Kumho Solus TA51a vs Cooper ProControl tires

The South Korean tire giant Kumho was founded in 1960 and is among the reliable OE tire suppliers for many top-tier vehicle manufacturers in the world. The tire brand caters to the needs of passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, EVs, and commercial vehicles. Its portfolio consists of all-season, all-weather, UHP summer, UHP all-season, rugged-terrain, mud-terrain, performance, winter, and highway tires.

Coming from Kumho, the Solus TA51a is one of the highly capable all-season tire chosen for the comparison here. The tire perfectly matches the needs of drivers who want to experience quieter, vibration-free rides throughout the year. Plus, it is great in terms of handling, longevity, and in many other areas.

Cooper is a renowned brand in the US and has been manufacturing tires since 1914. The tire brand makes tires suitable for use on passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, and commercial vehicles. Cooper’s portfolio includes all-season, winter, all-terrain, all-weather, mud-terrain, rugged-terrain, UHP summer, UHP all-season, highway, and performance tires.

Coming from Cooper is the ProControl, which made its debut in May 2023 and is a competitive all-season tire chosen for the comparison here as the second choice and is optimized for seamless handling, strong year-round traction, and long-lasting tread life.

Both the Kumho Solus TA51a and the Cooper ProControl tires are engineered for year-round use in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. The advantage these tires offer is that they don’t have to be swapped with another set of tires with the change in season.

If you are planning to buy a set of tires with year-round usability with an addition of ride comfort, traction, grip, and much more, this Solus TA51a vs ProControl tires comparison will help you choose the best tire out of the two based on our proprietary tire rating system, SimpleScore. We will be analyzing the traction, handling, and longevity on a scale of 0-10 and picking the best choice out of the two.

Kumho Solus TA51a tires

Launched in February 2023, the Kumho Solus TA51a is a dependable all-season tire that earns an 8.7 SimpleScore on a scale of 0-10. The tire is optimized for quieter and more comfortable rides, responsive handling, confident grip, and strong traction in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. Backed by a generous warranty, the tire offers immense value to the drivers. The Solus TA51a is suitable for use on passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, sedans, coupes, CUVs, and SUVs.

Get Kumho Solus TA51a tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Cooper ProControl tires

Introduced in May 2023, the Cooper ProControl also comes with immense year-round usability and earns an overall SimpleScore of 8.8, attested by its longer service life, crisp handling, and solid year-round traction. The tire additionally offers great ride control, confident cornering, increased grip in wet and light winter weather, and enhanced durability. The ProControl is made for use on passenger cars, sedans, CUVs, coupes, and minivans. Additionally, it also comes with a tread life warranty to offer a great ownership experience.

Get Cooper ProControl tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Kumho Solus TA51a vs Cooper ProControl tires on traction

Let’s commence with the comparative analysis of traction and see which tire is better when it comes to maintaining surefootedness in dry, wet, and light snow conditions.

Commencing with the Kumho Solus TA51a, the tire achieves an impressive 8.6 SimpleScore in traction, offering good surface-biting ability in all seasons. The use of an advanced rubber compound contributes to solid traction on wet and dry surfaces, while the interlocking 3D sipes and four wide circumferential grooves ensure better grip and control in wet and slick conditions, alongside resisting the chances of hydroplaning in rainy conditions.

On the contrary, the Cooper ProControl is rated an 8.4 SimpleScore for its great traction performance year-round. The Widening Siping Technology helps in gaining grip on wet and light snowy roads. The water evacuation grooves facilitate faster dispersion of water from the contact patch area, alongside reducing the risk of hydroplaning. Additionally, the footprint is flat enough to bring the maximum portion of the tread area in contact with the road for increased traction.

In the traction area, we found the Kumho tire to be a better option than the Cooper tire, credited with its additional 0.2 SimpleScore.

ADVANTAGE: Kumho Solus TA51a

Kumho Solus TA51a vs Cooper ProControl tires on handling

Handling is crucial for all-season tires as it relates to steering response, cornering, stability, lane changing, and stopping ability. So, let’s analyse how both tires perform in this area.

The Kumho Solus TA51a scores a decent 8.4 SimpleScore, ensuring great controllability throughout the year. There are 3D interlocking sipes across the tread for improved stability and in-timed braking performance, while the new compound technology reduces braking distance on wet and dry surfaces. The reinforced inner construction and tough sidewalls provide increased durability so that the tire remains in shape and helps in seamless lane-changing and confident cornering.

Comparatively, the Cooper ProControl is rated an 8.6 for its sharper steering response and handling. The presence of Armor Belt Technology boosts strength and overall stiffness for a commanding steering response. Thanks to wider sipes, the ride control is maintained on wet and light snowy surfaces. The ribs of the ProControl are optimized for quicker lane changes, and the sipe details are engineered for in-time braking performance.

Handling and overall ride control are best served with a set of ProControl tires rather than the Solus TA51a tires; credits to better SimpleScore!

ADVANTAGE: Cooper ProControl

Kumho Solus TA51a vs Cooper ProControl tires on longevity

Here, in this section, we will learn about the longevity abilities of both tires and find out which one is better when it comes to controlling treadwear.

Starting with the Solus TA51a, the tire scores an excellent 9.1 on a scale of 10, confirming its outstanding ability to serve for miles. The backing of up to 75,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty also underlines the tire's ability to last longer. Likewise, the internal construction of the Solus TA51a is also focused on enhancing durability and longevity. The high-strength reinforced belt package, along with a 3D chamfer block edge, helps boost tread life and prevent abnormal wear.

The Cooper ProControl, on the other hand, is rated a whopping 9.4 SimpleScore rating, good enough to prove the tire’s ability on the long-lasting front. This tire is also covered by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty to offer the drivers a worry-free driving experience. Thanks to the tough build, reinforced inner construction, Armor Belt Technology, and Wear Extending Technology, the ProControl ensures long-lasting tread life. Additionally, the Even Wear Arc Technology helps in evenly distributing the driving pressures for even and longer wear.

While the Solus TA51a is outstanding in terms of longevity, its rival, the ProControl, is way better and offers an exceptional tread life. Our winner here is the ProControl!

ADVANTAGE: Cooper ProControl

When to use each

Both the Solus TA51a and the ProControl are all-season tires and can be used on paved roads in dry, wet, and light winter conditions. That being said, none of these tires is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake approved, and therefore, their utility should not be considered in moderate to severe winter weather, in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Talking about the rim sizes, the Solus TA51a is available in 13- to 20-inch choices, while the ProControl is available in 16- to 22-inch rim options.

Which one should you choose?

Based on SimpleScore, the ProControl has a slightly better overall rating of 8.7 compared to the Solus TA51a’s 8.6 SimpleScore and stands as a better choice. However, they both have their own merits and unique features, which must be taken into consideration to buy a set of tires that better aligns with your driving needs.

When it comes to price, the Solus TA51a is available at a starting price of at least $85 per tire, while the ProControl is offered at a starting price of at least $142 per tire. This means a set of four Solus TA51a tires will cost you at least $340, while a set of four ProControl tires will cost you at least $568.

Looking at SimpleScore, you should consider the Solus TA51a if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, or Kia Optima.
• Want an affordable tire.
• Want a tire with better traction (8.6 vs 8.4).
• Want a tire that’s covered by an up to 75,000 miles limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
• Need a tire in the rim size range of 13- to 20-inch for maximized compatibility with vehicles on the market.

Otherwise, consider the ProControl if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Nissan Sentra, Honda Ridgeline, or Porsche 911.
• Need a tire that’s better in handling (8.6 vs 8.4).
• Need a tire that’s better in longevity (9.4 vs 9.1).
• Are comfortable paying more to buy an overall better tire.

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.