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Last updated 10/21/2024 - Originally published 10/21/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Kumho and Pirelli are among the world's largest tire manufacturers. The Pirelli, an Italian tire manufacturer, operates in over 160 countries. It is well known for its performance and sporty tires, which draw on their motorsport background. On the other hand, Kumho Tire began as Samyang Tire in South Korea in 1960. Over the decades, it has expanded its activities outside its home country, building plants in China, Vietnam, and the United States. Pirelli is promoted as a premium tire, hence the price is higher while Kumho is regarded as a value-for-money brand with mid-range prices.
The Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 is Pirelli’s latest, an entirely redesigned touring all-season tire for sedans and coupes. P7 All Season Plus 3 features a revised tread pattern, compound, and structure, resulting in increased mileage, improved winter performance, better wet/dry handling, and increased comfort with a quiet ride.
Likewise, the Kumho Solus TA51a is Kumho's grand touring all-season tire, designed for drivers of compact vehicles, passenger sedans, crossovers, and SUVs seeking a luxuriously quiet ride. The Solus TA51a is designed to give Kumho's blend of ride comfort, minimal noise, and all-season traction, even in light snow.
Still, are they comparable in performance, or is there a better tire? Let's see how the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 stacks up against the Kumho Solus TA51a in terms of handling, traction, and longevity using the SimpleScore (SimpleTire's proprietary tire rating system).
Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 tires
As part of Pirelli's Plus series of tires, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 is designed to fulfill the needs of North American drivers who want a product that provides more mileage, everyday comfort, and exceptional all-season performance. The P7 AS Plus 3 is designed with a revised tread pattern, compound, and structure to give great mileage, increased snow performance, improved wet/dry handling, and a quieter ride that is tailored to fit the needs of the consumer.
The P7 AS Plus 3’s modern tread design is more consistent in terms of sipes distribution, leading to more uniform stiffness and consistent wear, resulting in increased tire durability. The new Pirelli tire's 3D sipe technology provides smooth wear, enhanced snow traction, and great wet performance, resulting in outstanding all-season performance.
On average, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 boasts an excellent SimpleScore of 9.3 out of 10 thanks to its excellent traction (9.5), outstanding handling (9.3), and exceptional longevity (9.5).
Kumho Solus TA51a tires
The Solus TA51a is Kumho's grand touring all-season tire, designed for drivers of compact vehicles, passenger sedans, crossovers, and SUVs seeking a luxuriously quiet ride. The Solus TA51a is designed to deliver ride comfort, minimal noise, and all-season traction, even in light snow. The Kumho Solus TA51a has a high-grip silica substance and an asymmetric tread pattern for traction in all weather conditions. Noise-canceling ribs within the tire’s grooves are examples of technological developments that reduce road noise and vibration. The tread blocks' 3-dimensional chamfered edges maximize tread contact by utilizing the tire's natural deformation under load. While quad circumferential grooves assist in expelling water, and preventing hydroplaning, the high 3-D sipe density improves wet weather handling and winter snow traction. Additionally, the internal structure of the Kumho Solus TA51a includes a two-ply polyester body casing for added protection and to boost riding quality. This base supports a layer of twin steel belts for satisfactory handling and stability, which is then capped by two nylon cap plies that provide the strength required to maintain uniformity and high-speed performance.
On average, the Kumho Solus TA51 sports a great SimpleScore of 8.8 thanks to its superb traction (8.6), sharp handling (8.6), and excellent longevity (9.3).
Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 vs Kumho Solus TA51a tires on traction
Traction is an important factor in determining the quality of a tire and all-season tires provide traction in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions. Let’s take a look at the traction scores of the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 and the Kumho Solus TA51a to see how they compare in this aspect.
The P7 All Season Plus 3's full-depth siping in the tread provides excellent traction in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions while its 3D sipe technology allows smooth wear and increased snow traction. As a result, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 boasts an outstanding traction score of 9.5.
On the other hand, the Kumho Solus TA51a sports a great traction score of 8.6 thanks to its high-grip silica compound and an asymmetric tread pattern that provides traction in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions. Quad circumferential grooves assist in expelling water, preventing hydroplaning, while high 3-D sipe density improves wet weather handling and winter snow traction.
In terms of traction, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 outperforms the Kumho Solus TA51a (9.5 vs 8.6).
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3
Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 vs Kumho Solus TA51a tires on handling
All-season tires are designed to provide reliable handling in dry, rainy, and light winter weather conditions. These are an excellent choice for daily driving in mild climates or urban locations. They are versatile tires that can handle everything except harsh weather conditions. What are the handling scores of the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 and the Kumho Solus TA51? Let’s see.
The Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3's full-depth siping within the tread provides exceptional handling, and braking in dry, wet, and light winter weather. 3D sipes within the shoulder bite into the road for excellent handling performance in wet and dry conditions. Thus, P7 All Season Plus 3 gets an exceptional handling score of 9.3.
On the flip side, the Kumho Solus TA51a has a handling score of 8.6, which is fantastic but less than the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3. With a high silica chamfer block edge that digs into the road, this tire is designed to give great handling and braking performance on wet roads. In addition, its 3D interlocking sipes also contribute to its handling.
In terms of handling, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 outperforms the Kumho Solus TA51a (9.3 vs. 8.6).
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3
Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 vs Kumho Solus TA51a tires on longevity
Longevity is determined by a variety of factors, including the driver's habits, tire design, environment, road conditions, and tire maintenance. When it comes to longevity, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 has a better score than the Kumho Solus TA51a.
Backed by a 70,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 boasts an excellent longevity score of 9.5. The unique rubber compound of the Pirelli tire eliminates uneven wear, leading to a longer tread life.
Conversely, the Kumho Solus TA51a carries a 75,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty on T-speed rated sizes and a 65,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty on sizes with an H-speed rating and above. In addition, its two-ply polyester body casing offer increased longevity. As a result, the Kumho Solus TA51a sports an excellent longevity score of 9.3.
In terms of longevity, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 has a slight edge over the Kumho Solus TA51a (9.5 vs. 9.3).
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3
When to use each
All-season tires combine summer and winter tire technologies to provide a strong and versatile tire that works best in moderate weather. The Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 and the Kumho Solus TA51a are designed for drivers who do not wish to change their vehicle's tires every summer or winter but require tires that provide excellent performance in all weather conditions. However, these tires are not Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and cannot handle harsh winter weather conditions. So, if you need a tire that can withstand extreme winter conditions, consider winter tires.
Which one should you choose?
So, what have you decided? Which all-season tire will you choose: the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 or the Kumho Solus TA51a? Based on the SimpleScore, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 outperforms the Kumho Solus TA51a. However, Kumho Solus TA51a also has a reliable score.
Comparing the prices of the 215/45R17 tire size, the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 costs around $163 per tire, and four such tires cost $652, while the Kumho Solus TA51a costs around $126 per tire and four such tires cost $504 (a difference of $148).
According to SimpleScore, you should choose the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 if you:
- Drive a luxury car like the Cadillac DeVille, a mid-size sedan like the Honda Accord, and Kia Optima
- Prefer better traction (9.5 vs 8.6)
- Want better handling (9.3 vs 8.6)
- Want better longevity (9.5 vs. 9.3)
- Are willing to spend a little bit more for the name “Pirelli” and the performance
On the flip side, you should choose the Kumho Solus TA51a if you:
- Drive a five-passenger sedan like the Buick Lacrosse, a compact car like the Chevrolet Cruze, or a mid-size family SUV like the Volkswagen Atlas
- Prefer a less-priced all-season tire that can offer excellent longevity (9.3)
- Are looking for a better mileage warranty (75,000 vs 70,000 mile)
While the Pirelli P7 All Season Plus 3 is among the top all-season tires, the Kumho Solus TA51a is regarded as a great all-season tire that offers superb value for the money. These tires may be used all year round and have great lifespan ratings. However, you should select a tire that best suits your driving requirements, budget, and preferences regarding handling, traction, and cost.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, and our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.