know about the versatility of his product.
• Next, before choosing, you need to study the traction surface - it should contain relatively hard treads, but at the same time they should be cut into lamellas to allow for a frictional effect when gripping with snow.
• In addition, the driver should study the size range of tires for wheels recommended by the automaker that produced his car in order to choose average indicators that are suitable both for high-speed driving on asphalt in the summer and for traveling on any road when cold weather sets in.
• So, if the plant advises owners of a particular brand to install dimensions 195-215/45-65/R16-R18 on their cars, then the best choice of all-season Kumho tires would be to purchase geometric parameters 205/55/R17. This means that the car will feel equally comfortable on any surface, regardless of the weather.

When choosing Kumho tires, the driver must purchase original products, and given the popularity of the brand, many enterprises often try to produce cheap replicas that do not correspond to the declared properties of the brand. In order to be sure to choose a genuine product, any motorist can go to the official website of the company using the link and read the catalog with the list of proposed product options, which will allow you to compare the articles in electronic form and on the tire itself.

Tire Kumho I Zen KW31

Truck tires Kumho I Zen KW31

As mentioned above, the range of Kumho factories is amazing, and the brand has a specialized line for the production of truck tires.

Among the most popular products for heavy-duty commercial vehicles are products such as Kumho I Zen KW31, which have the following properties:

• Although the tire has an increased load index (up to 111), it can be used equally effectively on passenger vehicles, minibuses or light-duty commercial vehicles. Thus, the lowest load indicator is only 73.
• A huge range of sizes will also help the motorist choose this modification, regardless of the make, model or configuration of his vehicle - the company presents geometric characteristics for its products in the range 175-255/35-70/R13-R19. From this we can see that the driver can buy Kumho wheels for both a simple Lada and a full-size SUV.
• This Kumho rubber is a highly effective friction tire with silicate abrasive additives in the polymer mass, and when abraded on a hard surface, the friction coefficient only increases, reliably holding the car on the road.
• The directional central protectors, as well as the asymmetrical outer ones, have sharp sipes, cut not in one line, but along a broken path, which helps the car stay on the road both when braking or accelerating, and during sharp maneuvers.
• Reliable deep grooves for draining water and slush prevent aquaplaning even when the weather warms up and the snow melts and forms an even layer of water on the road surface.
• All I Zen KW31 tires have a speed index R, which allows the maximally loaded tires to move freely on roads at a speed of 170 km/h.

Tires Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27�

The only disadvantage of this model of the Korean brand can be considered the absence of studs, because on a slippery road or in icy conditions the driver may not be able to control the car, and the car will fly off the road, since the grip of the rubber lamellas is not enough, because they do not cut deep into the road surface .

Mud tires Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27

Summer tires are the strong point of Kumho's manufacturing innovations, especially considering the fact that the products are mainly produced in countries with warm climates. The flagship of these models can be considered summer tires Ecowing ES01 KH27.

At the same time, they are Kumho mud tires, since they receive the majority of positive reviews among customers on various forums, and have the following design, technological and operational features:

• The classic radial design with powerful, high-quality and efficient treads is installed primarily on passenger cars and allows them to be used equally comfortably on asphalt or in off-road conditions.
• The tires have 4 rows of continuous treads with sparse transverse sipes, and 3 longitudinal grooves, wide enough to drain not only water, but also dirt. This means that when hitting sticky clay, the car will not slip along the road, and the substance, automatically squeezed out under the weight of the heavy body, will immediately fall into these grooves, from which it will simply easily separate on the slippery surface and remain on the road, which will allow you to don't lose control.
• During dynamic driving on asphalt, these tires, thanks to the special design of the treads, make it possible to minimize rolling resistance, which improves speed performance and minimal fuel consumption while driving.

Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI3 tires

• The chemical composition of rubber is characterized by a high content of abrasive particles in order to enhance the quality of grip on the road as the surface wears out. Thus, small grains of quartz sand are one of the latest developments in friction rubber for any famous brand, because the specific adhesion to any surface increases to 100%, unlike models that lack this advantage.
• Powerful protectors in the shoulder area improve vehicle controllability on any road and reduce the risk of skidding even on a slippery wet road after rain.
• A wide range of wheel sizes - 145-235/45-80/R14-R17 - allows you to install tires not only on small, medium or business class sedans or hatchbacks, but also choose a model with a high profile and install it on a full-size SUV.

Having chosen this tire, the driver can move on smooth asphalt during the work week without any particular difficulties, as well as travel out of town on weekends, since it has almost the same indicator of effective grip both on hard surfaces and on soft mud roads after shower.

Kumho tire technology

Tires Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI3

This model of Kumho winter tires is one of the few presented in a studded version, which has become an automatic successor to the Kumho KW22 tire, which has gained great popularity among Russian drivers.

So, after this modification became hopelessly outdated, after a long period of work on drawings and testing, the Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 tires were born. Today they are considered one of the most effective tires of the brand for use in harsh climates and have the following features:

• The entire clutch surface has a directional pattern of treads, cut into clear and sharp lamellas, which ensures the capture of large amounts of snow on the road and several times increases the coefficient of friction for vehicle stability.
• Powerful and deep grooves between the treads easily remove from the surface all the slurry that could not linger on the lamellas and does not take part in the friction properties of the tire.
• In addition to a large number of metal studs, the number of which varies depending on the size of the product, the rubber composition includes carbon or aramid fibers, which are also used in high-quality brake pads, and their sharp structures act as miniature studs, enhancing reliable contact of the tire with the road.
• Among the disadvantages is the problem of almost every studded tire, which behaves much more adequately during icy conditions than on thick snow cover, where its handling drops noticeably and the car goes into a dive much faster.
• The tires have a wide range of sizes - 195-245/40-70/R15-R18 - and are suitable for many domestic and foreign cars of any class, but this model is especially loved by owners of mid-size crossovers of Japanese and European brands, because Kumho tires are especially good works in combination with all-wheel drive of these cars.

Due to the fact that the product has been very popular among car enthusiasts in the winter for the last 2 years, independent experts often conducted comparative tests at testing grounds, analyzing the behavior of more than 30 world-famous competitors, such as Nokian, Michelin, Pirelli and other tire brands. Thus, according to the results of a dozen different tests for braking, acceleration, maneuverability, behavior on snow, during ice, etc., Wintercraft Ice WI3 tires confidently took 14th place, which is a good average and provides motorists with confidence on the road.

Tire showroom in Moscow

Kumho tires, being one of the top 20 tire companies in the world, in terms of sales volume of its products, improves its model range from year to year, gradually improving its performance and rising in many rating tables. This means that if the management and owners of the company continue to pursue the same course towards developing the brand and monitoring the quality of products, they have every chance in 20-30 years to take first place in such lists, because the number of satisfied customers of the brand is also growing steadily every day.

Kumho tires are a product of the Korean manufacturer of the same name. Rubber is produced at factories in Korea and China. The manufacturer owns another brand - Marshal - produced for the markets of Europe and the CIS. Kumho tires appeared on the market 50 years ago, over the past 7-10 years they have become one of the top ten world leaders in the tire industry. The company's philosophy is based on the principle of producing inexpensive but high-quality tires for every car owner.

Kumho technologies: innovations in budget tires

There is no longer any point in talking about the use of technologies to impart elasticity to the rubber compound or rigidity to the tire carcass. Today, every manufacturer exploits the achievements of science, giving them their own names. It is much more interesting to consider the innovative solution of the Korean company: self-sealing tires.

Unlike run flat technology from other manufacturers, Kumho self-sealing tires do not require replacement after a puncture and can be used until they are completely worn out.

The essence of the technology used in Korean Kumho rubber is the use of a jelly-like layer on the inner surface of the tire. After a puncture, this layer tightens, reliably sealing the puncture site and preventing air from escaping from the tire. Interestingly, the weight of one self-sealing wheel increases by only 10% compared to a conventional one.

The manufacturer claims that Kumho tires with the new technology have not suffered at all in terms of comfort and handling. The company's official website notes that the Korean concern Kumho became the first to produce self-sealing tires in Korea. At the moment, tires are available in three sizes and are currently available only to Korean car owners.

Kumho laboratories are constantly working to improve the running properties of rubber, increasing driver comfort, grip and handling. Today, hundreds of car enthusiasts appreciate the combination of quality and affordable price of tires. Korean Kumho tires receive positive reviews not only on the world market, but also from Russian drivers.

Kumho tire catalog

The Korean manufacturer produces four lines of tires:

• Cars
• Freight
• Light trucks
• Sports

Each line has a favorite. In the line of summer passenger tires, the most popular model is. It is available in sizes from 13 to 18 radius. You can buy Kumho tires of this model from 1,400 rubles, the maximum price reaches 12,600 rubles. Customer reviews made it possible to highlight the advantages of tires:

• grip on dry surfaces
• strong sidewall
• wear

And disadvantages:

• aquaplaning
• sensitivity on bumps
• noisiness

The tire for passenger cars was slightly inferior in popularity to its predecessor, but received more positive reviews. Among the advantages are listed:

• wear
• aquaplaning
• sustainability
• strong sidewall

Among the disadvantages:

• unsure behavior in a rut. Buyers noted loss of controllability on rough roads

You can buy Kumho tires of this model in sizes from 13 to 22. The minimum price for tires is 1,850 rubles, the maximum is 17,800 rubles.

Off-road tires received the most enthusiastic reviews from car owners. It should be immediately noted that this model bears the loud designation MT (Mud Terrain) and is not suitable for ordinary roads. This is an exclusively mud tire. However, the official Kumho website says that the tires are adapted for driving on asphalt. Buyers agreed with this statement of the manufacturer with one amendment: when used on normal roads, the tires wear out quickly. The rubber's cross-country ability and grip are excellent; it does not get stuck in mud or float in water. The noise level is lower than expected, and the behavior on asphalt is quite tolerable. You can buy Kumho KL71 tires for at least 4,200 rubles on the Internet. The model is available in 15, 16 and 17 radius.

Of the winter passenger tires, buyers noted the model. You can buy Kumho tires of this model for 1,800 rubles. Among the advantages noted are predictable behavior in snow, lack of noise, and softness. Among the shortcomings, buyers cited poor handling on bare ice and studs falling out.

Kumho truck tires are used reluctantly in Russia. The manufacturer's name plays a role here. A favorable price is the main advantage of tires for long-haul tractors. In terms of driving characteristics, the tires are inferior to premium manufacturers such as, Goodyear and Kormoran.