Kuhmo questions.. help

Gerald

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I just called Tire Rack and was ready to order some Kuhmo's and they recommended I don't buy them. I told them it was for street use. They said I would drive about 5o miles and I would get a flat..??? I've read that many ppl here buy the Kuhmos and use them everyday for street use?

I'm ready to order some tires as I have no tread left..

Gerald
 

Viperzilla

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Did they say why the tire would go flat after 50 miles? Maybe the rubber is so soft that just some broken glass, or large enough rocks can cut into it and leak air.
 

Achilles99

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I just called Tire Rack and was ready to order some Kuhmo's and they recommended I don't buy them. I told them it was for street use. They said I would drive about 5o miles and I would get a flat..??? I've read that many ppl here buy the Kuhmos and use them everyday for street use?

I'm ready to order some tires as I have no tread left..

Gerald

Are you kidding me? Kumho's are DOT approved, so that couldn't be their concern...

I ran Kumho's as my street tires for a long time. I know several who have done the same. If 1Tony1 reads this, I'm sure he can attest to their "durability"... he's run them for 5k miles.

Of course, I wouldn't run in the rain with them, but who drives in the rain anyhow :)
 

BigCarrot

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Do they make them in 18" now? If so, I'm in! I got holeshotted BAD by a Gen1 last night that makes nowhere near the power I do, but runs the Kumhos. I hate that! FWIW, he loves the tires,a nd I see why.
 
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Gerald

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I don't know why they would say that then..... Do the soft walls of the Kuhmos effect handling drastically?

Tony, can you tell me how you like yours for everyday street use?

Gerald
 

MR VENOM

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If Tire Rack made that statement, I think they owe us all an explanation. Could it be that they don't make as much on a $170 tire as they do a $335 dollar tire??? Nawwwwwwwww.
 
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Gerald

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Well, I used the search function and it looks like the Kumhos are the ticket for higher HP applications , even on the street. But it also looks like the sand and rocks will eat up your paint.....

Gerald
 

onerareviper

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Gerald,

I was kicking around purchasing the Kuhmo's as well. I've only found only 2 negatives to using these tires through reading all the post:

1.) Longevity - Personally, if they last over 5,000 miles that would be enough. 10,000 would be great, though....

2.) Picking up stones/sand/etc... and blasting the paint - Personally, this worries me and prevents the purchase at this time..... Any way around this - 3M nick protection, or some other product of this nature?

Everyone seems to love the way they perform in straight-line and around curves.
 

Miles B

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I just put Kumho 712 Supras (!) on my daily driver. No problems yet and all the tyre places recommended them. I was amazed at the grip for such a cheap tyre.

Check the speed rating though. Those closed tracks can see some high speeds. Which model are you looking at? Ecsta V700, or V700 Victoracer DOT legal roadrace?
 

MR VENOM

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2.) Picking up stones/sand/etc... and blasting the paint - Personally, this worries me and prevents the purchase at this time..... Any way around this - 3M nick protection, or some other product of this nature?

3M Scotchcal. Did my rear fender well "painted" areas last night, was pretty simple to install. Awaiting the arrival of my Kumhos.
 

ntmatter

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Does anybody know about how they handle up to track (as opposed to drag or autocross) use? I have a set of 17" for my track wheels that I haven't mounted yet, but I'd heard a rumor from a Porsche guy that they would melt in about 3 laps
 

Luke@tirerack

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sorry, it has taken me so long to respond to this .... I couldn't keep the tears out of my eyes, from laughing so hard, long enough to type

50 miles ... huh ??? well I guess I have gotten hundreds of flats and not known it ...

here are the facts:
the tire in question is the Kumho Ecsta V700
it is a DOT legal race compound tire with 6/32" tread depth and is perfectly at home on the street even though it WILL NOT LAST that long because of it's race bread rubber compound. Can you get a flat in 50 miles ...yes if you puncture the tire with a nail or other sharp object. Is that flat inevitable ... absolutely not .....

I do not know who you spoke with but, as a growing company we do have some new people who are still learning and have not spent any time on a track let alone on a set of DOT r-compound tires ..... the learning curve here is almost to steep for some people but, we do spend a great amount of time in class and tire testing so, the person in question, whomever that may be, will be up to speed eventually.

Again, I apologize for the inaccurate info that you recieved.

here is the last word about the subject:

The Ecsta V700 R-Compound tire is perfectly acceptable to be used on the street, if it wasn't why would it be DOT certified and legal. It is a good choice for high horsepower applications. It will wear very fast because of it's design and rubber compound.


on a side note for track use:

The ECSTA V700 must be shaved to 3/32" - 4/32" tread depth for any autocross or track use in the dry.

Kumho advises that the ECSTA V700 DOT-legal competition radial must be shaved prior to use in dry conditions. If this tire is not shaved, excessive wear may occur causing the tire to wear to the cords prematurely in a localized area.

Tire heat cycling will not prevent the excessive localized wear of full tread depth tires but will continue to enhance the tire consistency and wear on shaved tires.

The ECSTA V700 should only be used at full tread depth (6/32") for wet track and wet autocross use.


Luke@tirerack
877-522-8473 ext. 362
 

genXgts

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Victoracer is dropped Ecsta is the only offering in OEM Viper sizes. Various sites and even Kumho's site will say they are both available, not the case.

Ecsta only at this time, might find a year carry over in the Victo somewhere but doubt it.

I love them, maybe a thousand miles on them so far, only problem is they are well over half gone already, in under 6 weeks.

Most of this could be attributed to a road course event with the VCA, I was flat out, having a blast, and literally went thru over half my tread in 6 hours, this is fact, I wouldn't believe it myself on the internet.

When I bought them the shop asked if I drove my car on the street, I said yes but not that often, weekend fun. He said see you in 6 weeks for new rears, you'll run 2 rears for a front. I laughed.......

Looks like all four new ones in 6 weeks, I might eek out the rest of the summer on these things, after that I'll decide what to go with.

If nothing else matters including money, these are the tires to get. Several top end running at 150+ (spurts not lengthy) and the tire is confident feeling. Launches are something else, I can catch a much faster car out of the hole and let him play catch up which may or may not happen depending on distance, etc.

In my 12.1 119 car on 6 year old OEM Mxx3, (Haven't ran with the Kumhos yet, better get there soon!haha), I can stomp the throttle mid gear anywhere and not even a chirp. 100% grab and on a full throttle slam into 2nd that would send my rear end into convulsions on Mxx not even a chirp, it's nuts.

From a dig you can still light them up good if that is your intent ,but even then they grab and go after 10 feet of fun, unlike the 100 feet of fun otherwise!!

Hope this helps, any Q's ask away......

Try Luke at the tirerack, or anyone close to Toronto can get a steal in Cdn funds well under a US price, mounted and balanced in the deal if you can get your car there. Free SARS included for a limited time only......:)Email me for the number if needed.

take care,
 

Bill Pemberton Woodhouse

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Thanks for the help Luke, as we all felt it would be best coming from the horse's mouth. Luke is a gearhead, and has been helping VCA members for
a long time. It is a good practice to call ext. #362 if you are a Snakecharmer --- Luke will help you out and give you the straight scoop!
 
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Gerald

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Luke, thanks! That's what the saleman said, so you can understand my hesitation.. no names will be mentioned.. :laugh:

Looks like I'll order some Kumho's shortly. Need to get some 3m clear film first.


Gerald
 

pdmracing

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as a note , we ran khumos on our ITS car in the 12 hour @ homestead & 24 hour of Moroso & they lasted at least twice as long as the hoosiers. They were slower but lasted much much longer under flat out conditions.
 

fearsuch

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Why dont you get a pair of the g force drag radials by bfg

and dont the kumho tires only come in 17"

I would think the bfg would be the perfect street tire
 

1TONY1

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5600 miles and the rears are just now at the wear bars. Fronts are less, from autocrossing and shims being removed I guess. If I were not autocrossing or tracking I would not do the fronts.....in fact I am getting my other wheels polished now and the Michelins will be going back on the front. Not only will they sand blast the inner painted lip and side sill bulge but the rear inner wheelwell will look whitish unless tire dressing is applied. I had another FTD at an autocross this past Sunday (four in a row..fastest car :) , I would be gentle with the clutch and throttle for about 10 feet then full throttle with no spin.....2nd gear full throttle no spin. Also Gerald...Kuhmo's have hard side walls .....I think...basing this on me being able to run 26 - 28 psi on all 4 corners at the autocross when street tire guys are 35 - 45 and up to keep the tire from rolling.
 

varanus

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[quote
on a side note for track use:

The ECSTA V700 must be shaved to 3/32" - 4/32" tread depth for any autocross or track use in the dry.

Kumho advises that the ECSTA V700 DOT-legal competition radial must be shaved prior to use in dry conditions. If this tire is not shaved, excessive wear may occur causing the tire to wear to the cords prematurely in a localized area.

Tire heat cycling will not prevent the excessive localized wear of full tread depth tires but will continue to enhance the tire consistency and wear on shaved tires.

The ECSTA V700 should only be used at full tread depth (6/32") for wet track and wet autocross use.


Luke@tirerack
877-522-8473 ext. 362


[/QUOTE]

What about mostly street use with an occasional auto x, still shave tires?
 

joe117

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Gerald
I've had the V700s for about 1000 miles. I went to them after I changed to the 3.55 rear. They are very sticky. I didn't shave them.
They have no warranty. Perhaps that was why the guy told you you would have a flat.
 

Matt

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2.) Picking up stones/sand/etc... and blasting the paint - Personally, this worries me and prevents the purchase at this time..... Any way around this - 3M nick protection, or some other product of this nature?

3M Scotchcal. Did my rear fender well "painted" areas last night, was pretty simple to install. Awaiting the arrival of my Kumhos.

Are you going to cover the inner painted lip and side sill bulge at the front as well? Please post your inmpressions after driving on them for a while as to the condition of your paint.
 

Jack B

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More insight - The 18" Kumho's are now being field tested and should be available in 90-180 days. They were supposed to be released earlier in the year but experienced some problems.

The Kumho Ecsta's jump from a 2.75 to a 3.35, both are available today when I checked three weeks ago they were on back order. The 2.75's might be a bit on the small side for track or autocross, however, the Vitoracer's are available in a max of 3.15. If you have a 12" wheel the Vitoracer may be the optimum choice for the front with the Ecsta's on the rear. This was a recommendation by John Purner. The setup would be 3.35 Ecsta's on the rear and 3.15 Vitoracers on the front. Another problem is that the Vitoracers are now on back order.
 

viper spray

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2.) Picking up stones/sand/etc... and blasting the paint - Personally, this worries me and prevents the purchase at this time..... Any way around this - 3M nick protection, or some other product of this nature?

3M Scotchcal. Did my rear fender well "painted" areas last night, was pretty simple to install. Awaiting the arrival of my Kumhos.
Where do I get the 3M ?
 
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