Kumho Solus KL21 Review: Does this tire fit your vehicle?

The Kumho Solus KL21 is a premium touring tire for all-season driving. It remains a good choice for small crossover vehicles, SUVs, and even pickup trucks. The automotive world is currently dominated by larger sport-utility vehicles or sedan-based crossovers. Kumho is targeting this rising market with the Solus KL21. 

But the Solus KL21 is not alone. Kumho is also offering the Crugen Premium KL33. Both tires have the same capabilities in terms of all-weather traction and highway comfort. But the Crugen Premium KL33 has a more rugged symmetrical tread design. And while the Solus KL21 is more oriented towards highway and street driving, the Crugen Premium KL33 can take you farther when the pavement turns to loose gravel, mud, snow, or sand.

We’re not saying the Kumho Solus KL21 is inferior. In fact, it is a true premium touring tire that delivers higher levels of comfort and refinement. It will all depend on what you need in a set of tires along with your driving habits. 

If your SUV or truck is consistently driven over varying degrees of road surfaces, the Kumho Crugen Premium KL33 is a more solid choice. But if your truck or crossover is a city dweller, you are better off with the Kumho Solus KL21.

In this review, you will learn more about the Kumho Solus KL21. You will also determine if this tire is an exact fit to your vehicle. 

What are the features of the Kumho Solus KL21?

The Kumho Solus KL21 is engineered to deliver all-season traction and a quiet ride. It is constructed using Kumho’s unique HDS or High-Dispersible Silica tread compound. It is formulated to add strength to the rubber while reducing rolling resistance. The result is a tough and capable SUV tire that delivers excellent fuel mileage without compromising all-weather traction. 

The tire features twin high-tensile steel belts for maximum toughness. The belts are further reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon for a more robust and durable construction. The high-intensity body ply is designed to reduce heat as the tire rolls on the pavement.

On the outside, the Kumho Solus KL21 is just as impressive. It is equipped with a bamboo-inspired symmetrical tread design. The tire also comes with dynamic serrations and sipes to offer more grip while the five dynamic pitch pattern of the treads will cancel road noise and promote even tire wear. 

What vehicles are applicable to the Kumho Solus KL21?

The Kumho Solus KL21 is sold in 17” to 20” diameters. This makes it applicable for a wide array of import and domestic crossovers and SUVs like the Ford Edge, BMW X3, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Toyota Highlander, Buick Enclave, and Subaru Ascent. 

This tire is also applicable to pickup trucks such as the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Ridgeline. 

How does the tire perform in dry and wet roads?

The Kumho Solus KL21 is not a performance-oriented tire. Even though the tread design might look more aggressive than other touring tires, it is primarily geared towards all-season driving on smooth pavement. It does not offer the grip of a performance touring tire, but it excels in providing highway comfort and a smooth ride. 

The tire also performs well in the wet. The stiffer shoulders offer added stability and control when traveling at higher speeds. The dynamic serrations and sipes on the tire ensures optimal traction on slippery roads. It can even offer more traction over light snow, but that’s about it. If you live in places with heavy snowfall, you should consider upgrading to a chunkier set of all-terrain tires.

Is it really quiet and comfortable on the highway?

Yes, the Kumho Solus KL21 is a smooth performer. It delivers dollops of comfort for a smooth and unperturbed driving experience. The tire can also muffle the loud bumps caused by road undulations and potholes. It can even absorb more road shock to further enhance the NVH tuning of your ride.

But the most impressive thing about the Kumho Solus KL21 is the road silence. At slow to moderate speeds, the tire remains quiet and composed. Upon reaching the upper limits of the speedometer, the tire has a tendency to emit a more audible roar, but this is par for the course. If you drive sensibly, the tire won’t fail to impress with its superior comfort and quietness. 

How about tire wear?

Due to the low-rolling resistance of the tread compound, the Kumho Solus KL21 is meant to deliver longer mileage with lower wear. But this is all relative. It will depend on your driving habits and type of vehicle. If you do a lot of fast driving, the tire tires will wear out faster than the norm. I have seen reports where the tire is touted to only last 20,000 miles when fitted to a pickup truck, but the owner admits he carries a lot of stuff in the bed on a daily basis.

Again, if you drive sensibly the Kumho Solus KL21 will deliver longer mileage. After all, we’re talking about a premium touring tire here, right? But for moderately sporty driving or medium—duty towing, you can expect the tires to wear faster than expected.

Can the Kumho Solus KL21 handle some off-road driving?

If by off-road you mean driving over grassy terrain, loose gravel, and light sand, the Kumho Solus KL21 is more than willing to oblige. But if you mean driving over adverse and loose terrain with deep mud, this is not the tire for you. The same holds true in deep snow and thick ice.

You can see more Kumho Solus KL21 Review here: videos created by Kumho Tire Training

Should I buy the Kumho Solus KL21?

The great thing about the Kumho Solus KL21 is the price. It is not as cheap as Chinese-made tires, but it undercuts popular tire brands by hundreds of dollars per set. This is an excellent choice if you need a quality set of SUV tires that won’t break the bank.