Hankook/Kumho/Maxxis/Nankang...How good/bad are these??

nitrous · 30th July 2007, 17:48

We know the story with koreans.
Some europeans work hard and engineer a product.
The koreans buy one and make a copy without breaking the patent/copyright.

So effectively, they save on the R&D and that translates to better pricing to the buyer/user.

So, how many of U have used these korean/taiwanese tyres??
What are ur experiences?

IMP · 30th July 2007, 18:05

I used the Hankook K406 tyres, they came with my optra, total distance driven - 48k. My opinion is that these tyres are grippy,(i just changed to Michelin XM1, and i have noticed the michelins begin to chirp/sqeal a bit earlier than the hankook's while going round turns quickly.) but are very noisy tyres. I just had 2 punctures with those.

Cheers.

sreedotk · 30th July 2007, 18:37

Kumho is the official tyre supplier for the Euro F3 Competion and are supposed to be really good.

Akshay1234 · 30th July 2007, 18:44

im using jumho right now on my elantra. they seem ok. there is a bi of tyre noise but overall id prefer something like bridgestone.

low_bass_makker · 30th July 2007, 18:53

I am using Kumho in my car...no problem faced till not and good grip....

Ricky_63 · 30th July 2007, 19:10

Have used Kumho (FORD IKON), Hankook (Scorpio), Maxxis (Lancer). Never had a problem with any of them per se. Decent grip levels with first 2 brands - exceptional grip with the last (Maxxis). Trye noise in Kumho & Maxxis is about the same. The Hankook really can't comment as the Scorpio has enough nosie of it's own.

Experience with Falkens was Great. Used on Astra'99 & Zen'98

Cheers

Abix · 30th July 2007, 19:17

Been using Hankook's Ventus series on Low pro's 205/40, No problem whatsoever, fantastic grip, exceptional during rainy conditions.

abhibh · 30th July 2007, 19:30

Hankook are good tried and tested. A team BHPian manikjeet is using NanKang on his car so he may be able to shed more light on it.

nitrous · 30th July 2007, 19:58

How is the compound in the long-run?
Do they stay soft or get hard like a rock??

Nitin · 30th July 2007, 20:45

Had Kumho tires on our 2nd Esteem..pretty good rally tires!
My brother's got Kumho tires on his Corolla here in Houston. Seems to work well in the conditions here.

v1p3r · 30th July 2007, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

We know the story with koreans.
Some europeans work hard and engineer a product.
The koreans buy one and make a copy without breaking the patent/copyright.

So effectively, they save on the R&D and that translates to better pricing to the buyer/user.

Don't sound so condescending. If the Europeans worked that well, they'd sell as well as the Koreans do around the world. Hyundai + Kia is bigger than all Euro carmakers except VAG, and they're going to be bigger in a couple of years.

Anyway, back to tyres -- do you honestly think you can reverse engineer a tyre so easily? Tyres are made out of rubber and various other compounds, and it's not too easy to replicate them. It's not like copying a chassis or something.

vittalnrv · 30th July 2007, 20:54

The older Sonata Embera petrol used to be delivered with KUMHO as OEM fitment. So I guess no problem or whatsoever with the korean tyres until and unless they are not recommended by car manufacturers.

nitrous · 30th July 2007, 21:01

3po, i assumed engineers of tyre companies can make out the compounds used by some experiments.

kpzen · 30th July 2007, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

I am using Kumho in my car...no problem faced till not and good grip....

Your Swift has FIRENZA tyres not Kumho...

low_bass_makker · 30th July 2007, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpzen

Your Swift has FIRENZA tyres not Kumho...

In the front there are Kumho and in the rear they were FIRENZA (Japan) but now all tyres are Kumho....

30th July 2007, 17:48	#1
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Hankook/Kumho/Maxxis/Nankang...How good/bad are these?? We know the story with koreans. Some europeans work hard and engineer a product. The koreans buy one and make a copy without breaking the patent/copyright. So effectively, they save on the R&D and that translates to better pricing to the buyer/user. So, how many of U have used these korean/taiwanese tyres?? What are ur experiences?
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 18:05	#2
IMP BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 123 Thanked: 30 Times	I used the Hankook K406 tyres, they came with my optra, total distance driven - 48k. My opinion is that these tyres are grippy,(i just changed to Michelin XM1, and i have noticed the michelins begin to chirp/sqeal a bit earlier than the hankook's while going round turns quickly.) but are very noisy tyres. I just had 2 punctures with those. Cheers.
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 18:37	#3
sreedotk BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 247 Thanked: 90 Times	Kumho is the official tyre supplier for the Euro F3 Competion and are supposed to be really good.
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 18:44	#4
Akshay1234 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 10,265 Thanked: 12,317 Times	im using jumho right now on my elantra. they seem ok. there is a bi of tyre noise but overall id prefer something like bridgestone.
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 18:53	#5
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 6,815 Thanked: 305 Times View My Garage	I am using Kumho in my car...no problem faced till not and good grip....
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 19:10	#6
Ricky_63 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,885 Thanked: 518 Times View My Garage	Have used Kumho (FORD IKON), Hankook (Scorpio), Maxxis (Lancer). Never had a problem with any of them per se. Decent grip levels with first 2 brands - exceptional grip with the last (Maxxis). Trye noise in Kumho & Maxxis is about the same. The Hankook really can't comment as the Scorpio has enough nosie of it's own. Experience with Falkens was Great. Used on Astra'99 & Zen'98 Cheers Last edited by Ricky_63 : 30th July 2007 at 19:16.
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 19:17	#7
Abix BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 315 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Been using Hankook's Ventus series on Low pro's 205/40, No problem whatsoever, fantastic grip, exceptional during rainy conditions.
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 19:30	#8
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	Hankook are good tried and tested. A team BHPian manikjeet is using NanKang on his car so he may be able to shed more light on it.
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 19:58	#9
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	How is the compound in the long-run? Do they stay soft or get hard like a rock??
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 20:45	#10
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,294 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	Had Kumho tires on our 2nd Esteem..pretty good rally tires! My brother's got Kumho tires on his Corolla here in Houston. Seems to work well in the conditions here.
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 20:54	#12
vittalnrv BANNED Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 192 Thanked: 34 Times	The older Sonata Embera petrol used to be delivered with KUMHO as OEM fitment. So I guess no problem or whatsoever with the korean tyres until and unless they are not recommended by car manufacturers.
	() Thanks

30th July 2007, 21:01	#13
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	3po, i assumed engineers of tyre companies can make out the compounds used by some experiments.
	() Thanks