Nexen vs Kumho vs Pirelli - Which Brand Is Better For You?
People are conflicted about which tyres to buy for their cars. With so many brands claiming to offer the highest quality and performance products, car owners become even more confused. To make it easier for people, we have decided to make a comparison between South Korean Nexen and Kumho and Italy's Pirelli. All three of them are world-renowned tire manufacturers.
Nexen
Nexen is fast catching up to the top brands of the tire industry. In 2013, the company had a $1.68 billion revenue, which shows that Nexen is now exporting to numerous countries throughout the world. It has set up manufacturing units in Korea and China. The ‘Nexen’ name was adopted at the turn of the 21st century and means ‘next century’.
The name change coincides with its marketing tagline, ‘Next Century Tire’. Currently, the company produces several products designed to cater to all types of cars. Its lesser price makes it the choice of many car owners. Its main competitor in South Korea is Kumho. Let’s look at the vehicle categories and see which line Nexen offers for them.
Passenger Vehicles
In the passenger category, the CP Series is perhaps the most famous. It has four wide grooves which serve the purpose of improving handling. In wet areas, these series offer more traction. This series performs well at high speeds and offers reduced noise due to its straight center rib block. This series is ideal for coastal areas.
In addition to this, Kumho has the N Series. It is similar in design to the CP series but with particular emphasis on areas that experience snow. They have directional grooves for extra performance in snow conditions.
SUVs & Light Trucks
In this category, Kumho has the Rodian line which has a thicker tread block and offers excellent traction in wet and snow conditions. Some models of the Rodian line are designed for pure off-road use as well. Within the N Series, the N-Fera line has been specifically designed for SUVs and light trucks. These tires are ideal for off-road driving as well.
Nexen is a well-established brand now and produces some of the most renowned products. For conditions like that of in Dubai, Nexen produces the N3000 model and the CP671. N3000 is designed for summer conditions, and the design provides exceptional cornering and stability. For speed enthusiasts, the arrow center rib design allows stability and performance at high speeds. It has a speed rating of W (270 km/h) & Y (300 km/h).
The CP671 is an all-season tire that maximizes traction and is designed to reduce the risk of hydroplaning. The straight center rib block aides in acceleration, while the lateral grooves increase the braking performance. Unsurprisingly, the CP671 is also the best-selling product of the Nexen Brand on PitStopArabia.
Kumho
It is a South Korean company and was formerly known as ‘Samyan Tire'. Until 2017 it was a subsidiary of Kumho Asiana Group. Kumho Tire exports its products worldwide and has production facilities in South Korea, China, and the US. It has a revenue of $3.57 billion (2013). It produces tires for all sorts of cars, including passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks, high-performance cars, and even rally cars.
What makes Kumho a popular brand and the first choice for many drivers is that it is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for many of the world’s top auto companies. Unlike Nexen, there is no specific product line catering to different vehicle segments. Hence, we will briefly review individual tires.
Passenger
The Solus KH32 are designed for Small Passenger Cars with an emphasis on fuel efficiency and high tread life. The KR26 is similar to the Solus but with an added emphasis on wet surface driving. The overall tread design minimizes aquaplaning. The Ecowing KH27 is designed as an eco-friendly tyre with emphasis on the fuel efficiency
High-end Sports, Coupes & Sedans
The ECSTA PS31 has a 3D dimple design, which reduces heat and offers improved handling and performance at high speeds. The sidewall is designed to promote ultra-high-performance capabilities.
SUVs and Crossovers
The Road Venture SAT KL61 is designed with ESCOT casing technology to give it more tread life and more contact with the road. It has centered rib blocks that offer more control on loose surfaces, improved stability, and reduced noise. Additionally, Kumho also has the Crugen Premium KL33 for this vehicle category.
The tires are created from an all-season compound for use in all weathers. The compound disperses heat during summer months and remains flexible in cold temperatures. It has deep micro treads that give it more grip and handling capabilities.
Keeping in line with changing trends, Kumho also designs tires for electric vehicles. What makes Kumho stand out is its value for money. Without compromising the quality, it offers products at lower prices. The prices of Kumho products are about 30% to 40% lower than top tire brands but provide the same performance.
You might be wondering how Kumho can produce the same quality of products as the top brands but at cheaper rates. Kumho re-engineers their production process of products that are known to perform well to cut the expenses. As a result, Kumho can produce a high-quality product at a low cost. Kumho produces tires based on their usage.
In terms of durability, Kumho tires offer great tread life in terms of money. Although top brands offer much more longevity, they fail to consider the actual driving conditions. Depending on the tyre, you can expect an average tread life of 40,000 to 85,000 km.
Since Kumho only builds upon well-established designs, Kumho's performance in terms of braking, handling, noise, and safety is exceptionally well. The Road Venture SAT KL61 is widely used in Dubai and is the best-selling product of Kumho on PitStopArabia.
Pirelli
Pirelli is one of the most recognized brand names in the world. Its rise can be attributed to several factors. A few years ago, it became the sole supplier of tires to Formula 1. It has also been featured regularly in the World Rally Championship and other sporting events. While it has become a top name in the racing world, Pirelli also has much to offer to a regular car owner.
Surprisingly, Pirelli manufactures tires for motorcycles and lorries too. The company offers all-season, high performance, ultra-high-performance, and off-road tyres. Let’s look at the different tires available for different vehicle categories.
Passenger
The P6000 is regarded as one of the best summer tyres. It offers comfort while driving by reducing the noise through a patented pitch sequence. The lateral blocks further improve handling, and the P6000 has a longer tread life. Besides, the P6000, Pirelli also offers the P Zero Rosso.
It is designed to keep a balance between wet and dry conditions. However, on dry roads, the braking performance is not as good. In terms of comfort, it offers a sporty feel and noise reduction. The P Zero Nero one-ups the P Zero Rosso in dry conditions as the braking is removed remarkably. It can be fitted on sports vehicles and medium-sized sedans. Its precise cornering ability attracts drivers who enjoy fast driving.
Sports
The P Zero Nero M&S is designed using Pirelli’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS), the most advanced design and production system. It has a silica-enhanced tread compound and handles exceptionally well on dry conditions. The tread design reduces hydroplaning, while the overall design increases grip during acceleration.
The P Zero Corsa System has been designed specifically for people with super sports cars for use on tracks and roads. They are the Original Equipment tires for Porsche GT 2, Porsche GT 3, Ferrari 360 Challenge, and the Lamborghini Gallardo. Keeping in mind Dubai's sports car scene, these tires are ideal for enthusiasts with superpowered cars.
The Cinturato P7 is an all-season tyre that reduces rolling resistance and noise, while the braking and traction improve remarkably. These are ideal for driving in diverse conditions.
SUVs/Crossovers/Light Trucks
The Scorpion Verde is environment-friendly tires. They reduce carbon emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and are the Original Equipment fitting for the Porsche Macan. The Scorpion ATR is designed for enthusiasts who want the same tires for on-road and off-road driving. It has an all-terrain design, and the stable shoulder tread blocks offer improved handling.
For everyday use, the P6000 and other P Zero Rosso tires are an ideal choice for many car owners. What puts off many users from buying Pirelli tyres is, unfortunately, their prices. Being a premium brand, Pirelli's prices are out of range for many drivers. Owners with high-end cars or supercars might consider Pirelli worth the price.
In Dubai, the P Zero Rosso is in high-demand and is the most successful brand of Pirelli on PitStopArabia, with customers showing great interest in them.
Our Verdict
Being a premium brand, Pirelli does not have much to offer to people with standard vehicles. Such car owners are better off looking at cheaper alternative brands that meet their needs. Nexen and Kumho have a wide range of products that meet the requirements of more conventional drivers.
However, Kumho was involved in a cheating scandal, in which it used too much-recycled rubber to cut its costs. Although the company has promised to mend its ways, recent controversies surrounding the company show that it still has a long way to go. Moreover, Kumho products' availability is another issue, as unlike Nexen and Pirelli, it is not stocked as much by reputable tire sellers.
For people in Dubai, the ideal choice would be Nexen and Pirelli. Nexen should be opted for everyday use, while Pirelli is the perfect choice for owners with high powered cars.