Kumho and Hankook: two brands with a lot in common. Both manufacturers are South Korean, and can be classified as major international manufacturers, without being among the leaders alongside industry giants such as Bridgestone, Goodyear, or Continental. They are more recent players in the industry (founding of Kumho in 1960, and Hankook in 1941), compared to some who are more than a hundred years old, such as Michelin, which is more than 131 years old (!). However, it is often said that virtue doesn’t wait for years, and these two producers clearly demonstrate this, while offering a very interesting quality-price ratio, especially for their winter tires. But faced with these two very similar players, which one should you choose for your winter tires? Blackcircles Canada, your online tire specialist, helps you see things more clearly below with this Kumho vs Hankook winter tire comparison!
Kumho winter tires: especially for SUV owners in Canada.
The Kumho winter tire line at blackcircles.ca is available in five models: the Wintercraft WP51, SUV WS31, Wi31, WP71 and I’ZEN KW31. These tires offer optimal traction in cold and/or snowy weather thanks to state-of-the-art innovations. For example, the Wintercraft WP51 has a specific composition and honeycomb grooved structure to maximize traction on snow-covered or icy roads.
However, this model continues to offer remarkable stability in dry conditions, thanks to its interlocking tread pattern. Kumho also offers studdable models (Wintercraft SUV WS31) that will further maximize traction on icy roads, making them ideal for country roads with thick ice cover, but designed to generate very low rolling noise. Although the Kumho tires offered are primarily intended for SUVs, a high-performance winter option, the Wintercraft WP71, which offers ultra-stable handling and braking performance in the most precarious conditions (ice), is also available. You can count as well on the high-performance and versatile I’Zen KW31, which can be fitted on a multitude of vehicles (sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks or minivans).
Hankook: more choices to offer highly specialized, high-performance models.
At Hankook, on the other hand, has chosen to offer even more winter tire choices in Canada. Indeed, you will find no less than 8 models on our site: I-Cept Evo2 SUV W320A and W320, Winter I-Pike RW09, RS W419, RW11, RS W419 studdable, and W409 studdable, and finally the Winter I-CEPT IZ2 W616 tire.
This gives Hankook the advantage of offering winter tires for virtually every type of vehicle. For example, you can count on tires for sport utility vehicles (I-Cept Evo SUV W320A), while the manufacturer offers tires specifically dedicated to pickup trucks, which face ultra-rough conditions in winter (Winter i*Pike RW09). In the latter case, the aforementioned model offers characteristics adapted to the vehicles that must receive them, including exceptional longevity and extraordinary resistance to very heavy loads.
On top of this greater specialization for each tire model, you can count on advanced technologies such as, depending on the Hankook winter tire considered, Husky grooves that maximize traction on icy surfaces, or block stiffness optimization for outstanding handling and shorter braking distances.
Which to choose in this Kumho vs. Hankook duel?
Ultimately, it all depends on your budget and what you’re looking for. If you want the lowest price while being sure you can count on quality traction, stable handling and proper braking, Kumho winter tires will be your best choice. In fact, their prices are unbeatable compared to Hankook’s, starting, at the time of writing, at around $89, installation included, on blackcircles.ca.
Hankook, on the other hand, will ask you to pay a higher entry fee, starting at around $107, installation included. That’s the price you have to pay (and it’s still very low!) on our site to benefit from tires specifically designed for your type of vehicle, and thus enjoy the best performance on snow and ice. Depending on the model, you may also benefit from lower rolling resistance, a feature that guarantees greater energy efficiency.
Thus, Kumho for quality tires at the best price, Hankook for efficiency and absolute safety.
In short, while Kumho wants to offer you excellent performance during the cold season at a better price, Hankook is banking on a wider choice to specialize more in each of its models with regard to the type of use for maximum efficiency. This results in a higher price (but not by much), but also increased efficiency in terms of winter performance. So, choose Kumho if budget is the first criterion for you. If you can invest more, go for Hankook. In both cases, you’ll find the best winter tires from both manufacturers on our website, at blackcircles.ca!
