Kumho Crugen HT51 Tire Review and Rating

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Kumho Crugen HT51

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Dry
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Wet
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Snow
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Comfort
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Noise
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Treadwear
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Pros

  • Comfortable around town and on the highway
  • Quiet in almost every scenario
  • Stable even at higher speeds
  • Up to 70,000-mile treadwear warranty

Cons

  • I would like to see a bit better performance in dry and wet conditions
  • It can struggle a bit in deeper snow

What are the features of the Kumho Crugen HT51?

Kumho is a tire brand that is known to surprise with a model. When I say surprise, I mean in a way that the brand designs a model that has a lot to offer without costing you too much.

One such tire is the Crugen HT51 – an all-season touring tire aimed at crossover, SUV, and light truck owners.

Kumho Crugen HT51 Tire Review

To provide all-season performance, Kumho designed the Crugen HT51 with a rubber compound capable of working optimally in multiple weather conditions.

As a touring tire, stability is essential, so Kumho made the tread with 5 ribs and a stiffer central block. The tread design and the combination of the 4 wide circumferential grooves and zig-zag sipes should help in wet conditions.

In addition to that, the 3D sipes are also designed to help in snowy conditions. As a bonus, the Crugen HT51 has a 3PMSF rating, meaning that it should fair well even in deeper snow, unlike the regular M+S rating. 

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

The Crugen HT51 behaves decently on dry tarmac, as long as you keep in mind what the tire is designed for.

Since it’s a touring tire, the spotlight falls on the stability at higher speeds. Kumho nailed the design, and the ribs and the center block work together to provide excellent performance on the highway. It takes a lot to unsettle this tire, which is my highest praise. To be honest, it is aimed mainly at SUVs and crossovers, so it’s not the best you can find, but it’s near the top.

As for cornering and grip, well, that’s a different story. The Crugen HT51 is a tire designed for SUVs or crossovers, vehicles that are not intended to be driven hard. It means that the handling characteristics are as you’d expect from a touring tire. 

The steering inputs are not very direct, and it feels a bit muted. Again, this is not a tire that you’ll be taking down a twisty road, so it’s not a huge drawback. In terms of traction, I wouldn’t compare the Crugen HT51 with a performance-oriented tire, but it’s decent as long as you don’t push it too far.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

On wet and slippery roads, the Crugen HT51 behaves well enough to be safe to drive. To be fair, the tire isn’t too bad, but don’t expect it to perform like some summer tires.

The tread design with the grooves and sipes is excellent for aquaplaning resistance, an important aspect when driving on the highway. It helps channel the water away from the blocks enabling the Crugen HT51 always to have the maximum grip.

Since it’s an all-season tire, the rubber compound is designed to work in lower temperatures. With that, you get a decent amount of grip in the corners, but the responsiveness and numbness are still there. For people that aren’t into that kind of driving, this will not be a problem; it’s just something to keep in mind.

When you combine the grip, stability, and braking distances, the Crugen HT51 is not a bad tire. I wouldn’t classify it as the best, but it’s safe enough for your SUV or truck.

How is it over snow?

In snowy conditions, the Crugen HT51 is good, thanks to the 3PMSF rating. 3PMSF or Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake is a tire rating which means that even heavier snow will not be a problem. In the case of this tire, that is true but only to a point. 

In general, all-season tires can be driven in light snow conditions but not in heavier ones. The Crugen HT51 is suitable in light and even heavier snow, thanks to its rating. The handling and grip are as you’d expect from this kind of tire, and there’s not much to talk about.

While it is drivable on snow, it’s not a tire that can replace dedicated winter tires, and I expected a bit more out of a 3PMSF rated tire.

On icy surfaces, things are not different. It’s okay but far from class-leading. 

Is it comfortable and refined?

In terms of comfort and refinement, the Crugen HT51 is one of the best in its class.

The tire itself offers excellent levels of comfort, regardless if you are driving slowly around town or on the highway. When you combine it with a softer suspension you’ll find on most SUVs, you have the perfect recipe for a very comfortable experience. Smaller holes of road imperfections will be smoothed out, and even though potholed or speedbumps will be felt, the tire will soften the blow.

When we reach the noise levels, things are even better. The Crugen HT51 is one of the quietest tires in this category, to a point where you won’t hear it. It’s not whisper quiet, but engine and wind noise will down it out. 

Is it good for off-roading?

The Crugen HT51 is not ideal for off-roading scenarios. All-season touring tires are designed for optimal performance on paved surfaces. Even though it’s a tire that you’d fit on an SUV or a truck, off-roading is not its forte.

With that said, the vehicle’s ground clearance means that you can do some light off-roading with decent-ish performance. Dirt roads and a bit of mud won’t be a problem, and anything more than that should be avoided.

Is the Kumho Crugen HT51 ideal for sporty driving?

The Crugen HT51 is not ideal for sporty driving, something I already mentioned in the previous sections.

In normal driving conditions, the performance is good enough to provide safe driving. When you push the tire too hard, things go downhill. While the grip is decent, the Crugen HT51 will break traction because it’s not designed with sporty driving in mind.

On top of that, the responsiveness isn’t as sharp, and you can feel the tire’s sidewall flexing under hard cornering. Speaking of feel, the Crugen HT51 doesn’t talk too much, and you get almost no feedback through the steering wheel.

Should I buy the Kumho Crugen HT51?

People that want a good set of all-season touring tires for their SUV or crossover should buy the Kumho Crugen HT51.

Kumho packed the tire with plenty of technology that gives it comfort and longevity. Regardless of the speed, the tires will remain relatively quiet and provide excellent comfort.

Being an all-season tire, Kumho designed the Crugen HT51 with a rubber compound that can function adequately in multiple weather conditions. Excellent stability at higher speeds, aquaplaning resistance combined with decent levels of grip are the thing that makes this tire great. The 3PMSF rating means that even deeper snow will not be a problem, and you may even do some very light off-road.

Some may argue that the Crugen HT51 is not the best when pushed hard, and they’ll be right. It breaks traction quite sooner than some performance-oriented models, and the sidewall flexes when you corner hard. All of this is quite normal for a touring tire, and this is an excellent choice if comfort and longevity are what you have in mind.

Kumho Crugen HT51 Warranty

Touring tires are known for having a long treadwear warranty, meaning you are getting a longer-lasting tire.

Kumho sells the Crugen HT51 with a 70,000-mile warranty for P-metric models, while the LT ones have 45,000.

Considering that it’s a budget-oriented tire, the warranty length is excellent.

Kumho Crugen HT51 Pricing: Is it worth the money?

I must say that the Crugen HT51 is definitely worth the money. An all-season touring tire for trucks and SUVs that starts from around $90 is a tough combination to beat.

Put the longevity and the comfort into the mix, and you have the almost perfect mix. I say that it’s not the perfect mix because I would have liked to see a slightly better dry performance. I know that SUVs and trucks are not made to be driven hard, but I wouldn’t mind a better performing tire in terms of that

Conclusion

One thing to know is that you won’t find a perfect tire, that’s the fact. Some tires are oriented towards performance, while others for comfort and longevity. The Crugen HT51 falls in the second category.

Kumho managed to design a comfortable and quiet tire that can last for years. With decent performance throughout all seasons, the Crugen HT51 is a tire you won’t need to replace every time the weather changes.

Performance-oriented driving is off the table, mainly because this is a tire that you’ll be putting on a truck or an SUV. 

What Vehicles Will the Kumho Crugen HT51 Fit?

  • Chevrolet Silverado, Avalanche, S10, Suburban, K2500, Colorado, Blazer
  • Dodge Ram, Dakota, Durango
  • Ford Expedition, Ranger, Bronco, F-150, Explorer
  • GMC Yukon, Sierra, Canyon
  • Honda Element, CR-V, Ridgeline
  • Isuzu Trooper
  • Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Liberty
  • Mazda B4000
  • Mercury Mountaineer
  • Mitsubishi Montero
  • Nissan Titan, Xterra, Frontier, Pathfinder
  • Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, FJ Cruiser, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, Highlander 

The list above is quite extensive, but despite that, there are plenty of other models where you can fit the Crugen HT51.

Tire Sizes for Kumho Crugen HT51

15″

  • P235/70R15
  • P235/75R15
  • LT235/75R15

16″

  • P215/70R16
  • LT215/85R16
  • LT225/75R16
  • P225/75R16
  • 235/70R16
  • P235/75R16
  • LT235/85R16
  • 245/70R16
  • P245/75R16
  • LT245/75R16
  • P255/70R16
  • 265/70R16
  • P265/75R16
  • LT265/75R16

17″

  • 235/70R17
  • LT235/80R17
  • 245/65R17
  • 245/70R17
  • LT245/70R17
  • LT245/75R17
  • 265/65R17
  • P265/70R17
  • LT265/70R17

18″

  • P255/70R18
  • P265/60R18
  • P265/65R18
  • P265/70R18
  • P275/65R18
  • LT275/65R18
  • LT275/70R18

20″

  • P275/55R20
  • P275/60R20

2 Comments

  1. Kumho Crugen HT51 is a good tire. It has a five-rib asymmetric tread design that provides straight-line stability, increased dry grip, and durability, which is stylized with four wide for a better grip on water and snow.

  2. Kumho Crugen HT51 is a good tire with a low-cost choice that can deliver highway stability, all-season traction, and durability that is close to what premium tires can offer.

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