Kumho Crugen HT51 Tire Review

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‍About the Kumho Crugen HT51

Launched in 2016, the Kumho Crugen HT51 is an all-season highway tire, designed for drivers of SUVs, vans, crossovers, and light-duty trucks.

It’s a popular tire in its category, due to its premium performance yet it's reasonably priced.

According to drivers who have used this tire, it delivers outstanding performance in a wide range of conditions, while offering a comfortable and refined ride as well as long tread life.

It’s available in a vast selection of sizes, ranging between 15 inches and 20 inches. Therefore, it can fit a wide range of vehicles, both domestic and imported.

Design Features and Technologies

Kumho has equipped this tire with numerous great features and technologies, to ensure it can handle a wide range of all-season duties while remaining durable and tough.

All-Season Tread Compound

First, Kumho has outfitted this tire with an all-season tread compound, which has been formed into an asymmetric tread pattern.

This tread pattern features an optimized block layout, designed to deliver long-lasting performance as well as longer tread life.

Its tread also features a five-rib tread pattern, which promotes straight-line tracking, a feature that is highly important when it comes to highway tires.

At the same time, the tread’s four wide circumferential grooves help to channel water away from the tire’s surface. And this helps to prevent hydroplaning, thus enhancing its traction and grip in wet conditions.

3D Zig-zag Siping

Similar to other tires in its category, the Crugen HT51 also features 3D zigzag sipes, which provide extra biting edges, especially when driving in snowy conditions.

The Kumho Crugen HT51 also features a 3PMSF symbol or three-peak mountain snowflake, a designation that shows the tire has been approved for heavy snowy conditions.

Most of the all-season tires you will find on the market only feature the M+S symbol, meaning they are not equipped for driving in heavy snow.

But with the Kumho Crugen HT51, you are getting a tire that can handle mud, snow, rainy conditions, ice and other challenging conditions.

Sturdy Internal Construction

Tires are not cheap to replace. So, when it’s time to purchase a new set of tires, you want something that can last for long.

Fortunately, the Kumho Crugen HT51 is engineered for durability. It comes with a sturdy and reinforced internal construction, which helps to improve its durability.

And apart from enhancing its durability, its robust internal construction helps to improve the tire’s highway stability, ride quality as well as handling.

Performance in Dry Conditions

The Kumho Crugen HT51 is not an ultra-performance tire. So, if you are expecting it to perform like a sporty tire, then you will be disappointed.

Having said that, its traction, handling and steering responsiveness on dry roads is adequate for the daily driver.

Drivers who have used this tire also agree that its straight-line tracking and stability are excellent, even when undertaking sudden changes of direction.

While it may not be the best highway tire on the market, its overall performance in these conditions is impressive.

Most of the tires that perform better than Kumho Crugen HT51 on the highway come with a higher price tag.

So, if you drive a pickup, an SUV, a van, a minivan or crossover, the Kumho Crugen HT51 will be an ideal choice for highway driving.

Performance in Wet and Slippery Conditions

One of the areas where this tire outperforms most of its all-season counterparts is wet and slippery conditions.

And this can be attributed to its wide circumferential grooves and the zigzag sipes on its entire tread.

These two features work together to provide reliable traction and grip in wet and slippery conditions.

Therefore, in case you encounter adverse conditions, you are assured of a safe driving experience, as long as you have equipped your truck or SUV with a set of this tire.  

Performance in Ice and Snow

As mentioned earlier, the Kumho Crugen HT51 comes with the 3PMSF (three-peak mountain snowflake) symbol, meaning it has been approved to be used in heavy snow.

But does it deliver on that front? Well, based on reviews from drivers who have used this tire, it delivers adequate traction in snowy conditions.

However, it’s important to note that this tire is not engineered for heavy wintry conditions.

While it may deliver adequate traction for snow driving, it cannot match the performance of a dedicated winter or snow tire.

So, if you live in an area that experiences severe and extended winters or heavy snowing, then you have no other choice but to buy a dedicated winter tire.

Off-Road Driving Performance

The Kumho Crugen HT51 is more of a blend between an all-terrain tire and a highway-terrain tire.

And as you may expect, it will offer great performance when it comes to mild off-road driving. Hence, in case you encounter dirt roads or loose gravel, its performance will be more than adequate.

However, it’s not equipped to handle aggressive or rugged off-road conditions. So, if you will be going for off-road expeditions frequently, then the Kumho Crugen HT51 may not be the best choice.

Ride Quality

While the Kumho Crugen HT51 may sport rugged looks, you will be surprised by its comfort levels and refinement.

Whether you are driving at highway speeds or you are just driving around in the city, this tire rolls smoothly and comfortably.

It’s one of the most comfortable and refined tires in its category. Even when you encounter potholes and bumps, this tire will absorb and glide over them effortlessly, as if they are not there.

And unlike other all-season tires that tend to be noisy on the highway, the Kumho Crugen HT51 roll silently, even as the speed rises.

With the Kumho Crugen HT51, you are getting a tire that delivers a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride, making it ideal for everyday urban commutes.

Warranties and Guarantees

Kumho backs its tires with solid warranties and guarantees. These warranties are designed to ensure the buyer gets value for their money.

And the Kumho Crugen HT51 is no exception. It’s backed by 3 key warranties.

These are the workmanship and materials warranty, the limited treadwear warranty and the road hazard warranty

Workmanship and Materials Warranty

Kumho offers to replace your Kumho Crugen HT51 tire if it becomes unserviceable or unusable due to a condition or defect related to workmanship and materials.

Coverage under this warranty extends for 6 years from the tire’s date of purchase.

For the replacement, you will either get a free tire or pro-rated credit towards the tire’s replacement, depending on when the tire becomes unserviceable.

If your Kumho Crugen HT51 tire becomes unserviceable during its first 2/32-inch of original usable tread, you will be eligible for a free tire replacement with a comparable new tire.

You will be responsible for mounting and balancing charges as well as applicable taxes and related service charges.

If the tire becomes unserviceable after its first 2/32-inch of its original usable tread, then the replacement will be done on a prorated adjustment basis.

For the prorated adjustment, you will get a credit, which will be applied when you are replacing your Kumho Crugen HT51 tires.

The amount of credit you will get is obtained by multiplying the percentage of the remaining usable tread on the tire by the dealer’s current selling price.

You will also be responsible for mounting and balancing charges as well as applicable taxes and other service charges.

Limited Treadwear Warranty

As noted above, the Kumho Crugen HT51 is also backed by a limited treadwear warranty.

The warranted mileage will depend on the tire type you purchase. For instance, the Kumho Crugen HT51 P-metric comes with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty while the LT-metric comes with a 45,000-mile warranty.

Under this warranty, if your Kumho Crugen HT51 fails to achieve the warranted mileage, then Kumho offers to replace it with a comparable new one.

So, if your Kumho Crugen HT51 wears down to its tread wear indicators and it has not delivered the warranted miles, then it’s eligible for replacement.

You should note that all replacements under this warranty are strictly done on a pro-rata basis.

The pro-rated credit is obtained by multiplying the percentage of the warranted miles the tire has failed to deliver by the tire’s current selling price.

And if your vehicle has different wheel sizes, then the warranted mileage will be half for each type of tire.

In this case, the P-metric tire will be covered for only 35,000 miles with the LT-metric one covered for 22,500 miles only.

Coverage under the limited treadwear warranty extends for 6 months from the date of purchase. Kumho Crugen HT51 tires sold as OE are not eligible for this warranty.

Road Hazard Warranty

Similar to other tires from this brand, the Kumho Crugen HT51 is also backed by a road hazard warranty.

Under this warranty, Kumho offers to replace your Crugen HT51 tire if it’s damaged beyond repair by normal road hazard conditions such as punctures, cuts, impact breaks and snags.

The tire will only be replaced during its first 2/32-inch of original usable tread. Coverage under the road hazard warranty extends for 12 months from the tire’s purchase date.

You will be required to produce the tire’s original invoice. Crugen HT51 tires sold as original equipment don’t qualify for this warranty.

Warranty Exclusions

While it’s your right to get a tire replacement if your Crugen HT51 wears out prematurely or becomes unserviceable due to a workmanship or materials condition, Kumho will not replace all tires.

For instance, tire damage or premature wear caused by improper tire use, severe under-inflation, improper repairs, vehicle mechanical irregularity, and failure to rotate the tire accordingly are not eligible, regardless of when the damage occurs.

Also, tires used in racing-related events or those damaged by weather elements, corrosion, acts of vandalism or tires that have been modified in any way will not be replaced.

Sizes and Compatibility

Kumho produces the Crugen HT51 in several sizes, ranging between 15 inches and 16 inches. This tire can fit several types of SUVs and trucks such as:

• Honda Ridgeline, CR-V, Fit, Odyssey, Insight, Pilot and Element
• Chevrolet Suburban, Avalanche, Tahoe, Equinox, Trailblazer, Silverado, K2500, Captiva Sport, S10, Blazer, Express, Traverse and Colorado
• Ford Explorer, Bronco, F-150, Escape, Edge, F-250, F-350, Ranger, Flex, Fiesta, Taurus, and Expedition
• Hyundai Santa Fe, Veracruz, Palisade and Santa Fe Sport
•  Jeep Liberty, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee
• Kia Sportage, Sorento, Telluride and Sedona
•  Dodge Dakota, Ram, Journey, Grand Caravan and Durango
• Nissan Pathfinder, Xterra, Titan and Frontier
• Infiniti F series and Q series
• Mercury Mountaineer and Mariner
• Toyota Highlander, Tacoma, Sequoia, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, and Tundra
• GMC Canyon, Terrain, Sierra and Yukon
•  Mitsubishi Montero, Endeavor, Outlander and EclipseCross
• Mazda B4000, CX-9, CX-5, Tribute and CX-30
• Isuzu Trooper

The above list doesn’t feature all the vehicles that this tire can fit.

So, if you drive a truck, SUV, crossover, van or minivan and your vehicle is not on the list, you can confirm with your local tire dealer whether this tire is compatible.

Kumho Crugen HT51 Price

If you opt to mount this tire on your vehicle, you are going to spend approximately $105 to $227.

And this translates to around $400 to $900 for a set of four tires. The actual cost of the tire will depend on your vehicle’s wheel size.

Kumho Crugen HT51 Pros

• Outstanding wet and dry performance
• Impressive traction on light snowy roads
• Quiet, comfortable and refined ride
• Durable tread compound

Kumho Crugen HT51 Cons

• Average handling

Our Take

The Kumho Crugen HT51 impresses in almost all areas. It delivers an outstanding highway performance, decent traction on slippery roads, as well as adequate grip on roads with lighter snow.

It also provides a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride, regardless of the road surface or weather conditions.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly all-season tire that blends impressive highway terrain performance with decent off-road capabilities, you can’t go wrong with the Crugen HT51.