Kumho Tire supplies tires for Volkswagen Atlas
Kumho Tire said Wednesday it is supplying its Crugen Premium tires as the factory-standard tire for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SUV, signifying it is back on track for resuming full operation.
According to the tiremaker, Wednesday, its Crugen Premium KL 33 tire was recently selected as the original equipment tire for the Atlas and it has been providing the tires to Volkswagen’s U.S. factory in Tennessee.
Original equipment tire refers to the tire the car manufacturer chooses to include on the vehicle when it is manufactured. It is regarded as what the manufacturer sees as the best fit at the factory.
Kumho Tire’s Crugen series is specialized for urban high-performance SUVs, which require high performance in steering, braking and stability for high-speed on-road driving. Of them, the company said, Crugen Premium offers a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride in all weather for crossovers and light SUVs.
It is made with an upgraded silica compound to improve fuel efficiency and its tread pattern was designed to provide higher stability and resistance to wear, the company said.
The Atlas midsize SUV debuted on the global market last May. The seven-seater is the largest SUV manufactured by Volkswagen.
It is powered by a VR6 3.6 liter gasoline engine, yielding up to 280 horsepower, and has earned a five-star overall rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Atlas has been assembled at the Tennessee factory since November 2016 and sold in the Americas, Middle East and Russia.
The Crugen Premium KL 33 is manufactured at Kumho Tire’s factory in Gwangju.
“With the selection as the original equipment supplier for the Atlas, there will be a mass supply of the tire, which proves the quality and technology of our product,” a Kumho Tire official said. “Kumho Tire will continue its development efforts to meet the increasing demand for SUVs.”
Kumho Tire decided last month to accept investment from China’s Doublestar after its union agreed on plans to attract foreign capital and save the company from a liquidity crunch.
Doublestar pledged Kumho will retain independent management and promised to enhance its technological competitiveness.
Earlier this month, it introduced the Majesty 9 SOLUS TA91, as its first new tire after the Doublestar investment.