TYRES: Kumho hits wet spot

Korean tyre manufacturer Kumho demonstrated its effectiveness in wet conditions at the Nurburgring during the opening round of this year's VLN (for Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nurburgring, which translates to Association of Nurburgring Endurance Cup Organisers) Endurance Championship.

Kumho tyres helped Team Peugeot RCZs to a class series win in a race beset by hazardous weather conditions, where rain and drizzle tested drivers and vehicles as they battled their way around the increasingly fog-affected track. Due to the poor weather, the race ended prematurely with approximately 80 minutes left to go.

However, according to Team Peugeot RCZ driver Julien Piguet, the Kumhos performed outstandingly, enabling him to overtake much more powerful cars on the sodden 25km circuit. "The tyres provided perfect grip in any condition," he said.

Team Peugeot RCZ comprises Frenchmen Julien Piguet, Julien Rueflin, Steven Palette and Germany's Paul Englert, driving Kumho-equipped, factory developed Peugeot Sport built endurance adaptations of the Peugeot used in the RCZ Racing Cup.

Kumho also displayed its wet-condition prowess in last year's Wheels magazine tyre test where the Ecsta Le Sport KU39 tyre took out top place in wet-weather braking and was a close second in wet cornering.

Kumho Tyre Australia's national marketing and training manager David Basha said the technology on the track is the same as that applied to the company's road tyres.

"The research and development we do on the track is utilised across all of our passenger car and commercial tyres. Team Peugeot RCZ had confidence because of the wet weather characteristics of Kumho Tyres," he said.

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