Hyundai’s are extremely quiet and comfortable, and I believe the Kumho Solus is the perfect match for Hyundai vehicles. In this article, we're going to focus on the all-new 2020 Sonata.
I recently reviewed the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited Hybrid. I thoroughly enjoyed this vehicle for its comfort and quietness. My particular test car came with Michelin Primacy tires, and that’s fine, the car performed exceptionally well with these tires. However, if you're an owner of a new Sonata or any regular vehicle for that matter, the Kumho Solus might be the perfect all-season tire when you need to get a new set.
Why the Kumho Solus?
Hyundai uses the Solus as an OEM tire, but they also use many eco tires and touring tires from Hankook and Michelin. Again, excellent tires, but I have noticed noise coming from Michelin eco and touring tires even on Lexus products I have tested. The Kumho Solus is a tire that is the best of both worlds while providing relatively low noise, good grip, and long-lasting treadwear.
The perfect example is the 2016 Acura TLX I tested. I drove two TLX 2.4l four-cylinder FWD models with the Kumho Solus and one with Goodyear Eagle LS2 tires. The Kumho offered phenomenal handling not only in heavy rain but also in the dry I noticed the vehicle did not peal out from a launch as much as the Goodyear. The Eagle LS2 would screech every time I got on the throttle and did not offer the same amount of traction in the wet. Treadwear is excellent on the Kumho and provides a quiet yet compliant ride over all pavement types.
Now the Sonata is an excellent daily driver, and I believe the Kumho Solus compliments what Hyundai had envisioned for the car. But most importantly, for a regular person swapping out tires on their vehicle, the tire needs to be cost-effective. Using the 2020 Sonata SEL with 17” wheels with a 215/55 R17 OEM size, a set of 4 would cost about $420 (or $432 if you got the 94V rating for heavier loads and not necessary for a 3200-pound Sonata). A set of all-season Michelins on a Sonata will run between $568-$704 for a set of 4 (Prices are from Discount Tire).
No, this article was not paid and sponsored by Kumho. These are my honest findings from testing 100s of vehicles with different tires and price-checking tires for an SEL 2020 Sonata. When you own and are in the market for traditional economy cars like the Sonata, the tires’ price is essential, and I believe the Kumho Solus provides incredible value per dollar.
Read more Hyundai stories here.
Kevin Meyn is an automotive journalist for Torque News concentrating on Hyundai content. Kevin is the founder of Exhaust Sports Auto Youtube channel, where he does professional car reviews on new and used vehicles. Through the use of various resources and extended Automotive expertise, Kevin documents the latest in automotive news revolving around Hyundai. Kevin graduated from NC State University studying Supply Chain Management but has had a passion for cars since he was a child. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Instagram @exhaustsports.