Kumho Road Venture AT52 Review

Kumho is making big strides in the all-terrain category with the introduction of its next-generation AT tire, the Road Venture AT52.

PROS

• Better on-road performance
• Quieter
• Better wear characteristics
• Certified for true winter use

CONS

• Slight eduction in off-road grip

Replacing the old AT51, this new tire brings with it a long list of upgrades, specifically when it comes to on-road performance and winter grip.

Looking to grab a larger segment of the market, this tire is actually less for hard-core off-roading than its predecessor, instead focusing more on on-road refinement. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you want maximum off-road grip, the BFGoorich All-Terrain TA KO2 is probably your best choice. But if you’re looking for an impressive overall AT tire, at an attractive price, well… lets take a closer look.

The first thing you’ll notice about this new tire is that the tread pattern, while aggressive in style with plenty of angles and notches, is more densely packed than the old tire. While a reduction in void space often means less overall grip, these angles and notches aim to maintain similar performance.

A denser tread patter does, however, mean a more stable on-road ride with less flex in the tread under cornering. It also features squared-off shoulder blocks as a way to create the maximum contact patch.

These features also help create a more even wear pattern, something the old AT51 had issues with. This also makes it a solid option for towing.

The same tread design advancements also bring benefits when it comes to tire noise, with a much quieter overall ride thanks also to the layout and design of the blocks.

Focusing back on off-road grip, the shoulder of the tire now features a more aggressive design, with alternating notches on the blocks for added grip, both on rocks and in loose dirt. These same features also help provide an extra layer of sidewall protection.

One critical new feature is that this tire is now three-peak mountain snowflake certified. This means it meets the same minimum standard that a snow tire does, so you can run it all year round no matter where you live. Specifically you can see the large amount of sipes on the tread blocks that the old AT51 just didn’t have. The 3PMS rating is increasingly common amongst all-terrain tires and we’re happy to see it here, despite Kumho’s more affordable pricing.

As for any other drawbacks, it’s not really a negative, per say, but we’re a bit surprised Kumho didn’t offer a longer tread life rating with the tire. We will add that the old AT51 did have some uneven wear characteristics

It’s important to point out that the new tread life rating for LT sizes is now 50,000 miles, which is 5,000 miles shorter than the previous tire. Based on the upgrades and how the old tire performed, we expect the new tire to actually net out about even with the old one – despite it’s higher rating.

Overall, Kumho has managed to refine its all-terrain tire while sacrificing very little in off-road grip and maintaining the same excellent value. While the off-road potential might not live up to the demands of some more extreme off-roaders, the vast majority of drivers will fine it excellently capable, easy to live with and attractively priced.

Kumho Road Venture AT52 Price

Pricing for the Kumho Road Venture AT52 starts at $150 for the smallest 15-inch size and goes up to just over $400 for the largest 20-inch fitment.

Kumho Road Venture AT52 Warranty

Kumho backs the Road Venture AT52 with a 55,000 mile tread life warranty for P-metric sizes and a 50,000 mile warranty for LT sizes.

Kumho Road Venture AT52 Sizes

15-inch sizes
LT215/75R15
235/75R15
LT235/75R15
30X9.5R15LT
31X10.5R15LT

16-inch sizes
LT225/75R16
235/70R16
LT235/85R16
245/70R16
LT245/75R16
245/75R16
255/70R16
265/70R16
265/75R16
LT265/75R16
LT285/75R16

17-inch sizes
235/65R17
LT235/80R17
245/65R17
245/70R17
LT245/70R17
LT245/75R17
255/70R17
255/75R17
LT255/75R17
265/65R17
265/70R17
LT265/70R17
LT275/70R17
LT285/70R17
LT315/70R17
35X12.5R17LT

18-inch sizes
255/70R18
265/60R18
265/65R18
LT265/70R18
265/70R18
LT275/65R18
275/65R18
LT275/70R18
LT285/65R181
LT295/70R18
35X12.5R18LT

20-inch sizes
LT265/60R20
275/55R20
LT275/55R20
275/60R20
LT275/65R20
LT285/55R20
LT285/60R20
LT305/55R20
33X12.5R20LT
35X12.5R20LT
37X12.5R20LT

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Kumho Road Venture AT52 Made?

Kumho manufactures this specific tire in Vietnam.

Is the Kumho Road Venture AT52 any good in snow?

While not a dedicated snow tire, the Road Venture AT52 meet the same basic requirements of a winter tire and features the three-peak mountain snowflake logo on its sidewall as proof. It’s not ideal in extreme winter conditions, but for the vast majority of winter driving, including on snow, it performs quite well. This is a tire you can definitely run in all seasons.

Is the Kumho Road Venture AT52 available in 10-Ply Load Range E fitments

Kumho offers this tire in a wide selection of fitments including roughly 30 Load Range E (10-ply) sizes, making it ideal for one-tone pickups or serious off-road machines.