Blairs Super Tyre Distributors has confirmed the New Zealand arrival of Kumho’s award-winning new all-terrain tyre range, the Road Venture AT52.
The AT52 arrives in the country having received a number of major design awards and with favourable reviews following its launch in major markets including North America.
It is the direct replacement for Kumho’s top selling AT51 tyre, which has won admiration from ute, SUV and 4×4 users over the past decade.
The new Kumho AT52 has recently been awarded the 2022 Good Design Award (G-Mark) 2022 in Japan – one of the most prestigious international design competitions.
The AT52 has been tested across the globe in a number of harsh environments where its combination of strong performance both on and off-road and in rough terrains has won it favour with both SUV and pick-up/ute drivers.
The AT52’s sawtooth-shaped shoulder block tread design tread has been engineered to improve off-road traction while also delivering comfortable and quiet ride.
This has been further aided on regular roads by its five-length pitch block design which also benefits durability, wear performance, and straight line driving performance, the company says.
The AT52 also features zig-zag-shaped groove and sipe design with multiple angles which enhance driving even in marginal traction conditions such as on snow and ice.
Kumho engineers have also designed AT52 with a ‘side biter’ design for the sidewall giving it a solid and aggressive profile while also minimising damage caused by external impacts.
It features all-condition, cut-and-chip resistant compound which is moulded into a symmetric tread pattern to resist irregular wear, while it has been designed with an optimal polymer blend ratio application for even wear characteristics throughout the life of the tire.
Blairs Super Tyre Distributors is the exclusive importer of Kumho Tyres in to New Zealand.
Sales manager Mike Baldwin says the AT52 has been much anticipated and gives New Zealand SUV and ute drivers a tyre that will deliver premium performance across a wide range of road conditions as well as returning long life and durability.
“The AT52 will offer ute, SUV and 4×4 owners the ideal all-round tyre capable of delivering excellent performance every day driving to work, with the ability to take them off roads on weekends.
“The AT52 has a lot of innovative Kumho design features to deliver premium performance, durability and comfort in a range of conditions for 4×4 and SUV drivers,” Baldwin says.
“With the performance of vehicles in this sector getting better and better all the time, they demand tyres that can match their capabilities and to take drivers to where they want to go,” he adds.
“Kumho engineers started with a clean sheet of paper and the AT52 is the result of the latest tyre technologies and innovation to optimise performance on and off road.
“The new AT52 arrives in New Zealand after some delays due to global supply chain issues, however now it is here it will satisfy a huge demand fuelled by the strong reviews the new tyre has received in overseas markets, particularly in the USA,” Baldwin says.