Which tyres - Kumo vs Toyo

[300bhp/ton]

Need to get some new tyres for my Roadster. Think I've narrowed it down to 2 main candidates:


Kumho Ecsta KU31 in 185/55R15 V



or

Toyo Proxes T1-R in 185/55R15 V




The Toyo's are £10 a tyre more, so £40 more expensive overall. I've got a pair of the Kumho's on the back of the Camaro and don't have any complaints with them, but I do like variety so more than happy to try something else and I've not driven anything shod with Toyo's before.

Cheers

[Colin 1985]

Used the T1-R on my old rover 216 & Prelude, thought they were very good and would buy again.

[Fordo]

I've run the Toyos for a few years now - I once ran over what looked like a brick, on a motorway, doing about 70. The alloy was buckled, but the tyre stayed inflated. I dread to think what would have happened there had been a blowout.

Its by no means a scientific test, but I've used the same tyres ever since.


Wear rate is about average, only tyre grippier that i've used, were goodyear eagle F1's - but that was quite a while ago, and it's all so subjective.

I've heard the toyos don't fair so well on heavier cars- sidewall isnt that stiff apparently. You cant have everything. personally, i think for the price, they're a great all rounder

[Mr2Mike]

Of those I'd take the Toyos every time.

[parapaul]

What do you want out of them? They're quite differne tyres IMO. The Kumho is a slightly harder wearing, hence less grippy tyre. The Toyos will stick like you won't believe, but are really very soft.

Never had a problem with either, but if I wanted cheap tyres for a 'fun' car I'd pick the Toyos.

[mad4amanda]

I went from Kumho to T1rs on my eunos roadster and they improved it enormously !
front feels more planted and secure and the rear feels better too especially in the wet.

[chriis]

T1R for me everytime .

[300bhp/ton]

Mr2Mike said:

Of those I'd take the Toyos every time.

Any reason?

[300bhp/ton]

parapaul said:

What do you want out of them? They're quite differne tyres IMO. The Kumho is a slightly harder wearing, hence less grippy tyre. The Toyos will stick like you won't believe, but are really very soft.

Never had a problem with either, but if I wanted cheap tyres for a 'fun' car I'd pick the Toyos.

It's a sports car, so performance is more important than noise or longevity personally. If I'm honest I know which tyres I'd really like, but they will cost nearly double the price so are out of the question at the moment.

Reason I asked about these two is that when I was looking for tyres for the Camaro (odd size) the Kumho's seemed to get a good write up and seem liked on the BMW M3 board as an alternative to the OEM Michelins.

But the Toyo's are also well known, however the reviews here:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Toyo/T1R.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Kumho/Ecsta-KU31...

Would seem to rate the Kumho slightly better so I thought I'd put it out to the PH collective.

[Patrick Bateman]

I've got the KU31s on my 3 series and have no complaints. I'd always been led to believe they were quite soft as well.

[Patrick Bateman]

I've just had a look on mytyres and in those sizes the Toyos are pretty much the same price.

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?suchen=Order...

That is delivered.

[Vidal Baboon]

My KU31s seem to have similar levels of grip as the previous Continentals, although they have a softer sidewall so give a nicer ride IMO.

On a lightweight Smart I doubt you'd ever notice.

[Stu R]

T1Rs seem very at home on small and light cars. I've used them a few times and rate them fairly highly, on heavier machinery there's other stuff I prefer though.

KU31s are a good tyre, but in this instance I'd go for Toyo.

[HellDiver]

Echoing the previous poster. T1R is good on light vehicles. Pure junk on anything more than 1200kg in my experience (they were pretty much unusable due to sidewall softness on a 1650kg Lancer).

[BeeRoad]

I'd stick these on having found them to be excellent:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m53b0s...

[Med1c]

We have found the Toyo's to be excellent as a day to day tyre.

[Deluded]

Ran the Khumos in question on my Prelude and they were very good. Never ran the toyos so can't compare but will give a thumbs up for the Khumos.

[dylan0451]

T1r's - smooth, progressive breakaway wet or dry. they do feel like they move about a little, especially when new. found 30-31psi on lighter cars gives a more crisp turn in and removes the bouncyness and feel of 'tuckunder' under tight, moderate speed turning. definately wouldn't want them bigger than a 50 profile

they're supposed to wear out fast, hence pricing. my thought was that if i didn't like them, they were cheap and i'd get to replace them soon

seem to be great so far!

[Herman Toothrot]

Toyo's more grippy in wet weather, KU31's longer lasting and more progressive on the limit.

I've gone KU31 from T1R in my last tyre change.

[Waugh-terfall]

I've just had the KU31s fitted to my car, so far so good! Front end is now noticeably softer over bumps, feel is still as good as it was and road noise seems a little less too. Can't really comment on what they're like at the limit, haven't really pushed them yet...

My Kumhos were £113 fully fitted through BlackCircles - 205/55 R16 91V

I'm watching how long these take to wear off:

Edited by Waugh-terfall on Sunday 17th October 19:09