▶ The six-year winning streak, a first for a Korean tire-maker, serves as a proof for the company’s world-class design capabilities.


 Kumho Tire (CEO: Lee Han-Seob) announced on 6day that it received the Red Dot Design Award 2017 in the product design category. The winning entry was the CRUGEN HP 71, a premium, high-performance comfort tire for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) released last month, earning recognition for its excellence in design immediately after hitting the market.

 Held by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany since 1955, the Red Dot Design Award honors winners in three categories of product, communication and concept. It is recognized as one of the world“s top three design awards along with the International Forum Design (iF) of Germany and International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) of the Unites States. With this year“s win, Kumho has become the first Korean tire manufacturer to have received the prestigious award for six consecutive years starting from 2012, a feat that proves its global leadership in tire design.

 Geared toward SUV drivers concerned about driving safety in urban settings, The GRUGEN HP71, a high-end comfort tire for SUVs with outstanding performance, allows for smoother and quieter driving. It is also 20% more efficient in abrasion resistance and driving on snowy roads thanks to its highest-quality materials including a next-generation rubber compound.

 The CRUGEN HP71’s sidewall, one of the key determinants of tire quality, has employed a hologram technology unveiled in Korea for the first time, giving it a luxurious appearance and refined texture. In addition, it is designed to enable different types of cars to achieve highest performance. For city utility vehicles (CUVs), a larger number of different-length pitches - gaps between the same patterns in the tire - contribute to greater comfort and less noise while the three-dimensional Sipes, fine grooves on the tread block surface, and a reinforced shoulder block enhance handling and durability for high-performance/high-load SUVs.

 “The receipt of the award for six consecutive years is yet another recognition of the excellence and competitiveness of our designs,” said Chung Taek-gyun, head of Kumho Tire’s R&D Division, “In addition to its outstanding performance and a variety of features that increase its potential for wide popularity, the newly-released CRUGEN HP71 has now been recognized for design excellence with the winning of the prestigious award. We will continue to strengthen our position as a new premium tire-maker both in the Korean and international markets.”

 The CRUGEN HP71, the winning entry, will be exhibited in the Red Dot Design Museums located in Germany and Singapore.