VE + Kumho KU19 OR Kumho KU31

[Andrew_Guppz]

Hi Guys,

Got some Tyres put on today on my VE (245/45/R18 is the Tyre size).
Anyway when i picked it up i realized they put KU19's on instead of KU31's.

I can get both Tyres at the same price. So my question is which are better?. Anyone had these on there VE?. I have to decide by Friday whether or not i want to swap them or not the KU19's seem ok but they look a bit chunky on the car that's all.

I realize there are already lots of threads on tyres but none gave me a answer.

Thanks!.

[TinSnips]

KU31s are fine. Not exceptional, but I'd say as good as the OE bridgestones, though have a slightly softer sidewall. Quite grippy, but not the stickiest tyre on the market. Definitely a decent tyre though. I would have said I'd buy them again, but having now bought Falken FK452s, I wouldn't.

[mitchelljdunne]

Tinny what are the falkens worth? And where the best place to buy them from?

[SV6.07]

Kumho KU19 i have these tyres on my 20" supersports and there fine and had no trouble in wet weather with them.

[Andrew_Guppz]

Thanks tinny and others but my question is are ku19's as Good as ku31? They put ku19's on.

[benji09ssv]

I have have ku19 on the front and the ku31 on the back and I have noticed no difference. I know it's hard to compare since ones on the back and the others are on the front. The only difference is the look as far as I'm concerned

[Andrew_Guppz]

Thanks benji which ones look better? I think the ku19s look a bit chunky?

[brgsv6]

The difference between a 19 and a 31 will hardly be noticeable on the roads, if at all. Kuhmo don't exactly made crap tyres so you couldn't really go wrong with either. I'm getting ku19's soon. Had the 31's on my last car, they're directional the 19's aren't.

[Andrew_Guppz]

So why are you going to the 19's , i dont know much about tyres sorry.

[Andrew_Guppz]

Also what km did you get out of the 31s i got about 40,000 out of my old 19's

[UFO]

PCR / UHP

Going by the above website info, I'd pick the 31's anyday over the 19's.
Why?

Because the 31's are decidedly more sports orientated. Look at the tread patterns. The 19's are an economy tyre, with a symetric tread pattern (more in line with cheaper economy tyres, allows you to rotate tyres front to back and side to side)... while the 31's are directional with a much more aggressive tread pattern (but arent able to be swapped from side to side upon rotation). They are probably noiser, but if you give me the choice between these two tyres the choice is easy. And just quietly, I think the 31's would be a more expensive tyre (regardless of what the salesman has already told you).

It really depends on what you are looking for. The 19's are more than likely a harder compound to give better wear, but when I'm looking for tyres I look to performance characteristics first, then economy. I figure its only a few inches of contact patch between you and road, and I skimping on tyres is something I prefer not to do. I'll go a softer compound and get less wear, but get much better performance. It could be all the difference one day between losing it and not losing it in an emergency brake/corner. It's why I'd agree with Tinsnips completely and go for the Falken 452's outright, but I know this isnt the question you are asking.

But again, no way the above tyres are in the same class. One's a sports tyre, ones an economy tyre. Your choice should come down to what you want out of your tyres.... economy or performance.

[bladerunner]

dont know what the ku19 is like when it wears but the ku31's howl like a drunken dog when they start to wear,i'm looking elsewhere when i replace them, good grippy tyre but noisey as buggery but ive got about 30thou out of them so far with some good tread still left. not a fan of the falkens either. was thinking of giving hankook's ventus sport a go next time but ufo is right as far as directionals go, its a compromise between grip vs wear vs noise, what you prefer and are prepared to put up with

[davey g-force]

Agreed - KU31's are a great tyre except for the noise when they start to wear. Mine are at about 80% tread and they're already doing it.

[brgsv6]

Also what km did you get out of the 31s i got about 40,000 out of my old 19's

Dunno mate sorry I sold the car after they were on it for 2000 k's

[Andrew_Guppz]

Thanks for the reply everyone, I think ill stick with the KU19's and see if they can give me them a bit cheaper seems there not what i asked for. I don't like the sound of the KU31's if they are going to be noisy.

[UFO]

I'm sure everything is ok, but one important thing I forgot to mention was load rating. Make sure the 19's are appropriately rated, because they appear to have size availabilities that slant towards smaller cars.

[HSV085]

I have the Ku31's on mine and at first i was abit hesitant coming from the factory bridgestone's, but bang for buck they're are a very good tyre in both dry & wet conditions and handles corners very well too.

[bonners]

I have been using KU31's for about 2 years now. I am my second set simply because I sold my last set when I sold my GTS rims.

I had the bridgestone RE050A's on my car and when two failed and I tried to replace them, I was confronted with a $1900 bil for the two tyres. Thats right, $875/tyre. So I looked elsewhere. The Kumhos are great. They are not perfect but at less than $250 a tyre, even in my staggered fitment I cant complain. Are they as good as the Bridgey's? No. But neither are they $600 worst.

I'll put them on again

[TinSnips]

I never found the KU31s to be noisy at all. Quite the opposite in fact. They were quieter than the OE.

I've never owned a car with KU19s, but I did have a loan car from holden for a while that used them - they were shit. My understanding, like UFO said, is they're an eco tyre - like the toyo eco's, Falken everything except the FK452s (which is the only falken tyre I would buy), etc. They're not a sticky tyre in my experience. I would run with the KU31s over them any day!

[Andrew_Guppz]

Thanks everyone i ended up getting the ku31's for less than 230 a tyre inc fitting and alignment, happy With them so far!