
Kumho tires
Korean value brand with a Georgia plant and OE contracts. Typically $70–$190 per tire.
Kumho Tire was founded in Gwangju, South Korea in 1960 and is Korea's second-largest tire maker after Hankook. Since 2018 its controlling shareholder has been China's Doublestar Group, though the company still operates from Korea. Kumho has built tires in Macon, Georgia since 2016 and supplies original equipment to Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Volkswagen and others.
Kumho competes on price. Its tires typically cost 25 to 35 percent less than the premium brands while delivering performance that, in independent tests, lands in the middle of the pack. The Solus TA51a is a touring all-season with a 75,000-mile warranty, the Crugen HT51 is a highway tire for pickups and SUVs with a 70,000-mile warranty, the Road Venture AT52 is a decent all-terrain, and the Ecsta line covers performance, with the PA51 as the all-season and the PS31 as the summer tire. The Solus 4S HA32 is an all-weather option and the WinterCraft WP72 handles snow.
Warranties are generous for the price. The honest trade-offs are that wet grip and noise on the cheaper Kumho tires trail the premium brands, and the dealer network is smaller. For a commuter car or a second vehicle that does not see extreme conditions, Kumho is a sensible choice.
$80 prepaid Mastercard on 4 select tires
$80 prepaid Mastercard on a set of four select Kumho tires bought 9/1-10/31/2026; Tire Agent lists the submission deadline as 11/30/2026 while some retailer pages say 10/31 - use the manufacturer form date. Listed by SimpleTire, Tires-easy, Giga-tires, TireBuyer and Tire Agent. Ends Oct 31, 2026.
Kumho models worth buying
| Model | Type | Mileage warranty | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crugen HT51 | Highway Truck & SUV Tires | 70,000 mi | $120 | Pickups and SUVs that want a long-wearing highway tire for less than the big brands. |
| Solus TA51a | All-Season Tires | 75,000 mi | $90 | Commuter sedans and minivans that want a quiet touring tire on a tight budget. |
| Ecsta PA51 | Performance Tires | 45,000 mi | $100 | Sporty sedans and coupes that want UHP all-season grip for less. |
| Road Venture AT52 | All-Terrain Tires | 55,000 mi | $150 | Pickups and SUVs that need an affordable all-terrain with the 3PMSF symbol. |
| Solus 4S HA32 | All-Weather Tires | 55,000 mi | $100 | Budget-minded drivers in snow states who want one tire year-round. |
| Ecsta PS31 | Summer Tires | None | $80 | Civics, GTIs and Miatas that want an inexpensive summer performance tire. |
| WinterCraft WP72 | Winter Tires | None | $100 | Sedans and crossovers that need a basic studless winter tire at a low price. |
Strengths
- Low prices with long mileage warranties
- Macon, Georgia plant builds many popular sizes
- Original equipment on Hyundai, Kia and Genesis
Weaknesses
- Wet braking and noise trail the premium brands
- Smaller dealer network for warranty service
Kumho tires: common questions
Are Kumho tires any good?
They are decent mid-tier tires that compete on price rather than performance. Kumho supplies original equipment to Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen, which requires meeting strict standards. Independent tests place its better models in the middle of the pack, with wet braking and noise being the areas where it gives up ground to the premium brands.
Where are Kumho tires made?
Kumho builds many US-market sizes at its plant in Macon, Georgia. Other sizes come from South Korea, Vietnam or China. The DOT code on the sidewall identifies the factory.
Who owns Kumho?
China's Doublestar Group has been the controlling shareholder since 2018, when it rescued the company from financial trouble. Kumho is still headquartered in Korea and run as a Korean company, and it kept its OE contracts and its Georgia plant.