Kumho received three Green Good Design awards

Kumho Tire has received three Green Good Design awards, which are presented annually by the Chicago Museum of Architecture and Design and are considered one of the most prestigious in the world, along with the iF Design and Red Dot awards. In 2024, the Korean company became the only tire manufacturer whose products were awarded, and Green Good Design is positioned as the "green" version of the Good Design award.

"Tire manufacturers bear significant social responsibility for their impact on the environment," noted Kim Yong Jin, head of Kumho's research and development department. "By expanding our capabilities in development, we can contribute to reducing pollution, including by increasing tire durability, which reduces the number of tires that have reached the end of their life cycle, and improving fuel efficiency."

The following tires received the Green Good Design Award in 2024:

Kumho Majesty X Solus TA92. A passenger tire suitable for use throughout the year in regions with a mild climate and designed with a focus on increasing comfort. The ribbed surface design of the tread grooves is designed to reduce noise generated by air passing through the water drainage channels, and also uses the K-Silent noise reduction technology, which involves placing a layer of polyurethane foam inside the tires. Additionally, the tires have an aerodynamic profile that reduces air resistance and reduces fuel consumption.

To quickly determine the degree of tread wear, wear indicators in the form of hourglasses were provided, and it is reported that "previously, drivers said that it was difficult for them to determine when to replace tires, which increased the risk of incidents related to the fact that they did not switch to new tires in time, and thanks to intuitive symbols that are not dependent on language barriers, consumers can immediately identify the tire that needs to be replaced, which reduces the risk of accidents and increases safety."

The tires feature a pattern with zigzag 3D lamellas that increase the durability of the tread, while also improving the functionality of the tires in difficult weather conditions, and the inscriptions on the sidewalls are made using a new technology that "emphasizes the uniqueness of the product". Designers: Kim Yoon Yeon and Park In Hee.

Kumho Solus TA21. Another all-season tire (not for northern regions) that, as noted, has balanced characteristics and is offered at an attractive price. The tires are made from a "four-season" compound, the block arrangement scheme is optimized to reduce noise, while the interlocking lamellas increase the stiffness of the tread and stability when driving at high speeds.

"As a tire manufacturer, we feel our social responsibility, and various studies have been conducted to make our tires last longer," say Kumho, adding that durability has been significantly increased compared to models of previous generations, and to improve fuel efficiency, the aerodynamic characteristics of the tires have been improved. Designers: Kim Yoon Yeon and Kim Soo Min.

Kumho Road Venture AT52. Tires for SUVs and pickups, the demand for which in Korea, as noted by Kumho, has grown during the coronavirus pandemic, as it has become more difficult to travel abroad, which has led to the development of domestic tourism. In addition, the company notes that this type of tire is gaining popularity all over the world, for example, in North America.

The AT52 model is designed to provide optimal traction off-road, but attention has also been paid to improving comfort when driving on paved surfaces. The 3PMSF marking on the sidewalls confirms that they are suitable for use on snow.

The aggressive tread pattern includes shoulder blocks with saw-toothed walls that increase traction in off-road conditions, a five-step design developed using computer modeling to reduce noise, and the width and arrangement of the grooves have been optimized for rapid water drainage and improved traction off-road. In addition, the central blocks are connected to each other, which improves directional stability, the shape of the lugs has been improved to reduce the risk of damage, and a special rubber compound has reduced the level of uneven wear.

As Kumho emphasizes, extending the life cycle of products is one way to reduce the burden on the environment, and the compound developed for the AT52 is designed to make the tires as resistant to external influences as possible, thereby reducing the number of tires used and minimizing environmental damage. Designers: Kim Yoon Yeon and Kim Tae Min.

In 2024, Kumho also received Good Design and Red Dot awards (in Japan and Germany, respectively) for its winter tires, Kumho WinterCraft WP52, for electric vehicles.

Images: good-designawards.com.