Brand Portfolio

Kumho Tire offers a diverse range of products designed to provide safe and comfortable driving in any environment, considering the characteristics of the vehicle and the driving conditions. From our long-loved existing tires to our new EV tires optimized for the latest market trends, we have earned the trust of our customers through our differentiated technology and competitive quality.

Premium Truck and Bus Tires

TBR (Truck and Bus Radial) tires are high-performance tires designed for large vehicles. Since they are primarily mounted on trucks, buses, etc., the technology to withstand higher loads and long-distance driving is crucial. Kumho Tire offers TBR products that feature key technologies such as durability, mileage, and environmentally friendly performance. Representative products include the high-performance, high-durability light rail tire ‘KRA14,’ exclusively developed in Korea, the truck tire ‘KXA17’ with new intelligent pattern technology, and the first TBR electric bus High Load EV tire ‘KCA31.’

GLOBAL OE PARTNERS

Kumho Tire maintains OE partnerships with global automakers such as Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai, Kia), Volkswagen (Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT), Mercedes-Benz Group, Renault-Nissan (Renault, Renault Korea Motors, Nissan), Stellantis Group (Fiat, Chrysler), KG Mobility, and Tata Daewoo. Additionally, Kumho Tire is expanding its market share of high-performance tires in the United States and Europe, the largest premium tire markets, gaining recognition for its technological capabilities.

Competitiveness in Future Mobility, R&D

Kumho Tire is strengthening its R&D capabilities to accelerate the paradigm shift for future mobility. To maintain a competitive edge in technology, we have established and are operating a global R&D network. By expanding our R&D investment, Kumho Tire is not only enhancing product performance but also integrating digital technologies to develop tires that ensure safe and comfortable mobility while being environmentally conscious.

Global Network

Kumho Tire has established and operates a global R&D network to develop world-class tires. The central research center, which integrally manages domestic and international research centers, serves as the hub of the global R&D network. The Kumho Performance Center (KPC) leverages its proximity to the test track and production plant to operate as a specialized performance center. The technical centers in the United States, Europe, and China focus on analyzing local markets, driving conditions, etc. to improve quality, enhance technical capabilities, and develop high performance tires.

Strengthening Innovative Research through Collaboration

Kumho Tire conducts R&D collaborations to secure eco-friendlynew technologies and enhance the expertise and efficiency of its research and development. We collaborate in various fields, focusing on developing eco-friendly materials, innovative product development technologies, and next-generation advanced technologies. In 2023, we pursued a total of 39 research projects, including 31 joint research projects, 3 industry-academia cooperation projects, and 5 government projects.

Establishing a Technology Roadmap

To maintain competitiveness in future markets, we have established a Technology Roadmap (TRM) and are identifying key technologies(Toolbox) to meet customer demands in response to market and technological changes. By integrating new technologies into our products, we aim to develop and launch new products in a timely manner. We also develop platforms to secure the performance competitiveness of newly developed products, preselecting core tasks to ensure timely product releases.

Preparing for the Future Mobility Era

Kumho Tire has launched the dedicated electric vehicle tire brand ‘EnnoV’ to target the future mobility market with technology optimized for electric vehicles. The EnnoV lineup consists of four types: EnnoV PREMIUM (allseason), EnnoV SPORT (summer), EnnoV SUPERMILE (mileage), and EnnoV WINTER (winter). Among these, the EnnoV PREMIUM line is the world’s first product to apply ‘HLC (High Load Capacity)’ structural design across all 29 sizes. With EnnoV’s distinguished technologies, such as superior driving stability, low noise, and improved fuel efficiency, Kumho Tire is set to lead the new EV era as a technology leader.

EV Tire Technology

HLC Design to Withstand High Loads 

EnnoV PREMIUM line is the world’s first to feature HLC (High Load Capacity) across all 29 sizes, capable of easily bearing the high loads of electric vehicles, which are on average 300 kg heavier than internal combustion vehicles. This design ensures durability and optimal performance, handling the high torque of initial acceleration.

Additionally, the application of high-rigidity steel belts prevents tread deformation and minimizes movement during driving, while the use of high-strength body ply with high-strength polyester cords for the tire’s framework enhances stability during high-speed driving.

Improved Rolling Resistance (RR)

Kumho Tire has significantly improved rolling resistance performance to minimize power consumption in electric vehicles. By researching technologies to reduce rolling resistance caused by heat and friction during driving, we have improved rolling resistance by over 20%. The use of an EV-optimized compound material further enhances fuel efficiency.

Optimized Quietness for Electric Vehicles

Kumho Tire applies special dimples and pattern designs within the tire grooves to reduce noise caused by air concentrated in the tire tread grooves during driving. Additionally, the sound-absorbing foam attached inside the tire reduces resonance noise, which is the noise generated by air vibrating inside the tire upon road contact, by approximately 8%, ensuring a quieter and more stable ride.

Optimized Wear Performance

Kumho Tire applies optimized ground pressure design technology to prevent uneven wear and early shoulder block wear, thereby improving ride comfort. Additionally, to improve abnormal wear and prevent tearing, 3D chamfer technology has been applied to enhance the residual rate of sipes.

Ensuring Driving Stability

The zigzag pattern design prevents vehicle pulling during driving, and the 3D sipe design applied to the thin lateral grooves of the tread blocks provides optimal handling and braking performance. Moreover, the hybrid sidewall design minimizes belt movement during acceleration, preventing vehicle pulling and enhancing driving stability.

Building a Tire Digital Twin System

With the tightening of environmental regulations and the increasing demand for electric vehicles, technology trends are changing rapidly. To proactively respond to these trends, Kumho Tire has implemented a ‘Tire Digital Twin’ environment, utilizing Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to maximize tire performance and safety.

The digital twin replicates the real-world product development process in a digital space, enabling virtual product development in advance, which reduces development time and costs, representing an innovation in the overall product development process. This system performs virtual evaluations and virtual manufacturing, including performance pre-assessment, design optimization, and driving simulation from the tire design stage. By using the digital twin system, we not only improve product development efficiency but also save resources used in trial manufacturing and evaluation.

Step 1. Digital Tire Design System

The digital tire design system integrates design databases in a digital space to establish design proposals. In the basic design stage, the system automatically configures the tire’s structure and pattern shape based on the design plans. The various established design data are then linked with Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) and Big Data performance prediction systems for optimization.

Step 2. CAE and Big Data Simulation

The tire performance prediction system leverages AI to learn from big data based on tire design elements and test results, predicting the performance of new compounds and new tires. This approach significantly reduces the tire development time and the number of tests required while continuously monitoring and improving the prediction accuracy.

Step 3. AI-Based Design Optimization Development

By integrating and automating multiple steps required for optimization, the system quickly determines the optimal design that satisfies the performance trade-offs.

Smart Tire Monitoring System

The smart tire monitoring system provides customers with a total solution for safe and economical travel. It informs the driver of tire conditions using a sensor module attached inside the tire and an LTE wireless communication device installed in the driver’s seat. By monitoring air pressure, temperature, acceleration, and tire conditions during driving, the system sends warnings or alerts to the driver if any danger is detected, preventing accidents. Furthermore, it analyzes comprehensive data on vehicle information, driver operation management, and tire inventory management, helping reduce fuel consumption and tire replacement costs. For example, trial operations conducted with intercity and city bus companies showed that vehicle management costs could be reduced by approximately KRW 1.2 million per vehicle annually. Due to these advantages, in December 2023, we successfully signed a supply contract with Suncheon Transport, the largest city bus company in the Jeonnam region, marking a milestone in commercialization.

Future-Oriented Tires

Airless Tire

One of the major drawbacks of current pneumatic tires is the risk of unexpected accidents due to punctures while driving. The Airless Tire addresses this issue by being a non-pneumatic tire, increasing safety and reducing maintenance costs, making it particularly suited for autonomous driving and electric vehicles. Kumho Tire’s Airless Tire not only incorporates fundamental technology but also uses eco-friendly materials and is designed for high-speed driving. Leveraging these technologies, Kumho Tire has completed international patent applications. Furthermore, to proactively respond to the Airless Tire market, Kumho Tire is actively collaborating with multipurpose unmanned vehicle developers to create Airless Tires for various purposes, such as small electric carts and unmanned delivery robots.

Airborne Tire

The Airborne Tire is a specialized tire for Urban Air Mobility (UAM), moving aircraft using only electricity through magnetic suspension and rotating wheel devices without a separate wheel motor. The tire wheels float in the air due to the magnetic force, allowing smooth operation during vertical takeoffs and landings. The combination of rubber components and airless parts facilitates smooth vertical landings, significantly reducing the impact felt by passengers. The Airborne Tire was awarded in the Concept category at the 2022 German Red Dot Design Award and the 2023 German iF Design Award, recognizing both its functionality and innovative design.