Driving Excellence
Kumho Tires (CEO Kim Chang-kyu) announced that the company will supply OE tires for the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR. Dodge is a brand of the global automotive company Fiat - Chrysler Automobiles Group (FCA).
The Dodge Viper is a sports car with the largest engine displacement (8,400cc). Dodge Viper set a record as the fastest car at Germany’s Nurburgring competition, overtaking European fast cars. The recently rolled out Dodge Viper ACR(2016) is the fastest model of all Viper models.
[[{"fid":"12161","view_mode":"body_image_right","fields":{"format":"body_image_right","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Dodge Viper uses Kumho’s ECSTA V720.","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Dodge Viper uses Kumho’s ECSTA V720.","height":799,"width":550,"class":"media-element file-body-image-right"},"link_text":null}]]Selected as the exclusive partner by Chrysler in 2014, Kumho Tire developed high performance tires and subsequently received approval by Chrysler. Beginning this month, the company started to supply tires to the Chrysler. The 2016 Dodge Viper is going to be equipped with Ecsta V720 295 (25ZR19 on the front and 355 / 30ZR19 on the rear).
The Ecsta V720 is optimized for turning. Made of rubber that has good grafting, Ecsta V720 is specialized in racing. For driving stability, the tire has increased stiffness on the surface. The Ecsta V720 is designed to maximize the contact area during cornering. The Ecsta features the application of an asymmetrical technique to enhance driving stability. The ACR logo and Viper snake pattern are intended to highlight the uniqueness of the design.
The 2016 Dodge Viper ACR is produced at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit, U.S., and the tires produced by the Kumho Tires plant in Gwangju are supplied to Detroit. Kim Hyun-ho, the managing director of technology development of OE, said, “That Kumho can supply OE for the Dodge Viper is a feat … It is also a sign that Kumho’s technologies are recognized by the high-performance sports car market ... The feat is more meaningful to Kumho given that the Ecsta V720 used the technologies that are accumulated through motor sports activities that Kumho has been involved with both at home and abroad.”
Since Kumho Tires signed a contract with Chrysler in 2006, the company has supplied tires for the Chrysler 200, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Compass, and the Dodge Journey.