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Last updated 8/26/2024 - Originally published 8/26/2024
Written by SimpleTire
The highway-terrain designation is meant to denote light truck and SUV tires in the US. The best way to think of highway-terrain tires is along the same lines as all-season passenger tires. All-season tires occupy a significant 84 percent of the market as they can be used year-round. Other than the above, they provide great wear properties, generous limited manufacturer’s tread life warranties, composed road manners, and other benefits. They’re the tires that can do it all, and though highway-terrain tires have several designs and performance goals common very similar to all-season tires, they feature tougher tread compounds and beefed-up construction to accommodate the extra weight of trucks and SUVs.
Nowadays, trucks and SUVs are commonplace on the roadways, replacing sedans, minivans, and station wagons as the primary family vehicles. However, many trucks with 4WD systems hardly ever venture off the paved path. Today, in this head-to-head comparison, we’ll be comparing [Toyo Open Country H/T II (https://simpletire.com/brands/toyo-tires/open-country-h-t-ii) vs Kumho Crugen HT51 tires.
During this comparison review, you’ll see us using SimpleScore numbers for both tires. SimpleScore is our rating system that gives a quick, comprehensive idea of a tire’s strengths and weaknesses as per its parameters such as longevity, traction, and handling. Different parameters also help us arrive at an overall average SimpleScore.
Toyo Open Country H/T II tires
To make the Open Country H/T II live up to Toyo's reputation for quality, performance, and value, Toyo improved and expanded upon the Open Country H/T's tried-and-true design. Starting with a heavy-duty tread compound for longer tire life and strengthened internal structure, the Open Country H/T II is built to last. Its system of angled/lateral grooves, expanding shoulder grooves, and wide adaptive circumferential grooves ensure consistent grip in varying weather conditions. Strategically placed multi-wave sipes minimize uneven wear while boosting traction in wet or wintry weather.
Apart from traction, you'll see two distinct sidewall designs on the Open Country H/T II — a classic sidewall and a sporty sidewall. Some sizes also feature a sidewall that is outlined in white letters. The tire offers buyers a variable limited manufacturer's tread life warranty as per tire size and is suitable for an average SimpleScore of 8.6.
Kumho Crugen HT51 tires
The Kumho Crugen HT51 is a great choice for both standard and heavy applications since it is designed with the attributes, features, and details needed to withstand tough use and driving in all weather conditions. It is a great replacement tire available in a wide range of sizes and uses. A stiff center block design enables it to provide great traction, handling, and stability throughout the year. Expect long tread life and a limited manufacturer treadwear warranty that goes up to 70,000 miles. This is a tire capable of providing high safety on roads covered with snow. With all these abilities the Crugen HT51 is awarded an average SimpleScore of 8.6 (same as the Open Country H/T II).
Toyo Open Country H/T II vs Kumho Crugen HT51 tires on traction
The Kumho scores higher than the Toyo by a reasonable margin; the Kumho scores an 8.7/10 in comparison to 8.4 for the other. Note that both of these tires are all-season designs, and none of them sport the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification symbol. The presence of 3D sipes and an increased belt width on the tread section enable the Kumho Crugen HT51 to score higher, with snow traction having considerably improved compared to before. Tread depth is also higher for the Crugen HT51, and that’s why we have voted in favor of the same.
ADVANTAGE: Kumho Crugen HT51
Toyo Open Country H/T II vs Kumho Crugen HT51 tires on handling
Toyo Open Country H/T II is clearly the faster tire here, available with an H-speed rating compared to T for the Kumho Crugen HT51. On the other hand, the Kumho tire makes a brilliant comeback with the presence of 3D sipes that also enable performance, especially on tricky surfaces. Although the Kumho has the greater tread depth, it inches ahead by the slightest of margins. While the Kumho gets wide zigzag grooves to enhance performance and drainage, the Toyo features four wide circumferential and adaptive circumferential grooves. For better braking on dry and wet roads, the Toyo features multiwave sipes. In other words, the neck-and-neck competition left us in a lurch while trying to favor one. We just couldn’t and came up with 8.5 for both.
ADVANTAGE: Tie
Toyo Open Country H/T II vs Kumho Crugen HT51 tires on longevity
Both tires make use of variable limited manufacturer tread life warranties. The Open Country H/T II features a wear-resistant tread compound for long tread life and durability and multi-wave sipes that keep irregular wear down to a minimum. On the other hand, the optimal block shape of a four-channel symmetric layout allows the Kumho to provide a long tread life, and even grip force distribution ensures great mileage performance.
While the Toyo’s tread life warranty ranges from 50,000 to 70,000 miles, the Kumho offers from 45,000 to 70,000 miles. With an excellent longevity score of 9.1, the Toyo beats the Kumho which reaches up to 8.7.
ADVANTAGE: Toyo Open Country H/T II
When to use each
So, what exactly is it that you need from a set of light truck tires? These tires are generally not the best if you frequently off-road in muddy, sandy, loose dirt, or tough terrain with lots of hazards, and if so, you should focus on all-terrain, mud-terrain, or rugged-terrain tires. The Toyo and the Krugen may not be the ideal options if you have to cope with severe winter weather, which includes snow that piles up three to four inches deep and remains on the road for days at the end. Now, if your answer is on the lines of a dependable set of tires durable enough to haul heavy loads and tow trailers, then you won’t go wrong with either the Toyo Open Country H/T II or Kumho Crugen HT51.
Both these tires are most suitable as replacement tires for Jeeps, light trucks, CUVs, and SUVs. Examples of such vehicles include the GMC Acadia, Ford F150/F250, RAM 1500/2500, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Tahoe, Nissan Titan, Jeep Wagoneer, and Honda Ridgeline.
Which one should you choose?
Once you read this section, we are pretty sure you will be in a fix, considering how closely the two tires are priced. As we’ve seen so far, both of these tires have their advantages and disadvantages. There was not much to choose between the Toyo and the Kumho in terms of handling, as both were tied for the same scores. On the other hand, the Kumho was distinctly ahead when it came to traction. In total, it was one for the Toyo, one for the Kumho, and one on which both were tied.
Let’s come to the prices now and help you arrive at the final decision. The current starting price for the Toyo is $128.33 ($513.32 for 4), as opposed to $130 ($520 for 4) for the Kumho. To summarize:
Select the Toyo Open Country H/T II for:
- Better longevity
- Better design
- Lower price
- Better wet braking
Here are the reasons to select the Kumho Crugen HT51:
- Better safety on snow-covered surfaces
- Great straight-line driving performance
- Greater range on treadwear warranty
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.