Kumho Launches New Rugged Terrain Tyre To Deliver Best Of Both Worlds For 4WD/Ute/SUV Owners
Leading tyre manufacturer Kumho has launched an all new ‘Rugged Terrain’ tyre (RT) designed as the ideal on and off-road tyre allowing 4WD, ute and SUV owners to get the best of both worlds in one product.
The new Kumho Road Venture RT completes a totally revitalised line up for Kumho in its range of 4WD/Ute/SUV tyre range and will sit between the highly acclaimed All Terrain Road Venture
AT52 and the tough, off-road Mud Terrain Road Venture
MT51 and
MT71, built for maximum traction.
Kumho has developed the new RT to answer the enormous and growing demand for a tyre that will deliver strong performance both on road and off road.
In a series of tests by Kumho Tire in the USA at the
Treadwell Research Park using 275/70R18 size RTs, the tyre outperformed similar tyres from rival brands in wet and dry handling, ride, road noise and both wet and dry braking. The testers used both a
Ford F250 and a
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for the tests, with the tyres also outperforming its rivals off road in areas of mud traction and steering off road trail performance, cut chip resistance and overall wear.
According to Kumho Tyre Australia Director of Sales and Marketing David Basha, most 4WD/Ute/SUV owners spend 80 to 90 per cent of their driving time on tarmac but also want a tyre that will cope with their off road adventures.
“This is a booming sector of the automotive market and the new Road Venture rugged-terrain satisfies the need for a performance tyre on road, as well as when they hit the gravel, snow or mud,” said Basha.
“No one wants to keep two separate sets of tyres just to cope with the occasional off tarmac excursion which is why the new RT is so versatile and confidence inspiring,” he added.
“Kumho engineers have designed a tyre that delivers exceptional off road performance, quiet and comfortable ride, confident wet weather performance and superior wear resistance,” Basha said.
Kumho engineers have drawn on their extensive experience in designing versatile, multi-purpose tyres to create the new RT, packed with key performance features.
Bold shoulder blocks with saw-tooth edges provide strong off-road traction, while multi-angle sipes and zig-zag grooves boost grip in snow and slippery conditions. A twisted centre block with reinforcement design improves straight-line stability and wear performance under high loads.
Optimally shaped tie bars enhance tread block rigidity for better traction, while an optimal volume groove design improves drainage for wet and snow conditions. This is further supported by a high-dispersible micro silica compound and optimised tread pattern for excellent wet-weather performance.
To prevent stones from lodging in the tread, Kumho has introduced a distinctive ‘ground crack’ pattern with an ‘under deco’ cracked-ground design, along with a wavy cross-section shoulder groove that also strengthens block rigidity.
The launch of the new RT is part of Kumho’s aim to make another major step forward as a global brand lauded around the world for cutting edge technology and outstanding performance. Kumho’s target is to continuously strive to develop the perfect tyre through its worldwide research and development network.
