Kumho 18 "

[Mike Adams]

Kumho 18 \"

I have a customer interested in these tires want to know what you guy think of them and what sizes and models you are putting on

 

[Mike Adams]

Re: Kumho 18

Thanks Jon B for getting them out to me so quick. Still would like opinions

 

[Casey]

Re: Kumho 18

Kumhos are awesome on the street. Will kick up rocks etc, but stick great! Protect your paint with some 3m tape and your good to go!

 

[rcdice]

Re: Kumho 18

Kumhos are awesome on the street. Will kick up rocks etc, but stick great! Protect your paint with some 3m tape and your good to go!

Casey, Are you talking about using tape just inside the fender wells where the body color is? Do you get any stone damage on the rear lower quarter panel?

I'd love to add a set of rear Kumhos, but the potential damage concerns me.

 

[Casey]

Re: Kumho 18

Yes, adding some tape to the paint around the fender wells helps out.
I did not have any damage after a couple thousand miles.

I did not put them on the front of the car though, just the rear, and I was more than happy with how they STICK!

 

[rcdice]

Re: Kumho 18

Maybe I'll give them a shot now that they are becoming more available in 18". I would certainly love more traction. I'm having a guy re-do the tape on the lower right front facia tomorrow due to a curb scrape. I'll see how he does. If ok, perhaps I'll have him do the rear fender wells and go with the Kumhos. I'm not going to be anywhere near the power of your car (SC) but could definitely use more traction. I plan on putting in a 3.55 gear later this year which will only make things worse. My wife HATES it when we lose traction, especially at 50+ mph. She calls it "when the back end starts floating".

Thanks for the input.

 

[AG98RT10]

Re: Kumho 18

Yes, rear Kumhos will make the bottoms of your quarter panels look like they were peppered with bird shot. I will have to have mine repainted eventually. There is less damage to the upper rear fender area that surrounds the wheel wells. Those I've now got 3M tape on, which really helps. I just put my front Kumhos on and put 3M on all the painted surfaces I thought to be at risk.
The 3M is pretty easy to do, especially in areas where how professionally you apply it doesn't matter as much since it's not really that visible.

Here's my .03 on Kumhos (with inflation). How much damage will I do to my car when I lose it (like I did once or twice) shifting into third and the tail coming around and car going for the ditch at around 75-80 mph? These cars are just naturally tail-happy. Since I don't drive in the rain if I can help it, I have NO need for Michelins. They are dangerous on cars of this capability, imo. Maybe it's the 3.54s? Maybe I just have a heavy foot. But I have yet to break loose the Kumhos in 2nd or 3rd.

I would not recommend Kumhos in rain - they will hydroplane like crazy.

BTW: I ran rears only for a thousand miles or so and must report the handling is MUCH better with matched tires on front. I never got into a scary situation with Pilot Sports on front, but the understeer was exaggerated and I'm told by many people having different casings really is dangerous in extreme handling situations. Jon B was right in his advice - go with matched f/r.