Given
83%
while driving a
Citroën xsara picasso
(185/65 R15)
on
a combination of roads
for 2,500
average miles
I took a chance on some Kumho Solas 4S HA32 Plus tyres for here in England this year, as a mid-budget all season tyre with the 3 peaks symbol.
Don't confuse the Plus model with the previous HA32 model, these are a much improved design.
With all the snow, frost, and sub 5°c weather in England this 2024 to 2025 winter, my Kumhos been fantastic so far, irrespective of price.
As I don't have £600 to drop on tyres at a moments notice, I chose the Kumhos 4S HA32 Plus.
I had to get rubber fitted quickly, as I bought a car with four mismatched makes. I think there were two Runway branded on opposite corners of different types. Not ideal.
Road noise is acceptable, and a much lower pitch than the mismatched set was, making them similarly loud but masses less intrusive.
Cold and wet grip has been the biggest improvement, with junction traction being faultless despite all the oil and diesel rainbow soaked tarmac.
Fuel economy has dropped by perhaps 5%, but the much more comfortable, quiet, assured, and smooth performance of the Kumhos more than making up for that.
Dry weather braking and steering is reasonable, but these aren't high performance summer tyres, so feedback is muted but still present.
Mildly slippery mud and wet grass poses no issues for these tyres, where before I would have to be very careful where to park.
Aquaplaning has been genuinely eradicated for me. The steering never goes light, nor does the back end twitch in a deluge.
I had tracking, balancing, alignment, and new valve stems done when I had the Kumhos rubber fitted, and wear has been equal and minimal over the last 2500 miles.
These aren't the perfect tyres, but they offer everything a family car should need with good braking, acceleration, cornering, and performance in bad conditions.
