A subsidiary of the Chinese tire conglomerate Doublestar, Kumho Tire is a South Korean tire maker that produces tires in different categories such as all-season, all-terrain, all-weather, UHP, summer, and winter tires for passenger cars, minivans, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, and commercial vehicles. Kumho tires carry a reputation for offering reliable performance, solid traction, and value pricing. Among its range of all-terrain tires, the Kumho Road Venture AT51 is a great replacement tire option for SUVs and light trucks.
The Kumho Road Venture AT51 features an aggressive, symmetric tread pattern with large blocks in the center and an open shoulder design for maximum traction and consistent performance. The deep grooves and optimum void ratio allow enhanced traction on wet, snow, mud, and other challenging terrains. Kumho claims the tire offers a balanced ride on and off the road along with improved efficiency. To back its product, Kumho is offering a limited tread life warranty of 55,000 miles on P-metric sizes only. With a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol that assures improved performance in severe winter weather conditions, the Kumho tire is available in a wide range of tire sizes covering most SUVs and light trucks; they extend from 15 to 20 inches.
So, does the tire perform to the level claimed by the South Korean tire maker? Let’s find out in the Kumho Road Venture AT51 tire review.
Features and Benefits
All-terrain tires are engineered with tough rubber compounds to resist the challenging conditions of off-road. They feature deep grooves and tough blocks with self-cleaning traits to maintain a consistent grip. The Road Venture AT51 carries most of these traits without costing a bomb.
- Solid traction and off-road grip – The symmetric tread pattern with full-depth center grooves and excellent void ratio creates an excellent channel for quick removal of water and slush to avoid aquaplaning and provides a solid grip on snow, mud, and rough terrains. The staggered shoulders extending into the sidewall not only look great but also aid in providing improved traction on soft soil or muddy areas. Lastly, 45-degree chamfer cuts in the tread blocks deliver maximum traction performance.
- Extra durability and longevity – A sturdy construction and reinforced carcass provide extra durability while stone ejector bars expel stones and debris out of the tread to prevent any possible damage from stone drilling. The tear-resistant compound provides a rugged character to the vehicle and promotes even wear.
- Enhanced winter performance – These all-terrain tires can equally combat snow and ice in severe winter conditions as they come with deep grooves and the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake – ensuring improved winter performance. The optimized tread pattern with strategic sipes not only reduces noise and improves comfort but also aids in returning solid grip and traction on snow-covered surfaces.
Pros and Cons
While the Kumho tire carries a good amount of advantages there are some not-so-good traits too. Let’s have a quick glance over its pros and cons.
PROS:
- Backed by 55,000 miles limited manufacturer’s tread limited warranty (P-metric sizes only)
- Three Peak Mountain Snowflake for reassuring severe winter weather performance
- 45-degree chamfer cuts for maximum traction performance
- Great void ratio for improved grip and traction
- Solid shoulder design extending into the sidewall for maximum grip
- Sturdy construction and reinforced carcass for longevity
- Self-cleaning tread resists stone drilling
- Affordable pricing
CONS:
- It isn’t the quietest tire on the road
- Not the most fuel efficient tire
- Only available for Jeeps, light trucks, and some SUVs
SimpleTire’s view on Kumho Road Venture AT51 tires
In a nutshell, the Kumho Road Venture AT51 (starts around $94) is a good option for owners of SUVs and light trucks who are looking for an affordable all-terrain tire that offers improved traction, grip, and stability in challenging conditions, features excellent wearability, improved grip on wet, snow, mud, and ice and a reasonably good ride on paved roads. The Kumho tire certainly falls in the category of jack of all trades and master of none.
It competes with the likes of Kenda Klever A/T2 KR628 (starts around $138), Atturo Trail Blade A/T (starts around $107), and Toyo Open Country AT3 (starts around $163).
Vehicles the Kumho Road Venture AT51 is a good replacement tire for
The Kumho tire isn’t an OE-fitment tire on any vehicle but it’s a good alternative for SUVs and light trucks such as Ford F-150, Hummer H2, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, Nissan Titan, GMC Sierra 1500, and Toyota Tundra.
