ATLANTA — Kumho Tire USA Inc. is refreshing its high-performance tire lineup, launching the Ecsta PA51 as its featured all-season UHP tire, replacing the Ecsta PA31 and Ecsta 4XII in the portfolio.
The Ecsta PA51 is designed with "weather-reactive" technology — incorporating full-depth sipes, four circumferential grooves and an asymmetrical tread pattern — for enhanced wet and winter traction, performance parameters particularly suited for North American driving conditions, the company said.
The tire launches with 43 sizes covering 16- to 20-inch rim diameters, with a dozen more sizes on tap for later this year. Kumho is backing the Ecsta PA51 with a 45,000-mile limited treadwear warranty and road-hazard warranty.
"This is an extremely important segment for Kumho Tire given the forecasted growth of the UHP all-season market," Shawn Denlein, executive vice president, sales and marketing, said, without offering specifics on the growth forecast.
He also noted this launch demonstrates Kumho's "unwavering commitment to innovation and technology.…"
Other features include:
- A strengthened center rib and outside shoulder block stiffness for more even wear;
- Variable pitch sequence technology for reduced noise generation; and
- A "zig-zag" circumferential groove design creates biting edges to increase winter traction and remove slush without sacrificing wet traction.
The Ecsta PA51 is designed to cover sizes and speed ratings previously covered by the Ecsta PA31 and Ecsta 4XII, which are being phased out.
The tire is being launched in Canada as well.
Kumho has three other Ecsta tires in its lineup — the PS31, PS91 and V720 — which are considered summer UHP tires.