Kumho Tire Co. Ltd. has been busy lately. It introduced a tire in North America; it jump-started construction on its long anticipated manufacturing plant in the United States; and it opened a fifth research and development center.
In addition, its Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. subsidiary improved its Kumho FUEL premium dealer program.
Ecsta PA31
The new high performance, all-season Ecsta PA31 is designed for today’s growing number of mid-level sports sedans and coupes. It is “the perfect value package for both consumers and dealers alike,” according to Kumho Tire U.S.A.
The tire’s high-tech design delivers “a whole new level of handling and comfort” from a Kumho tire. It also features a wide assortment of V-rated fitments, 35 in all.
15-inch (4): from 185/55R15 to 205/50R15.
16-inch (10): from 215/60R16 to 245/50R16.
17-inch (12): from 215/55R17 to 245/45R17.
18-inch (9): from 215/55R18 to 215/35R18.
Kumho backs the tire with a 50,000-mile limited tread wear warranty.
On/off plant is on again
An agreement has been reached that will allow Kumho Tire Georgia Inc. to begin construction of its consumer tire manufacturing plant in Macon, Ga.
Ground breaking on the facility began in May 2008. However, the recession put those plans on hold for five years.
“Kumho’s commitment to Macon-Bibb never wavered,” says Harry Choi, president of Kumho Tire Georgia. “Worldwide economic conditions have greatly affected our company as well as the worldwide tire industry. Kumho Tire Georgia is strong and committed to Macon-Bibb and the U.S. tire industry.”
Sam Hart, chairman of the Bibb County Commission, says the community never lost its support for Kumho. “And we know they never lost sight of their goal to build this plant in Georgia and in Macon-Bibb County.”
The Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, Bibb County Board of Education, Bibb County Tax Assessors, Bibb County Tax Commissioner, Bibb County Commissioners, and the Macon Economic Development Commission (MEDC) all approved an extension to the 2008 agreement.
“Our economic development team was in constant communication with Kumho reps throughout this whole process,” says Robbo Hatcher, the MEDC’s chairman. “Our partners at the state stayed in touch with Kumho Tire Co. officials in Korea also. This was a great team effort.”
The company initially will invest $200 million to build the manufacturing plant on a 150-acre site in the Sofkee Industrial Park located in Macon. It will employ more than 300 people. Kumho says the new plant will allow the company to better serve its automotive partners as well as American consumers.
R&D center No. 5
Kumho Tire Co. opened its new research and development center in the metropolitan Seoul area on Sept. 3, 2013. It took five years to build the facility.
The R&D center, which includes a research building and testing facility, was built in the Giheung-gu District in the city of Yongin, South Korea. It covers a land area of nearly 375,370 square feet; the total floor area covers 245,664.7 square feet.
The facility will serve as the central control tower of a global R&D network, which also includes the following:
Kumho Tire American Technical Center in Akron, Ohio, United States;
Kumho Tire Europe Technical Centre in Frankfurt, Germany;
Kumho Tire China Technical Centre in Tianjin, China; and
Kumho Tire Performance Center in Gwangju, Korea.
Kumho adds that approximately 600 researchers from Korea and abroad will use “industry-leading supercomputers, cutting-edge physical testing equipment, chemical and instrumental analysis equipment, performance research equipment and more” at the new R&D center.
