Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 Review

Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 Review

Neo Tires offers a lot of excellent winter tires for sale and an amazing model among them is the Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31. It has received the Three Peak Mountain and Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol for its ability to deal with harsh winter conditions. But it is performing even better than the legal requirements for receiving the 3PMSF symbol. This is a winter tire model that provides excellent ice and snow traction. It can boost the winter weather driving ability as well as overall performance capability.

The Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 is designed for passenger vehicles and smaller SUVs. This is a tire that will increase winter traction and overall controllability. At the same time, it will provide great comfort levels. Its tread design and winter compound are what mostly work to provide this ability. Such a combination makes sure that the model has exceptional performance in such weather conditions. It guarantees an overall high driving safety level.

Quick Facts

  • Season: Winter
  • Type: Touring
  • Vehicle Type: Passenger Cars and SUVs
  • Run Flat: No

Advantages:

  • Great winter weather traction
  • Amazing handling, braking, and cornering ability
  • High driving comfort levels with low noise

Disadvantages:

  • Tread service life might not always correspond to warranty 

Experience The Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31

The Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 is a great touring, winter tire designed for passenger vehicles and SUVs. This tire was designed to conquer winter weather conditions easily. The detailed siping of the tread pattern and its durable winter compound is what mostly works to increase winter weather traction. Moreover, this is a tire that features a special tread design allowing for studs to be added for the extra grip on ice and snow-covered road surfaces.

Additionally, the tread is in constant surface contact thanks to the shoulder blocks and special tread design. This will improve the controllability and the cornering as well as maneuvering abilities. Its special siping pattern will decrease the braking distance because of the stronger braking power. This enhances the winter weather driving safety. Also, the Wintercraft Ice WI31 will upgrade the comfort levels as it lowers the road noise levels reaching the vehicle’s cabin.

Great Winter Weather Traction

The ideal winter compound with the special directional tread pattern of the Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 works together in order to enhance the dry, wet, and winter weather traction in colder temperatures. Thanks to these elements, the tire enhances the winter weather driving safety levels. They will make sure that this model is not going to lose its necessary grip and traction levels in colder temperatures.

So, thanks to the Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31’s detailed tread design and winter compound, it will greatly boost the winter weather performance. Its directional tread design has a high-density 3D honeycomb siping pattern. This will significantly enhance the grip on snow and ice-covered road surfaces.

They make sure to provide a high level of grip on the road and that guarantees the tire’s traction when driving in colder temperatures on ice and through snow. Its special compound is going to maintain the rubber flexibility in cold temperatures to make sure the tire can grip the road surface. This will further enhance winter traction.

Not only that but the model can be pinned for studs. In comparison to all-season tires, the winter tires with studs will greatly improve the ice and snow grip. So, if you’re planning to drive in harsher winter conditions on ice and snow road surfaces, you can add the studs to the Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 to make sure you get the best winter grip.

Moreover, it features special grooves that make sure this model is not going to lose surface contact on wet and slippery road surface conditions. Those grooves disperse water and slush, not allowing them to block the surface contact of the tire, which may lead to hydroplaning. Therefore, the model does a great job of preventing hydroplaning. This enhances the winter weather driving safety levels.

Handling and Controllability

Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 is a tire that will provide perfect handling for ensuring a safer driving performance. As the tires are the only contact of your vehicle with the road surface, the vehicle’s controllability and handling abilities rely on the tires. Such manufacturers like Kumho are working hard to provide their products with perfect controllability and handles with various technologies.

They use modern tire technologies and special materials to make sure that the tire will provide secure steering responsiveness and driving stability. The Wintercraft Ice WI31 by Kumho has a special directional tread design.

Its special tread will maximize the road-to-tire ratio. This is extremely important for increasing the model’s controllability. As the model has better road contact, and makes sure to remain in constant road contact, the tire will make sure to greatly improve the steering responsiveness and the driving stability. In short, the steering is easier and faster.

Thanks to this tire model, you will notice that your steering commands will be executed faster and more accurately. At the same time, the tire’s stability is secured against the driving pressure. This way, the driver is going to have full control over the vehicle during the drive, at all times.

Cornering and Braking

Not only does it provide great controllability, but the tread design will improve the cornering and maneuvering abilities. It features a special shoulder block placement that increases the cornering grip and road contact with extra biting edges (the special sipes). This will greatly enhance the cornering stability, capability, and safety. In addition to that, the model features a detailed 3D honeycomb siping pattern which will work in order to boost the braking power.

Those sipes create the necessary friction in order to enhance the stopping power. That friction between the tire and the road will make sure that the tire will have a shorter stopping distance. Even talking about ice and snow-covered road surface conditions. Needless to mention a better cornering ability in combination with a shorter braking distance will greatly enhance the driving safety levels throughout the tire performance.

High Driving Comfort Levels

This is a winter tire and winter tires are not very well known for their ability to provide high driving comfort levels. However, manufacturers are working in order to make sure that even the winter tires with their detailed tread design and winter compound can enhance driving comfort levels. On the other hand, the Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 is a touring tire. Touring tires are known to provide high driving comfort levels in various weather conditions.

In the end, despite the fact that this Kumho model Wintercraft Ice WI31 is a great winter tire, it is also a touring tire. This makes sure that the model can still enhance driving comfort levels. It will reduce the road noise levels heard during the drive. The model will promote an enjoyable performing ability without noise to disturb it.

The Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 has a directional tread pattern that was made in a special way to decrease road noise levels. It has a low tire profile with an ideal pattern that works together in order to prevent the airwaves from entering the footprint. This way, the special footprint ensures that the airwaves will not come into contact with the tread elements.

As it doesn’t come in contact, it will prevent them from creating that road and tread pattern noise throughout the drive. This is going to make sure that no road disturbances are going to dampen the passengers’ driving enjoyment during the ride. The Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 will guarantee a comfortable and quiet driving experience.

Is Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 The Right Tire For Me?

It may not be the right tire for you as long as it doesn't come in the necessary size or durability for your vehicle, or as long as you do not plan the right application for this model. However, as long as you ensure that the Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 is going to be used correctly, in terms of proper weather and terrain type, and it will be mounted on the correct vehicle type, then this model is very likely the suitable tire for you. This tire will provide everything that you can expect from a model in its category, and even more than that.

As said, just make sure that you provide a proper application for the proper vehicle type. And that it provides the necessary requirements for your vehicle, such as the model size, as well as durability. The durability such as load and speed ratings. If it fits your vehicle’s requirements and you provide the correct application, then the Kumho Wintercraft Ice WI31 can be an awesome tire model.

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Kumho Tires: FAQs

Are Kumho Tires Good?

Kumho is a reliable tire maker. It built its reputation on confident performance, decent price for the quality, and competitive traction of its tires. One of the best advantages of Kumho is the affordable price for quality products. Thus, this tire maker is an option of choice for drivers who prioritize affordability. In addition, it offers a wide range of products for all types of vehicles. 

Who Makes Kumho Tires?

This tire maker has Korean origins. In the past, it was known as Samyang Tire. Today, it is a subsidiary of Doublestar which is a Chinese tire conglomerate.

Is Kumho a Budget Tire Manufacturer?

This tire maker is a mid-range manufacturer. This means that the prices it offers are relatively more affordable than other premium tire brands. However, Kumho constantly and generously invests in testing processes to ensure the quality of its products. Similar mid-range brands focused on quality and favorable prices include but are not limited to Cooper and Uniroyal.

How Long Do Kumho Tires Last?

Kumho is one of those tire makers that put tire longevity on the list of priorities. Depending on the type and purpose, Kumho tires are designed to last up to 80,000 miles.

Does Audi Use Kumho Tires?

Audi has chosen Kumho tires for some vehicle models in its catalog. This is the Kumho Krugen premium KL 33 model that was chosen as the OE tire for the Q5 series.

Is Kumho a Good Winter Tire?

Kumho winter tires have quite high-performance ratings. Drivers generally praise them for their amazing snow and ice traction.

Are Kumho Tires Good in Rain?

According to various test drives, Kumho tires do pretty well on rainy and wet roads. Their special design ejects water quickly and confidently to reduce hydroplaning and slippage on wet roads. In general terms, drivers report that Kumho tires perform very decently, being well-rounded and fairly responsive in wet conditions.

Are Kumho Tires Good For Off-Road?

Absolutely. The tire maker draws increased attention to the special design with the high void pattern. It guarantees superior performance in off-road conditions. In addition, the tire maker adds stone ejector bars in the tire construction, which reduces the risk of tire damage and increases self-cleaning abilities. A superb example of this is the Road Venture MT71 model. It has an aggressive and resistant tread design that ensures superior off-road traction.

Who Are Kumho's Competitors?

The first 5 competitors of the Kumho tire brand are Pirelli, Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone, and Apollo tires.

Why Trust Neotires?

Here at Neotires, various tests and studies of various tire models take place. We are curious to discover the performance ratings of tire products on our own and to compare them with the reviews and feedback of those who have already managed to test them. The information provided is unbiased, reliable, and validated by specialists in the field. The Neotires team includes professional mechanics and testers with extensive experience in the tire and automotive fields. In addition, our content writers ensure that every piece of information is backed up by official data and statistics.

The goal of the Neotires team is to offer high-quality services and products. As such, we don't just sell tires, we make sure that we match drivers' needs with the right tires. During the more than 5 years of activity, we have won the trust of thousands of drivers across the US and we are here to win yours as well. Drive safe and choose your tires wisely!

 
Brian Darr is a passion-driven enthusiast who has become an expert in the tire industry. His passion for rubber started with his first driving experience. He firmly believes that the performance and safety of any vehicle are due, first of all, to the quality of the tires mounted on it.
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