Two tires from Kumho Tire Co. Inc. have won International Excellent (IDEA) Awards in the transportation category.
The e-NIMF Airless tire features a removable tread, which Kumho says means it "can run almost indefinitely by changing its tread periodically." The tiremaker says this makes the tire eco-friendly, while it's also a non-inflation and maintenance-free tire that performs "remarkably similar to the pneumatic tires."
The e-Tops hybrid tire is designed to encompass the benefits of both pneumatic and airless tires. The tire contains a volume of air, but Kumho says its airless upper structure of spokes, along with its tread design, protect it from road hazards. Kumho says its tests show the product has "equivalent performance" to conventional tires while avoiding air-loss issues.
The IDEA Awards are organized by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and evaluate products on five key characteristics: innovative design, user experience, user benefits, corporate social responsibility and aesthetic values.
“Being recognized by the IDEA Award is an honor for the entire company,” said Jung Il-taik, head of Kumho's research and development division. “We have been focusing on creating cleaner, safer, and smarter products in response to the changes in the auto industry, and we will also continue to improve user convenience via the combination of our advanced technology and design capabilities.”