Is Kumho safe/reliable now?

[renzo_d10]

Currently, yang ECSTA SPT ang gamit ko. Maganda yung traction niya, and I believe that it's safe already since madami na din naman gumagamit. ;)

[Type 100]

Pumutok nga yung isang Kumho namin dati, although technically it was a light truck tire used on our old Kia Pregio.

People are satisfied with them now though, perhaps they've improved. And you really cannot discount the bang-for-the-buck factor of the Ecsta SPT, especially as tires have become more expensive (reportedly due to raw materials shortage).

It's not just locally that they're getting kudos. They've developed a good reputation in the US as well.

[gwapster]

Good to hear those reassuring feedback.

Actually I was contemplating between these for 215/45/18, in increasing order of cost:

Kumho ECSTA SPT (KU31)
Dunlop LeMans LM703
Michelin Pilot Preceda 2
Yokohama Advan A10

Quite frankly, past reputations aside, I think the KU31 is in a different league HIGHER than the other three if we're talking about the specific models mentioned. This is why medyo duda ako (konting konti lang naman) bakit sobrang mas mura pa rin yung Kumho, hehe.

The only negative I've been reading about the KU31 is: mas madali daw mag-wearout, but still much longer by half the tread life of the direct competitors that cost more than 2x as much. So the math is in favor of the Kumho.

[otheloadiong]

good day sir,
as for me, kumho is not that reliable/safe...dunlop and michelin is far better than kumho...just make sure dunlop is made in japan and michelin is NOT made in china...

[niky]

Kumho commercial van tires are infamous for their poor sidewall durability... but bear in mind... commercial van tires are often used until the tread is worn completely flat... which is often around 150,000++++ kilometers

Just because your Japanese van tire can drive for another 100,000 kilometers beyond that despite having absolutely no tread left doesn't mean it's safe to do so... but you know how local buyers are... as long as it keeps air, who cares if your truck driver ends up in a ditch or plows into someone's house?

-

Car tires on the other hand, have softer treads, which will usually wear out within 40-80,000 kilometers. I've yet to hear any negative feedback about Kumho's car and SUV tires. We're currently testing the APT Ventures on the Crosswind and the SPX on the CR-V. The APTs suck in terms of grip... but they're not any worse than the Duelers that came stock on the Crosswind, and they're much quieter and brake better.

The SPX is categorically better than the Duelers. I don't know if they're as good as the Goodyear Wrangler HP/AWs or ADVAN STs, but I do know that they're a lot cheaper.

Have also sampled the Kumho ECSTA SPTs on an SIR. Good grip. Don't know how good, exactly, not without a chance to push them to 100% on the track, but more than good enough for everyday spirited driving.

Am thinking about getting a set of SPTs as everyday tires for the Lynx, but I'm still pricing it. At the very least, they'll smoothen the ride compared to my Neovas, and allow me to do burnouts again without wheelhop. (Neovas are too sticky for drag-racing!)

Another good set of cheap performance tires are the Federal 595SS. Only problems I hear with those are poor treadwear... but hey... what do you expect with performance tires?

[Type 100]

If I had to choose between Kumho, Dunlop and Michelin, I'd go with Kumho no question.

Dunlop and Michelin's local tires are disappointments. Michelin is also odd because even their non-performance tires have comparatively low treadwear (240). Maybe I tried a bad set but my Michelin Vivacys have mediocre grip and are particularly bad under braking.

Unless Dunlop brings in their Direzza Z1 Star Spec tire here, I'm not buying.

[agentk98]

The Hyundai OEM tires are Kumho. Sta Fe, Tucson ix and the Genesis if i'm not mistaken.
I would think Hyundai would make sure the tires they include as stock on their releases would be up to par with their requirements. Can't get all those millions of dollars of research be tarnished by a sub-performing tire.