tire, first pics and stuff here.
First I emailed Kumho and got this response from the gentleman Salvione, then accessed the Whalen Tire web site, links below.

Thanks for your interest in Kumho tires.
The KH11 is a unique blend of refined comfort, low noise and extreme handling.... utilizing race proven technology.
The service description for that tire is 94W...
If you want to provide me with your address I will be happy to send you a brochure.
If you'd like to buy a set you can inquire @
WWW.WhalenTire.com
Thanks, again, for your interest in Kumho Tires.

Dave Salvione
Regional Manager
Kumho Tire USA

This tire is a looker...I love that tread pattern..at that price, screw Michelins.

http://www.whalentire.com/tiredetail...irenumber=2750

 

Thanks for the info. Tirerack also has them for $100 a tire. They are listed as grand touring, not high performance like the Potenzas or Michelin. Most importantly, they are apparently only "summer" tires. At that price I would have considered them if they were rated for all season.

 

I agree that the KH11s are probably not your best choice for harsh climates. But I live in Southern California. And even with El Nino in the offing, ours could hardly be considered a "harsh" climate. I suspect that a tire like the KH11 would be perfect for our conditions, particularly at the price. But I'll wait until I see some user reviews before I purchase a set of them.

 

appears our emails to kumho were read after all

 

Power to the people . . . er, uh . . . ORG!

 

Why do only a few tire MFRs make tires in our size? And why do they cost so much? Most other 17 inch tires in similar quality can be purchased for much less.

 

B/c not many cars have tires our size. Also, I'm not trying to be a wet blanket but the tread pattern on that tire isn't the most agressive I've ever seen. It has a W speed rating which is a good sign, but I wonder how good the dry traction is, especially when launching in 1st gear.

Jesse

 

I will be one of the first to buy these if someone can help me find 1 2k2 se wheel b/c of a little accident. If anybody can help let me know ASAP. Matt

 

you on your perception that an aggressive tread pattern equates to good traction at launch....if that were the case, dragsters would not use slicks, right?

The best pattern for dry traction (at launch and everywhere else) is no pattern at all, hence slicks or treadless tires where you put the whole surface of the tire on the road.

Looking at the tread pattern for this tire it seems to me that total rubber on the road would be about the same as the Michelin Pilots and perhaps a bit more than the Potenzas so I would expect this tire to be equal to those two -at least on launches.

 

Hey guys...I have first-hand experience with the KH11's:

However, the KH11's are not on my Maxima, but on my '91 Accord with 16" Sport Edition Fox2 rims. Let me tell ya...they are great tires. Quiet, sticky, squared off shoulder, look very aggressive, AND CHEAP. For my Accord's 205/50R16s, they are $94/tire. Can't beat that with a damn broomstick.

I say go for it if you get the opportunity and save some $$ while you're at it to do other fun stuff with your Max.

My Accord with KH11's

 

He may mean a aggresive tread pattern is a pattern that has a large contact patch. When talking about street tires some have more surface area then others, perhaps he thinks these have a lot of surface area?

 

comment on ride quality versus what u had before and what did u have before the KH11's?

 

Yep...

I previously had cheapass Sumitomo HTR200's (195/60R15, factory size), and they were horrible. The ride was harsh and they didn't last but 15k miles. At $40/tire, I guess you get what you pay for.

One thing I can say though is that the KH11's are a lower profile tire than the 195/60 HTR200's. With that said, the KH11's are STILL alot quieter and smoother.

I have no personal or financial connection with Kuhmo, but after having them on my Concorde for about 3k miles now, I will never go back to the other over-priced brands out there--and they know who they are...

 

One more thing about the KH11's:

The picture that Whalen Tire has posted on their site is a little misleading...the picture they have posted shows a tire with a rounded shoulder (probably for a typical sedan). With our Maxima 17" size, I can guarantee you that our size will definitely be squared off at the shoulder and sidewall.

If my Accord is squared off at 205/60R16, then our 17" tires will definitely be squared off as well.

Some of you may or may not care about this, but personally, I like the squared-off look.

Just FYI.



My Concorde again

 

If the rubber on slicks was as hard as the rubber on passenger tires, they wouldn't be using them. Slicks are a totally different compound and get there traction b/c alittle bit of of the tire is left on the track during every revolution.


Jesse

 

compounds -on which I agree with you.....all I'm saying is that 'aggresive treads' dont in any equate to better launch traction on asphalt..all else being equal, it's more rubber on the ground (with reasonable wheel loading) not tread pattern that governs launch traction on dry pavement.

 

I see your point. I was always under the impression the grooves in the tread pattern gave the tire the "bite". The outer shoulder tread blocks looks alot like the Goodyear RS-A I had on my old car and they were horrible performance tires. I guess the asymmetrical tread pattern gives it an all weather element. I think that outer shoulder enhances snow traction. I guess the only way to find out is to order

Jesse

 

correct for wet weather and snow or mud...in snow/slush/mud it is indeed those edges that provide the vast majority of the grip...check out the tread pattern of a real snow tire like the Blizzak & you'll see many sharp edges along with many micro-sipes...again, lots of edges to 'dig down' into the snow, etc and grip better. Of course, they have super-special compounds, very soft rubber, etc., but those applications require the many edges.

On the RSAs, I had them as the OEM tires on my old Gen4 and hated them...rough, noisy and not much grip at all, there are definitely many better tires out there for less moolah

 

if Kumho can make these things round, perfectly round, I'll consider them :/ alittle gun-shy after the last kumhos. actually, mine werent bad and Hunter balancer got them tight to 100+mph, but I know alot of people who have doubts about their quality control.

 

I'll get them as soon as I can spot 2 - OEM 2k2 SE wheels. I will try them the ghetto way by just mounting them of the fronts. Someone help me find 2k2 SE wheels. Matt

 

Right, Tim. I've also heard some horror stories about out-of-round and difficult-to-balance Kumho tires. Let's get to the bottom of this:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=176837

 

mail order/online purchases of tires...one of my vaunted Michelins was out of round as well and since I was there at Sears watching them get mounted & balanced (safety goggles and all) the exchange between the technician (whom I had given a 10 buck tip to do a good job) went something like this...
Galo: 'that tire is hopping..can you remount rotating it 180 degrees' on the rim?'
Tech: 'sure thing'
Galo: 'well, it's still hopping, can you rotate just 90 degrees?'
Tech: 'sure thing'
Galo: 'damn, it's still hopping...can you rotate 180 degrees from your current location, which would make it just 90 degrees from the first position?'
Tech: 'sure thing'
Galo: 'I dont like dat tire one bit, can you go back and get another one?'
Tech: 'sure thing'

 

Good point, Galo. It's much easier to deal with a reputable tire dealer on the spot than to have to return an out-of-round tire to a mail order retailer.