KUMHO brought more than 70 dealers, media and content creators together in Seattle for hands-on testing and expert education

ATLANTA, Aug. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kumho Tire U.S.A., one of the world's leading tire manufacturers, brought its newly launched Road Venture HT and Crugen GT Pro tires to life during its national Ride & Drive event at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., giving more than 70 dealers, media and content creators the opportunity to experience the tires firsthand. The event is part of KUMHO's larger Ride & Drive program, which has reached more than 600 participants through regional events in five U.S. cities this year.

Attendees tested the Road Venture HT, an all-season Highway-Terrain tire for light trucks and SUVs, and the Crugen GT Pro, an all-season touring tire engineered for today's crossovers and SUVs, through a series of controlled driving exercises. Modules included a wet handling course, an autocross track focused on braking and vehicle control, and higher-speed freeway driving designed to evaluate on-road ride, handling and comfort.

KUMHO engineers and product experts also led an educational session, providing additional insight into the development and performance characteristics of both tires while giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and share firsthand feedback.

"A spec sheet has never sold a tire to a customer standing at our counter. That is why the Kumho Tire Ride & Drive in Seattle was worth every minute. We got real seat time, instead of a sales pitch, running the all-new Crugen GT Pro and Road Venture HT back-to-back in real world scenarios," said Chris Corwin, Director of Procurement at Discount Tire & Service Centers. "Having a seat at that table means a lot to me, and it says something about how seriously they take dealer input."

The national event builds on KUMHO's broader Ride & Drive program, which provides dealers and partners with hands-on product experiences and direct access to KUMHO tire experts. The events are designed to provide customers with a deeper understanding of KUMHO's tire lineup through hands-on testing and technical education.

"You can read all about a tire, but nothing compares to driving it yourself, which is why KUMHO has made a significant investment in Ride & Drive events in 2026," said Ed Cho, CEO of Kumho Tire U.S.A. "These events give our dealers, wholesale partners and retail partners the opportunity to experience firsthand how our latest tires perform in real-world driving situations. Whether they are evaluating braking, handling, ride comfort or overall performance, attendees can experience the differences for themselves, giving them greater confidence when recommending our products to their customers."

Launched earlier this year, the Road Venture HT is an advanced all-season Highway-Terrain tire engineered for optimal performance across any road condition. Built for light truck and SUV owners, the Road Venture HT offers enhanced wet and snow traction, extended tread-life mileage, and a smooth, quiet ride for ultimate driving confidence. In addition, the Road Venture HT is EV-compatible.

The Crugen GT Pro is KUMHO's latest all-season touring tire engineered for today's increasingly larger, heavier crossovers and SUVs. It is designed to deliver premium comfort, confident all-weather performance and has one of the highest treadwear warranties in its class. Launching in 85 sizes covering more than 85% of today's crossover and SUV market, the Crugen GT Pro delivers broad fitment for today's most popular vehicles. Extensive real-world and laboratory testing has also enabled KUMHO to confidently back the tire with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty for H- and V-speed rated models, and a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty for W-speed rated models.

KUMHO will host its final regional Ride & Drive events of 2026 in Detroit, Mich., and St. Louis, Mo., in September. The company plans to continue the Ride & Drive program in 2027 and beyond, bringing hands-on product testing, technical education and expert insight to its customers across the country.

About KUMHO TIRE Co. Inc.

Kumho Tire, one of the world's largest tire manufacturers, has more than 60 years of history of pioneering innovative approaches to developing tires and is dedicated to providing exceptional driving experiences to consumers around the world. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Kumho Tire U.S.A. is the US sales, marketing, product development, and distribution arm of Kumho Tire Co. Inc.

For more information on Kumho Tire U.S.A., Inc., and its products, please visit www.kumhotireusa.com. Follow Kumho Tire on Facebook, Instagram and on X @KumhoTireUSA.

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SOURCE Kumho Tire USA