About Kumho
Kumho Tire was founded in 1960 as Samyang Tire in Gwangju, South Korea, by Park In-chon, who also founded the Kumho Asiana group. The company became a major OE supplier to Hyundai and Kia and expanded into China, Vietnam and the United States. After financial difficulties, China's Doublestar Group became the largest shareholder in 2018. Kumho's Ecsta performance range and Crugen SUV range are sold in more than 180 countries.
Strengths
- Low prices with acceptable grip
- OE supplier to Hyundai and Kia, so many sizes match Korean cars
- Ecsta PS71 offers sporty handling for little money
- Comfortable ride on Ecsta HS52 and Crugen HP71
- Good stock in the UAE
Weaknesses
- Wet braking noticeably behind premium brands
- Shorter tread life in high heat
- Less consistent performance as the tyre ages
Kumho ranges and prices
| Model | Type | Rims | Price per tyre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Ultra-high performance summer | 16–20 inch | AED 350 – AED 800 |
| Kumho Ecsta HS52 | Comfort touring | 15–19 inch | AED 250 – AED 550 |
| Kumho Ecowing ES31 | Economy touring | 13–16 inch | AED 170 – AED 330 |
| Kumho Crugen HP71 | SUV highway touring | 16–22 inch | AED 330 – AED 750 |
| Kumho Road Venture AT52 | All-terrain 4x4 / pickup | 15–20 inch | AED 400 – AED 800 |
Cars it suits
- Hyundai Elantra
- Kia Cerato
- Hyundai Tucson
- Kia Sportage
- Nissan Sunny
- Toyota Corolla
- MG 5
- Chevrolet Captiva
Our ratings out of 10
- Wet grip
- 7
- Dry grip
- 7
- Comfort
- 7
- Quietness
- 7
- Tread life
- 6
- Heat resistance
- 7
Performance
Kumho tyres drive well for the money. The Ecsta PS71 has crisp steering and good dry grip, and the Ecsta HS52 is comfortable and quiet in city driving. In the wet, braking distances are longer than with Continental or Michelin, so drivers should allow more space in winter rain on Al Ittihad Road and Emirates Road. The Crugen HP71 is a relaxed, quiet SUV tyre well suited to Korean crossovers.
Durability and tread life
Kumho tyres typically last 30,000–40,000 km on sedans and 35,000–45,000 km on SUVs in UAE use, and the Ecsta PS71 around 25,000–30,000 km. The compounds are softer than premium rivals, so tread wears faster in summer heat and grip falls more as the rubber hardens with age. For low-mileage drivers, this matters less: many Kumho tyres reach the recommended 5-year age limit before wearing out.
Kumho in UAE conditions
Kumho stock in the UAE comes mainly from South Korea, Vietnam and China. Because Kumho is a fast-moving brand here, DOT dates are usually recent, but always check: 2026 stamped on the sidewall would mean week 20 of 2026. Kumho is a sensible choice for second cars, fleet sedans and older vehicles where the budget is tight. For heavy 4x4s used on sand, choose the Road Venture AT52 rather than road-only Crugen tyres.
