Any Opinions on Kumhos To Buy or Not too Buy?

johnc37 · 04-02-2002, 05:03 PM

Hello Everyone,
I am looking to buy my first set of replacement tires for a 1990 convertible(1st vette) I am considering the Kumhos since they are the cheapest, but I have never heard of them before nor do I know of anyone who has had them.
I really don't want to pay 200 plus per tire but I don't want to be disappointed later on. Thanks...

swt6spd · 04-03-2002, 10:34 AM

Little help for you or my opinion, I just had Kumho 712's put on my car on 4/1/02 which was monday, replacing my old GSC's I ordered the tires from Tirerack.com and for 4 tires 255/45R17 (2), & 275/40R17(2) the total bill was $450.00 and they were mounted for $10/each. So far I have put 400 miles on them and the first 100miles they were really slick no traction at all, but now they seem broke in and have good traction, the road noise is very little, but I do have a corsa exhuast which might muffle the sound of the tires. So far I am happy I look forward to abusing the tires at the dragstrip this summer then I will know traction wise how much better.

Bronco Rider · 04-11-2002, 01:46 AM

I am running a set of 275-40-17's Kumo's on an 81 and will buy another set when these wear out. The only down side is they don't make a 315 street tire. Purchased the tires from the Tire Rack. If you have a shop mount them, watch them very close. The shop that mounted mine managed to damage all 4 of my wheels.

Grzldvt · 04-12-2002, 02:04 AM

I have had mine for about 4 weeks now, and am pretty happy with them. I have not pushed them to any limit. But in some minor spirited driving they held the road very well.

ittlfly · 04-13-2002, 03:58 PM

How is the ride? rougher? noise etc?

Quote:

I have had mine for about 4 weeks now, and am pretty happy with them. I have not pushed them to any limit. But in some minor spirited driving they held the road very well.

Too Slow '90 · 04-13-2002, 09:59 PM

I have them on my '90 as well. I'm happy so far with the performance and you can't beat the price. The up side is if you buy them and decide you don't like them, you can always sell them on the forum and not take a big loss. If you do like them then you have saved a bundle. ;) :chevy

Grzldvt · 04-14-2002, 03:01 AM

The ride is hard to tell if it is better. I went from very worn bushings and shocks, to all new polyurethane bushings and new Bilstiens. That firmed the ride up considerably, within a few days of finishing that project, I put the tires on. I did not notice much of a difference.
As far as noise goes, ask me when I have 10K miles on them. IMO all new tires are quiet, once you get miles on them, they get noisy. In my case I have Walker Dyno max mufflers and the noise from those will out do any tire noise:D If I coast in nuetral, there is not much noise at all.
I am not much help to you am I :rolleyes: :nonod:

CowboyNVette · 04-14-2002, 11:59 AM

So far I have about 5000 miles on mine and I haven't noticed any noise increase. In fact at this point they are still much quieter than the original GSCs. I would buy another set of these when i need too. :yesnod: I just wish they came in 315s

paid4c4 · 04-14-2002, 02:11 PM

John:
This must be 90 Vert day, I put Kuhmos on our baby last summer and we love
them. I bought the tires and ZO6 wheels as a package deal with AFS through an EBAY auction. I got the package deal for what I would have had to pay for the wheels so I though I'll try the tires if I don't like them I'll sell them. I bought this package to replace the original wheels and an almost new set of Mich. Pilots. The Kuhmos ride and handle as good or better than the Pilots, imagine that. I still have the original wheels and Pilots and when I recently ask the better half if I should keep them or sell them she said
"why would you put those back on, the wheels don't looks as good and the tires don't handle as well!" I bet you can guess whats still on the Vert!
I'll email you pix of the Vert, I've not got a degree in computer science to figure out how to post pix on the Forum yet, but I'm working on it.
Bill :) :)

[Modified by paid4c4, 11:12 AM 4/14/2002]

zelement · 04-15-2002, 01:46 AM

IMHO: these are the best tires for the money. However, even when compared to all of the tires I have tried in the past, these 712s still rank in the top 2.

There is a new kumho tire that is coming out later this spring and it is going to be couple notches above the 712.

Check this out: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/kumho/ku_ecsta_mx.jsp