Kumho Crugen HP71 Tire Review and Rating

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Kumho Crugen HP71 Tire

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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

  • Plenty of size options to choose from
  • Quiet and refined driving experience
  • Excellent aquaplaning resistance
  • 65,000-mile treadwear warranty

Cons

  • Competitors have better performance on snow
  • I would have like to see a bit longer warranty

What are the features of the Kumho Crugen HP71?

Some may be surprised, but Kumho advertises the Crugen HP71 as a luxurious touring tire aimed at crossover, SUV, and light truck owners. The surprising part is aimed at the luxurious label, as most people look at Kumho as a budget-friendly brand.

Kumho Crugen HP71 Tire Review

The Crugen HP71 is an all-season tire where Kumho paid close attention to the comfort and noise levels and the wet performance.

Starting off with that, looking at the tread design, it is evident that it should perform well on wet surfaces. The tread design with deep sipes and 4 circumferential grooves are made to evacuate the water from beneath the tire. As a result, the blocks will be able to provide maximum traction at all times. 

Kumho also boasts the stability of the Crugen HP71, which is tanks to the 5 ribs combined with a wider center rib. The result should be a stable tire at any speed.

At the end of the day, the Crugen HP71 is a touring tire, so Kumho put everything into making it as comfortable and as quieter as possible. The tread compound is designed to be softer and improve comfort. As for noise, the variable pitch technology is there to help reduce noise even at higher speeds.

Handling is not too compromised thanks to the center rib and reinforced shoulder blocks. The combination should provide a decent driving experience. 

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

On dry tarmac, the Crugen HP71 behaves okay in terms of stability, while the handling characteristics are average. To be fair, these kinds of tires are not designed to be driven hard.

On the touring side of things, the Crugen HP71 delivers as promised. The widen center rib plus the 4 additional ribs and reinforced shoulder blocks are responsible for that. Thanks to them, the stability is excellent, and they work their magic to give the tire a bit more responsiveness.

When I say a bit more, I mean slightly more than what you’d get with most touring tires. The responsiveness is average, so you shouldn’t expect to take your truck racing. The main thing holding you back is that the car is not designed for that kind of driving.

Still, the Crugen HP71 will change direction on command, and you may struggle to feel what the tires are doing. The tire isn’t designed to be the most talkative, so your steering wheel will be numb in most cases.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

The wet performance on the Crugen HP71 is excellent, as most people would expect. Kumho put a lot of effort into making a decently performing tire, and the company nailed it.

One thing that is very important on a tire in wet conditions is the grooves and sipes. In the case of the Crugen HP71, they help keep the water away from the blocks resulting in excellent traction.

The tire feels perfectly stable in a straight line or the corners and has relatively short braking distances if you compare it with similar tires from its class. In wet conditions, the tire loses some of the responsiveness and levels of grip but remains very stable and safe to drive. You will feel in control at all times.

When it comes to aquaplaning, the Crugen HP71 gets very high scores in my book. The resistance levels are superb to a point where you may not even feel like you went through a patch of water.

How is it over snow?

The Crugen HP71 is just okay over snow, which I feel is one of the most significant drawbacks.

As an all-season tire, it has the okay-ish performance in light snow, which is what you’d get with any other tire on the market. You will start to notice some problems in heavier snow conditions. While the block design helps the Crugen HP71 bite down in the snow to find traction, it seems that it’s not enough.

On the ice, things are good enough, and you can get away with it. This is thanks to the rubber compound designed to work in freezing temperatures.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Yes, the Crugen HP71 is comfortable and refined, putting it at the top of its class. I may even say that it can trade blows with some of the more expensive models for comfort and noise.

Road imperfections and smaller holes will not be a problem. The combination of softer suspension on an SUV and the Crugen HP71 provides a very smooth ride. Bigger holes are noticeable, but the tire manages to soften them up.

Kumho’s variable pitch technology is what stands behind the low noise levels. The Crugen HP71 produces a specific frequency that cancels out the noise made from the tire. In other words, the tires are quiet even at highway speeds.

Is it good for off-roading?

When it comes to off-roading, the Crugen HP71 is not suitable for it. Even a crossover is capable of some light off-roading, but unfortunately, the tire is the weak link.

A short drive on a dirt road should be fine, but anything more is just asking too much from the tire. 

Should I buy the Kumho Crugen HP71?

Yes, I believe that you should buy the Crugen HP71 if you are looking for an excellent all-season tire with touring properties.

If you drive an SUV or a truck, having tires that offer razor-sharp steering and no sidewall flex is not on your mind. In every other aspect, the Crugen HP71 is an excellent choice.

Dry performance is excellent but far from the best. It has plenty of grip and stability for what the regular driver would need. In rainy conditions, the Crugen HP71 is equally impressive, offering decent traction and aquaplaning resistance.

One of the biggest complaints I have is the snow performance. In light snow conditions, it okay, but more than that, and the tire will struggle. 

Kumho Crugen HP71Warranty

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, touring tires should have a longer treadwear warranty. On the other hand, affordable tires cannot compete with premium brands in terms of numbers.

Kumho offers a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty for the Crugen HP71. It’s not too bad, but I would have like to see a bit more. 

Is the Kumho Crugen HP71 ideal for sporty driving?

Kumho didn’t design the Crugen HP71 for sporty driving, so the tire isn’t ideal for it.

The tire will provide you with the performance you need for everyday use, but anything more than that and things won’t go as you want them to.

The Crugen HP71 will lose traction if you try to be more aggressive, and hard cornering will lead to sidewall flexing.

Sporty driving requires a tire that can offer plenty of feedback and be responsive and agile. The Crugen HP71 is none of these things, and I don’t recommend it for sporty driving.

Kumho Crugen HP71 Pricing: Is it worth the money?

The Crugen HP71 is worth the money, but it may not be the first choice for some people.

With a price range of $100 to $200, it’s a tire that has plenty of value, and for some people, that may be enough. Dry and wet performance is excellent, just as is the comfort and noise levels. The area where the Crugen HP71 falls short is the performance on snow. In lighter conditions, it will be fine, but not in heavier ones.

If you live in an area where it doesn’t snow as often, then the Crugen HP71 is a perfect tire. If there is snow, you can either get dedicated winter tires or look for all-season tires with better snow performance.

Conclusion

I can look for faults, but at the end of the day, the Crugen HP71 remains an excellent tire. An all-season touring tire capable of providing exceptional performance at a reasonably affordable price.

With decent performance on dry and wet roads, the Crugen HP71 is a tire that will fit most people’s needs. Add the comfort, stability, and low noise into the mix, and everything is perfect, right?

Unfortunately, no. While it excels in those areas, the Crugen HP71 falls short in snowy conditions. It will be fine in light snow, as the tread design can dig in to find traction; heavy and packed snow will be a problem.

What Vehicles Will the Kumho Crugen HP71 Fit?

  • Audi Q7
  • Cadillac Escalade
  • Dodge Durango
  • Ford Escape, Explorer
  • Honda CR-V
  • Hyundai Sante Fe
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee
  • Kia Sorento
  • Mazda CX-3
  • Toyota Rav4
  • Volkswagen Atlas

I know that these are only a handful of models, but they are to give you an idea of which models can drive on the Crugen HP71

Tire Sizes for Kumho Crugen HP71

16″

  • 215/70R16
  • 225/70R16
  • 235/70R16
  • 245/70R16
  • 255/65R16

17″

  • 225/60R17
  • 225/65R17
  • 235/55R17
  • 235/60R17
  • 235/65R17
  • 245/65R17
  • 265/60R17

18″

  • 215/55R18
  • 225/55R18
  • 225/60R18
  • 235/50R18
  • 235/55R18
  • 235/60R18
  • 235/65R18
  • 245/60R18
  • 255/55R18
  • 255/60R18
  • 265/60R18

19″

  • 225/55R19
  • 235/45R19
  • 235/50R19
  • 235/55R19
  • 245/45R19
  • 245/55R19
  • 255/50R19
  • 255/55R19
  • 255/60R19
  • 275/55R19

20″

  • 235/55R20
  • 245/50R20
  • 245/60R20
  • 255/45R20
  • 255/50R20
  • 255/55R20
  • 265/45R20
  • 265/50R20
  • 275/40R20
  • 275/45R20
  • 275/50R20
  • 275/55R20
  • 275/60R20
  • 285/50R20

22″

  • 265/35R22
  • 265/40R22
  • 275/45R22
  • 275/50R22
  • 285/35R22
  • 285/45R22
  • 305/40R22

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