Kumho KU31 and HS51 tyres

Nick3 · Postby **Nick3** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:14 pm

Greetings.
I have a NA Clubman, with standard NB 15" wheels.
Rang my local Tyrepower, for two more Kumho KU31's, and was informed that they are unavailable, and have been replaced with the Kumho HS51.
Kumho's website raves aout the HS51, but does anyone here have any experience with them ? Anyone have any other suggestions for a good tyre for road use ?
Thank you in advance.
Nick.

Nick3 · Postby **Nick3** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 12:31 am

After doing some Net research tonight, it looks like the other old favourite of this site, and the tyre I was thinking of turning to, the Bridgestone RE002, may also have drawn its last breath.
Any advice, on worthy replacements, would be gratefully received.

emx005 · Postby **emx005** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 3:45 am

I've got KU39's on my NB. Thoroughly recommended for the price.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:11 am

The parallel importers are still carrying KU31s. Try somewhere like Tempe Tyres on ebay. They're cheap and shipping rates are okay.

Nick3 · Postby **Nick3** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 12:46 am

Thank You to the two respondents so far. I'll check out both your suggestions.
Would anyone else care to assist ?

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 6:11 am

FZ201's, 595RSR's, DZ03's, A050, AD08R

cookie · Postby **cookie** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:00 am

They're not even in the same category, or price range. Dad paid $200 for two new ku31 in October last year delivered from online. I personally don't rate them but I'm used to the likes of what magpie posted which are high performance road tyres.

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:50 am

JDM yard have hankook rs3s and good prices depending on shipping. Step above the ku31s

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hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:54 am

sailaholic wrote:JDM yard have hankook rs3s and good prices depending on shipping. Step above the ku31s

Also depends on what the OP is looking for.

The RS3 will crap all over the KU31 for grip, but at the expense of life.

UTQG wear rating is I think about 320 for the KU31, and only 140 for the RS3
So you'd expect the RS3 to last about half as long as a KU31.

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 1:11 pm

Completely true hks. I should have been more careful how I phrased the statement.

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manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:45 pm

KU31s and RE002s are also comfortable, quiet tyres with balanced performance in wet and dry. The others are pretty well not.

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:47 am

I purchased some KU31's this week from a local mob and he said that Kumho are only discontinuing certain sizes, not the tread all together. 205/50r15 is one of those sizes

wasabi · Postby **wasabi** » Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:12 am

There would have to be some KU31's still available. I'm actually a bit shocked if they've been replaced given they are actually pretty damn good tyres & generally speaking the choice of most Holden / HSV drivers who want something good for the street without the big price tag - & there's a lot of those people on the roads.

Knowing Kumho (& most other major tyre manufacturers) if there is a replacement for it, then it will be as good if not better. Can't say I know any replacement models that have been a step backwards as that would just be bad business.

kazama · Postby **kazama** » Fri Jan 16, 2015 10:14 am

hks_kansei wrote:
sailaholic wrote:JDM yard have hankook rs3s and good prices depending on shipping. Step above the ku31s

Also depends on what the OP is looking for.

The RS3 will crap all over the KU31 for grip, but at the expense of life.

UTQG wear rating is I think about 320 for the KU31, and only 140 for the RS3
So you'd expect the RS3 to last about half as long as a KU31.

theyre not comparable. + rs3 have terrible grip when cold.
someone looking at the ku31 would not be looking at rs3s

do they still make s drives?

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sat Jan 17, 2015 6:24 pm

wasabi wrote:There would have to be some KU31's still available. I'm actually a bit shocked if they've been replaced given they are actually pretty damn good tyres & generally speaking the choice of most Holden / HSV drivers who want something good for the street without the big price tag - & there's a lot of those people on the roads.

The tyre is 11 years old since its first release. Still a pretty long life compared to some.