Kumho Solus KR21's are on

wander2039 · Mar 24, 2012

I would say in 5 or so years I'll give a update but we don't drive the Escape as much as we used to. The BFG Long Trails that were on since mid 08 and 45k ago I was less than impressed. Wet and snow traction was terrible the last couple years. They were rotated on a 5k basis. Alignment was a issue during the first part of the those tires life. They were down past the wear bars and dry rotting a bit, not as bad as few Michelin's I've seen though. It's odd to drive a silent Escape again due to the cupping. I guess we'll see how long that silence last.

yonyon · Mar 24, 2012

KR21s should definitely give a smoother and quieter ride than the Long Trails. Tread may wear a bit faster. They're prone to a bit off heel toe wear, so make sure to cross one pair at each rotation.

crinkles · Mar 24, 2012

looks great. There is nothing like a new set of shoes for your ride.

Mr Nice · Mar 24, 2012

I had a set of the KR21 on my mom's car and the are very good low cost tires, very quiet on the highway and good grip in the rain.

Rand · Mar 24, 2012

my Grandma has had them on her 2003 taurus. I've driven it they are decent tires, a good value average tire really.

wander2039 · Mar 24, 2012

It does seem they get mostly good reviews. Longevity is another issue although I tend to take that with a grain of salt. Alot of things can kill tires quick. With the alignment issues on that Escape if they last 40-50k I'll be happy. Still cheaper than the alternatives. They seem narrower and have a taller side wall versus the BFG's, enough though they're the same size. It does help on the highway.

daves87rs · Mar 25, 2012

New tires look good...

CharBaby · Mar 25, 2012

Originally Posted By: Eric Smith
It does seem they get mostly good reviews. Longevity is another issue although I tend to take that with a grain of salt. Alot of things can kill tires quick. With the alignment issues on that Escape if they last 40-50k I'll be happy. Still cheaper than the alternatives. They seem narrower and have a taller side wall versus the BFG's, enough though they're the same size. It does help on the highway.

Yes, the KR-21's have a narrower look to them(that's because they are narrower) Many friends/family have them on a veriety of vehicles from sedans, mini-vans and suv's. They all like'em or even love'em!

Thus far, many have complained about longevity but, for the price, they're still happy. Better grip around corners and better tracking on the highway with very good hydroplaning resistance and good snow/ice traction...Than what they all had prior! Meaning, lots of OE tires and tires from PepBoys and SEARS etc. Who knows what was on their vehicles?

Only one of the folks in our circle is "REALLY" complaining about the KR-21's but, this girl hasn't been happy with any tire that either I or her husband has suggested in the last 10-12 years. She actually likes Michelin Arctic Alpine all year around(winter/summer). So I asked her hubby, "why don't you just keep the Alpine's on all year"? Keep her happy!

focused · Mar 25, 2012

My inexpensive Pirellis lasted for 78K, so I expect to get similar wear from the KR21s, as CR rated them "Very Good" in this category (in 2009). Since the tire was rated "Good" in rolling resistance, I expected the hard ride that they deliver. The dealer said to keep them at 36 lbs. The sticker says 32, so I compromised at 34, and am very happy with my gas mileage. After nearly 20,000 miles, they still look like new.

Papa Bear · Mar 25, 2012

The kids have a set on their 2003 Century, balanced nicely and smooth quiet ride. Seem to be wearing well. Good tires.

N3OO · Mar 25, 2012

I had these kr21's on a Toyota Celica and also on my Nissan Pathfinder.....great smooth riding tire,great in snow & rain : secure feeling.....I know cuz I traveled 150 miles a day in nasty NW PA winters. BUTTTTT they wear out pretty darn fast: 30 to 35 k and I wanted new ones ! Even though they wore out fast , I bought another set fot both , I liked them that much.
If u get 40k outta them.....ur lucky indeed.
BOB

mailman74 · May 27, 2012

30,000 on my escape they were toast.

CharBaby · May 28, 2012

I don't think that the KR-21's were a good SUV tire. They tested well with decent scores when the tires are new but, as they wear, customers seem less than satisfied mainly due to the lack of longevity not performance. The KR-21 seem to perform well up to the 30K-40K miles, not 60K-70K miles as one might expect from an 80K mile tire.

I think that if Kumho would have listed the tire for 50K-60K miles, customers would have had less complaints/expectations. And the cost would have been fine for a 50K-60K tire. Their cost for an 80K tire was exceptional, the tests scores and customer reviews were very good and this sucked in customers into buying them.

I may buy'em if the price is right, knowing that their longevity is way shorter than their listed mileage. Great tire to put on a car that you won't be keeping long but, the car still needs tires and the prospective buyer of your car will like the way you used car rides/handles

rjundi · May 28, 2012

Great.

I am most curious on winter performance when that next happens for you.

CharBaby · May 29, 2012

About 1 month ago, a friend of mine just put the KR-21's on his old '00 S-10 2WD extented cab V6 w/180K miles, based on my recomendation. He uses the truck for his daily commute and light hardware store stuff(nothing stressfull) and he has owned the truck from ~2002. He was looking localy for cheap tires as he's not sure how much longer he'll be keeping the S-10.

I suggested the KR-21's purchaced online w/W*M install. He did and loves'em! He says the truck feels much more planted while driving on the hiwy and around corners. He doesn't drive hard but notices the difference compared to the private label tire he normaly purchaces, actualy for more money than these Kumho's. He has never really like the private label tires in the past but, he only want cheap tires and always "thought tire were tire!"

I have always tried to get him to purchace tires online and have someone install them for him. Telling him that he can get better tires than the private label brand tire for about the same or less money. And simply, have better tires! He never beleived me until now, especially since I gave him a real education on tires.
I also mentioned to him that the KR-21's downfall is there lack of longivity for an 80K mile tires. He's OK with that especially for the price. And "PRICE" seems to be the real factor for the KR-21's

Most of the folks that I have introduced to the KR-21's like them in the snow with FWD but, a RWD PU "WILL" be entirely different w/o wgt in the back.

wander2039 · May 30, 2012

Originally Posted By: mailman74
30,000 on my escape they were toast.

Ever get a alignment? The Escape's have weak springs that sag over time.

Even if they only last 30-40k last year we only drove it 7k. That's 4 or 5 years considering. If we bought a set of Michelin's they'd be dry rotted with alot of tread. I guess time will tell.

Errtt · Jun 1, 2012

I just put a set of these on my wife's Escape the other day.
I wanted to get the General Grabber HTS like I have on my Toyota RAV, but they didn't have the Grabber's for her size.
Since she doesn't put much mileage on her Escape, I figure they will rot from age way before she stacks any miles on them. She had almost 2k more miles stacked up on the odo last year.
We took off Toyo tires that were cracking up.

Then over a month ago I went to put a set of these on one of my kids Camry - DT didn't have a set in stock at the time, so it got Destiny tires - he wore out the previous TripleTreds fast and badly.

Tones · Jun 2, 2012

Errtt, I am in a similar situation with my kids Civic. I thought hard about the Destiny and almost pulled the trigger. How do you like them so far?

Errtt · Jun 3, 2012

Originally Posted By: Tones
Errtt, I am in a similar situation with my kids Civic. I thought hard about the Destiny and almost pulled the trigger. How do you like them so far?

Compared to the previous TripleTred, quieter and smoother riding, seems not to wander at all. But the GY TripleTred are directional.
Haven't had a chance yet in wet conditions - the GY TT did well on wet roads. My youngest used the TT in some snow a few times last year and he said he had no issues.
The kid liked the looks of the TT better - kids.
I was really tied up between the Destiny & KR-21, ended up with Destiny. No regrets so far.

add - few days ago, wife said she really likes the KR-21s on her Escape. Being new, they should ride smooth. They balanced out with little weight - she likes them better than the previous Toyo's. I think the Toyo's were something like a Z-1000 than were being phased out of line.

redcon1 · Jun 5, 2012

I put KR21s on my daughter's '98 Escort in October 2009. The car sits around a lot since she is away at college most of the year. The tires now, 2.5 years later, have about 15,000 miles on them and, although treadwear is minimal, the performance dropoff is astounding. Dry traction is not great; wet traction is horrible and the tires hydroplane enough to scare me.

It's like the compound has hardened beyond it's useful life.
Anyone else experienced this?

Kumho Solus KR21's are on

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