Tyre Review were invited to Kumho's latest tyre reveal; the Kumho PS71 & the Kumho PA51.
Both Kumho Tyres cater to a slightly different audience, but are made with the same casings.
The Kumho PS71 is aimed at the performance based side of the market, whereas the Kumho PA51 is geared towards the more comfortable and everyday driving conditions. We gave both of them a go on the Pheasant Wood Circuit in New South Wales.
Check out the video for more details.
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Partial transcript, full transcript at link below:
www.tyrereview.com.au/kumho-t...
Jared Mendham: Good day. Jared from Tyre Review here. We're here at the Pheasant Wood Circuit in New South Wales for a launch of two new Kumho tyres.
Luckily enough, I've got David Basha from Kumho Tyres here to tell us about it. But David, can you give me a quick background on exactly who Kumho is?
David Basha: Jared, yeah, Kumho tyres has been in Australia for 40 odd years, and we'd be in the top five selling brands in Australia. Over the years, we've always tried to provide tyres that provided great value for money. So all our tyres come with all the latest specifications and high technical attributes without the price tag. So very much like a Kia or a Hyundai type motor vehicle. If you're ever looking to buy a car, that's what a Kumho tyre is in tyres.
Jared Mendham: Okay. So once I've worn through my first set of tyres, then I opt for you guys.
David Basha: Yeah, that's where I think we are most popular. Yes. The option to get something very, very good at a good price.
Jared Mendham: Yep. So tell me about these two tyres. We've obviously got a performance-based one here and a more comfort/weather looking one here. Well, what's the difference between the two?
David Basha: Okay. Well the main thing is is that both tyres have the same radial construction. So the casing, the inner casing of the tyres are exactly the same, and that ensures that the stability and driving stability and durability of the tyres remains the same. Difference really is in the tread patterns and in the tread compound.
Jared Mendham: Sorry, this tread pattern is more aggressive and this one is less aggressive obviously. What is this tyre designed for?
David Basha: Well, look, we feel it's important to provide people tyres that suit them. So in a lot of cases, people buy tyres and and they'll just take whatever's being sold to them. We feel that it's important that depending on who you are. So if you really like to feel your car and you like to drive and enjoy what your car can do, then a PS 71 is the tyre for you. It will really perform well in cornering and handling. If you want more of a smoother, quieter drive, the new PA 51 would be the tyre for you. It's designed for minimal road noise, and it's also designed to perform well in all conditions.
Jared Mendham: So even though they've got the same construction underneath, the tread pattern between these two is enough that it will actually be discernible between the two tyres when you've actually got them on the car.
David Basha: Yeah. You can very well notice. We're here at the track today. If you drive around the track at fairly high speeds, you will find that there is a difference in performance. We are understanding that a high performance tyre with a softer compound will handle better may not last as long. Where this tyre here is about normal driving, what we do all day every day, and it's going to last a long time as well.
Jared Mendham: So one of the things I've actually been out on the track today already and in both the Stinger and in the Genesis, and one of the things that are noticed with the performance tyre, and PA 71 versus the PA 51 is that the performance-based tyre was actually on the Genesis, which is the softer car. Whereas the PA 51 was already on the Stinger, which is the more hard core race car. And the performance tyres on Genesis actually meant that it brakes better than the Stinger did.
So the difference between the two and even in the lateral grip, so the silver car, the Genesis actually was cornering harder than the Stinger because it actually had the performance tyre on it. But like David says, the 51 is actually the more comfortable tyre. David, what about the individual specifications on the tread pattern? What should we be willing to be looking forward to these tyres when we're actually looking to purchase them?
David Basha: I think when you buy tyres, there's a few things you do need to look out in a tread pattern. And it's important that you see these major grooves here which allow in both tyres, we have them here, and they allow for water evacuation. They are very, very important in both of them in ensuring that water gets out of the tread so reduces your chances of aquaplaning. The other side of it is just the shoulders.