Kumho tires are made by Kumho Tire Co., Inc., a South Korean tire manufacturer whose history dates to 1960. Today, Kumho has an established manufacturing network in South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the United States. The company makes passenger, SUV, light-truck, performance, EV, and commercial tires, with the exact features and warranty depending on the tire model you choose.
Quick Answer
Kumho tires are manufactured by Kumho Tire Co., Inc., a South Korean tire company founded in 1960. Its established production network includes plants in South Korea, China, Vietnam, and Macon, Georgia, in the United States. A 2026 regulatory filing identifies Doublestar Group as Kumho Tire’s ultimate controlling company.
Key Takeaways
- Kumho Tire Co., Inc. is the manufacturer behind Kumho-branded tires and traces its history to South Korea in 1960.
- Kumho’s published established production network includes eight plants across South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the United States.
- Some Kumho passenger tires are manufactured at the company’s plant in Macon, Georgia.
- Xingwei Korea is Kumho Tire’s 45% controlling shareholder, while a 2026 Korea Exchange filing identifies Doublestar Group as the ultimate controlling company.
- Tread life, winter grip, noise, and warranty coverage vary by tire model, so it is better to compare the exact Kumho tire than make a judgment about the entire brand.
Who Makes Kumho Tires?
Kumho tires are made by Kumho Tire Co., Inc. Kumho is a South Korean tire manufacturer with its headquarters in Gwangju and a Seoul office. Its official company history traces the business to 1960, with tire production beginning during the company’s early years.
Kumho now develops and sells tires for passenger cars, crossovers, SUVs, light trucks, commercial vehicles, and electric vehicles. Its products include touring, all-season, performance, highway, all-terrain, and other application-specific tire lines.
Who Owns Kumho Tire Today?
The answer is slightly different from the answer to who makes Kumho tires. Kumho Tire Co., Inc. remains the tire manufacturer, but its corporate ownership includes Chinese control.
A 2026 filing with the Korea Exchange lists Xingwei Korea Co., Ltd. as the controlling shareholder with a 45% stake. The same filing identifies Doublestar Group Co., Ltd. as the ultimate controlling company.
Note: This means Kumho is a South Korean tire manufacturer by corporate origin and operating identity, while its ultimate controlling company is China-based Doublestar Group. Ownership and manufacturing location are separate questions.
How Kumho Became a Global Tire Brand
Kumho started on a much smaller scale in South Korea. According to the company’s history, it was established in 1960 and initially produced only a small number of tires each day. Its international expansion began early, including exports to Thailand in the 1960s.
The company later expanded production, research, testing, and original-equipment relationships. That growth eventually created a network of factories and technical operations serving several major automotive markets.
Original-equipment business is an important part of that development. An OE tire is designed or approved for installation on a new vehicle at the factory. Meeting an automaker’s targets for factors such as dimensions, load capability, handling, noise, efficiency, and durability can require a tire to be engineered for a specific vehicle application.
Kumho also continues to develop tires for newer vehicle types, including EV-specific products. That matters because electric vehicles can place different demands on tires due to vehicle weight, instant torque, efficiency targets, and the greater visibility of road and tire noise when there is no combustion engine masking it.
Where Kumho Tires Are Made
So, where are Kumho tires made? Kumho’s published corporate facility list identifies eight established plants in four countries: South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the United States.
| Country | Plant | Published Product Role |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Gwangju | Passenger and truck/bus tires |
| South Korea | Gokseong | Passenger and truck/bus tires |
| South Korea | Pyeongtaek | Passenger tires |
| China | Nanjing | Passenger and truck/bus tires |
| China | Tianjin | Passenger tires |
| China | Changchun | Passenger tires |
| Vietnam | Binh Duong | Passenger tires |
| United States | Macon, Georgia | Passenger tires |
The country where a particular Kumho tire was manufactured can therefore vary by model, size, production run, and destination market. A Kumho tire sold in the United States is not automatically made in Georgia, and a tire made in another Kumho factory is not automatically different in specification merely because of its country of origin.
How to Check Your Specific Kumho Tire
Check the sidewall rather than assuming where a particular tire came from. Tires sold for road use in the United States carry a DOT Tire Identification Number, or TIN. The TIN contains manufacturing information, while the final four digits identify the production week and year.
For example, a date code ending in 2626 would mean the tire was manufactured during the 26th week of 2026. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends checking the DOT/TIN when determining a tire’s age.
Pro Tip: When comparing a set of new tires, check the DOT date codes on all four. Tires from the same set do not need identical codes, but knowing the manufacturing dates helps you understand how long they have already been in the supply chain.
How Kumho Tires Are Made and Tested
Kumho does not publicly disclose every proprietary manufacturing and inspection step used for every tire at every factory. However, the broad production sequence follows the same established process used throughout modern tire manufacturing.
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association describes the process as starting with material selection and rubber compounding before the individual tire components are formed, assembled, cured, and inspected.
- Rubber compounds are mixed. Natural or synthetic rubber is blended with materials such as silica, carbon black, oils, antioxidants, and curing ingredients. Different parts of a tire can use different compounds.
- Components are formed. Tread, sidewall, inner-liner, textile, steel-belt, and bead components are produced to the required dimensions.
- The tire is assembled. The components are built together around the tire-building drum to create an uncured or “green” tire.
- The tire is cured. Heat and pressure in a mold vulcanize the rubber and form the final tread pattern and sidewall markings.
- The finished tire is inspected and tested. Tire manufacturers use inspection and quality-control procedures to identify manufacturing defects and verify performance requirements.
Industry inspection can include visual examination, uniformity testing, X-ray inspection, destructive examination of sample tires, test-wheel evaluation, and road testing. The exact combination varies by manufacturer, plant, tire design, and quality-control program, so it is more accurate not to claim that every Kumho tire receives one identical inspection sequence.
The important distinction is that Kumho controls the specification of its tires, while the individual tire may be produced at one of several factories depending on model, size, and market.
Kumho Tire Types and Key Benefits
Kumho sells multiple tire families because a tire optimized for commuting is not the same as one designed for track-oriented handling, severe winter conditions, an EV, or off-road use.
| Tire Type | Best Suited For | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Touring / all-season | Daily commuting and highway use | Ride comfort, treadwear warranty, wet traction, winter capability |
| Performance / summer | Responsive dry and wet handling in appropriate temperatures | Temperature limits, wet performance, tread life, speed rating |
| Winter / severe-snow capable | Cold climates, snow, and ice | 3PMSF marking, compound type, correct size and load rating |
| SUV / light-truck | Crossovers, SUVs, pickups, highway or off-road use | Load index, LT vs. passenger construction, terrain type |
| EV-specific | Battery-electric vehicles | Load capacity, rolling resistance, noise, wear, vehicle fitment |
Kumho uses different tread patterns, compounds, structures, and technologies across these categories. That is why statements such as “Kumho tires are quiet” or “Kumho tires last a long time” should always be tied to a specific model.
Are Kumho Tires Good?
Kumho is an established global manufacturer, but there is no meaningful way to rate every Kumho tire with one performance score. A touring tire, an ultra-high-performance summer tire, and an all-terrain tire are designed around different priorities.
When comparing a Kumho model with another brand, focus on the exact specification you need:
- Correct tire size for your vehicle and wheel.
- Load index and speed rating that meet the vehicle manufacturer’s requirements.
- Wet and winter capability appropriate for your climate.
- Ride and noise characteristics if comfort matters most.
- Treadwear warranty if long-distance commuting is a priority.
- OE specification when replacing an original-equipment tire.
Warning: Do not choose a tire only because its brand, price, or country of manufacture looks attractive. The replacement tire still needs the correct size, load capacity, speed rating, and application for your vehicle. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s tire specifications.
Kumho Tire Lifespan and Warranty
There is no single mileage figure that accurately describes how long every Kumho tire lasts. Tire life changes with the model, vehicle, alignment, inflation pressure, rotation schedule, road conditions, climate, driving style, and maintenance.
Kumho’s current U.S. replacement-tire warranty also makes an important distinction: a treadwear warranty is not a promise that every tire will reach that mileage. Instead, qualifying tires may receive prorated coverage when the warranty requirements are met.
Examples from Kumho’s published U.S. treadwear schedule include:
| Example Model | Published Limited Treadwear Warranty |
|---|---|
| Solus TA51a | Up to 75,000 miles for listed T-speed applications; 65,000 miles for listed H-or-higher applications |
| Crugen HT51 | 70,000 miles for listed P-metric applications; 45,000 miles for listed LT-metric applications |
| Crugen HP71 | 65,000 miles |
| Road Venture AT52 | 55,000 miles for listed P-metric applications; 50,000 miles for listed LT-metric applications |
| Ecsta Sport / Ecsta Sport S | 30,000 miles on listed applications |
| HP71 EV / TA91 EV / TA31 EV | 50,000 miles on listed U.S. replacement applications |
Warranty terms can change, and original-equipment tires do not necessarily receive the same mileage benefits as replacement tires. Check the exact warranty attached to your tire model and purchase date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kumho Make Tires for Electric Vehicles?
Yes. Kumho sells EV-focused tires, and its U.S. warranty lineup includes models such as the HP71 EV, TA91 EV, and TA31 EV. EV tires may place extra emphasis on load capability, rolling resistance, wear, and noise, but you should still confirm that the exact size is approved for your vehicle.
Are Kumho Tires Suitable for Winter Driving?
Some are. Winter capability depends on the specific Kumho model. For areas with frequent snow and low temperatures, look for a winter or severe-snow-rated tire and check for the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake marking when that level of snow traction is required.
How Long Do Kumho Tires Typically Last?
There is no reliable single mileage figure for all Kumho tires. Current U.S. treadwear warranties on eligible replacement models range from roughly 30,000 to 75,000 miles, but a warranty mileage is not a guaranteed service life. Inflation, rotation, alignment, road conditions, driving style, and tire model all affect wear.
Do Kumho Tires Come With a Warranty?
Yes, but coverage depends on the tire and whether it is an original-equipment or replacement tire. Kumho’s U.S. warranty includes workmanship-and-material coverage, while qualifying replacement models may also have limited treadwear, road-hazard, or trial coverage. Check the terms for your exact model.
Are Kumho Tires Quieter Than Other Brands?
It depends on the model. Kumho offers touring and EV tires designed with noise and ride comfort in mind, while more aggressive performance or off-road tread patterns can produce more road noise. Compare model-specific tests rather than assuming every Kumho tire is quieter than a competing brand.
Is Kumho a Korean or Chinese Tire Company?
Kumho Tire Co., Inc. is a South Korean tire manufacturer headquartered in Gwangju. However, its ownership structure includes Chinese control: Xingwei Korea holds a 45% controlling stake, and a 2026 Korea Exchange filing identifies Doublestar Group Co., Ltd. as the ultimate controlling company.
Are Any Kumho Tires Made in the USA?
Yes. Kumho operates a passenger-tire manufacturing plant in Macon, Georgia. Not every Kumho tire sold in the United States is made there, however, because the company also supplies tires from factories in South Korea, China, and Vietnam.
Conclusion
Kumho tires are made by Kumho Tire Co., Inc., a South Korean manufacturer with more than six decades of tire-making history. Its established factory network spans South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the United States, including a passenger-tire plant in Macon, Georgia.
The ownership picture is more nuanced: Kumho remains the manufacturer, while Xingwei Korea holds the controlling 45% stake and Doublestar Group is identified as the ultimate controlling company. When deciding whether a Kumho tire is right for you, focus less on the brand name alone and more on the exact model, size, load and speed ratings, climate performance, warranty, and vehicle fitment.
Sources
- Kumho Tire — Company History — supports the company’s 1960 origin and historical development.
- Kumho Tire — Company Status and Corporate Locations — supports the published eight-plant network and plant locations.
- Korea Exchange — Kumho Tire 2026 Regulatory Filing — supports current headquarters, shareholding, and ultimate controlling-company information.
- Kumho Tire USA — Replacement Tire Warranty — supports current U.S. warranty terms and model-specific treadwear mileage.
- U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association — How a Tire Is Made — supports the general tire-manufacturing and inspection process.
- NHTSA TireWise — supports DOT/TIN date-code and tire-age guidance.
