Kumho Solus KR21

[grumpy]

Anyone have experience with this tire on their Pilot? Great reviews on Tirerack.

[phenryiv1]

Wondering the same.

[phenryiv1]

I actually purchased and installed a set of these 2 weeks ago. Due to some long trips that we had planned, we replaced the 255/70/16 Wrangler RT/S with a set of these in 235/70/16. At $75 each plus $42 shipping from Tirerack, they seemed like a good deal. $50 in mounting costs later, we were in business.

After about 1000 miles on them, we are very happy with the switch. It rained a LOT on our vacation (booo!) and these tires handled moderate standing water and wet pavement with no complaints. Dry traction is good, and they are very quiet and smooth on highways and secondary roads. We have a slight vibration at around 75 MPH that is probably a balance issue on one of the rears, but I plan to look at having that addressed if it does not dissippate.

For right around $400, my initial impression is that these are a great tire for the money. Time will tell with wear and noise after they have some miles on them, but first impressions are pretty darn good.

[phenryiv1]

Update:

6 months later, we are very inpressed with the performance of these tires after approximately 6-7K. Their first use in snow (2-3") was positive, and the recent dumping of almost 24" of snow out here resulted in them seeing between 10-12" of the white stuff in bringing my wife and newborn home from the hospital.

These don't grip in snow like my Goodyear Wrangler 30x9.50s do on my Comanche, but they don't have to, either. They also are wearing very well, and seem to have gotten no louder over the last 6 months.

I rarely buy a tire that does not have one glaring area of weakness, but so far, these are solid performers, all around. Nothing truly outstanding, but very predictable in dry and wet, with more than passable snow performance.

[armandjones82]

Upon reading this one, i think that kumho tires are really good and actually a good performing tire brand. And I might say i'm impressed. Read something about it and it really is a good brand.

[xGS]

Originally Posted by armandjones82

Upon reading this one, i think that kumho tires are really good and actually a good performing tire brand. And I might say i'm impressed. Read something about it and it really is a good brand.

Suggest you read the results of the following survey: http://www.tirereview.com/Content/Si...0000036110.pdf

In particular, take note of the Product Quality ratings on the second page.

Still impressed with Kumho?

[ghstrainer]

survey of tire distributors is not an accurate or unbiased assessment for many reasons......I have these Kumhos on an '03 PILOT and LOVE them......inexpensive, long lasting, quiet, and another world better the the OEM goodyear integrity's.....go for it, you wont regret it!

[xGS]

Originally Posted by ghstrainer

survey of tire distributors is not an accurate or unbiased assessment for many reasons......

What's inaccurate about a survey of tire dealers?
List a few of your many objections.

What accurate, less biased survey can you suggest?

[rgillie66]

Originally Posted by ghstrainer http://www.piloteers.org/forums/imag...s/viewpost.gif
survey of tire distributors is not an accurate or unbiased assessment for many reasons......


Really??? What better source could there be than an independent tire dealer that is not motivated to push a certain manufacturer or brand, but that sees and evaluates thousands of tires a year.

[phenryiv1]

Originally Posted by xGS

Suggest you read the results of the following survey: http://www.tirereview.com/Content/Si...0000036110.pdf

In particular, take note of the Product Quality ratings on the second page.

Still impressed with Kumho?

I don't have to go to the link to respond to the last question...

YES. I was impressed with them from first-hand experience.

We ended up trading in the Pilot on the TL and had never had a single experience where the Kumhos did nto respond as expected. When treated like an SUV tire, they performed well. Not prefect, but very, very good.

Even with 10K+ on the tires, the owner of the dealership where we bought the TL (who lives on my street and from whom my family has bought 6 cars in the last 2 years) remarked that the tires looked to be brand new. He actually asked if we had bought them in the last month.

I can't say that everything that I have heard about Kumhos has been positive, but the KR21 were a great tire on the Pilot.

[troutbumtodd]

I had a set of KR 21 tires on my 05 Pilot and was impressed at first. The tread life wasn't as expected, maybe 50k miles with regular rotation and good alignment. Mostly highway miles, too. They got noisy and vibrated a lot when the tread got low.

I just replaced them with BFG Long Trails. Slightly wider at 245. I love them.

[phenryiv1]

Originally Posted by troutbumtodd

I had a set of KR 21 tires on my 05 Pilot and was impressed at first. The tread life wasn't as expected, maybe 50k miles with regular rotation and good alignment. Mostly highway miles, too. They got noisy and vibrated a lot when the tread got low.

On a vehicle with the weight of the Pilot, 50K is not bad treadlife.

[pilot_rave]

I have learned that these Solus KR-21 are not SUV tires and hence will wear out much faster than advertised (85K).