69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
70/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Kumho Solus KH16 vs Kumho Solus KL21 — Compared (May 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
76/100
26 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Kumho Solus KL21 — better snow, treadwear and wet. Pick the Kumho Solus KH16 if handling and comfort matter most to you.
Read full
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Solus KL21 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH16 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 73 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Solus KL21 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH16 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 76 | 71 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 67 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Solus KL21 leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH16 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 51 | 45 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Solus KH16 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH16 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | 73 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 65 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Solus KL21 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH16 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 71 | 63 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 73 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Solus KH16 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH16 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 61 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Solus KH16 | Kumho Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 76 |
| Dry | 76 | 83 |
| Wet | 67 | 76 |
| Snow | 51 | 72 |
| Comfort | 80 | 76 |
| Noise | – | 86 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 81 |
| Handling | 70 | 61 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
Tire A
76
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Kumho Solus KH16 receives highly polarized feedback, with some users praising its quiet ride and reliable multi-surface grip, while others report significant concerns regarding wet-weather performance and sidewall stability. While some owners find the tire to be a cost-effective solution for daily driving, others express frustration with inconsistent tread life and handling characteristics.
Pros
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions for many users
- Strong value proposition and cost-per-mile efficiency
- Consistent performance across various vehicle types including MPVs and hatchbacks
Cons
- Reports of premature or uneven tread wear
- Soft sidewall construction leading to poor handling feedback
- Significant concerns regarding wet-weather traction and safety
- Inconsistent quality control experiences
Observations
- Users operating utility vehicles reported rapid tread wear, though this was contested by manufacturer representatives citing alignment issues.
- Owners of MPVs and hatchbacks generally reported higher satisfaction with the tire's comfort and daily driving performance.
The Kumho Solus KL21 is a polarizing tire that frequently serves as original equipment on SUVs and crossovers. While many owners report exceptional tread life and value, a significant subset of users expresses concerns regarding road noise, inconsistent grip in adverse weather, and premature structural degradation.
Pros
- Exceptional tread longevity and durability, with some users reporting over 60,000 miles of use.
- Strong value proposition as a cost-effective alternative to premium tire brands.
- Generally reliable performance in dry, warm-weather conditions.
- Consistent ride comfort for daily commuting and long-distance driving.
Cons
- Reports of excessive road noise and a harsh ride quality.
- Poor traction and braking performance in snow, ice, or cold conditions.
- Inconsistent quality control, with isolated reports of tire deformation or premature wear.
- Lack of confidence-inspiring grip during emergency braking maneuvers.
Observations
- Users with mid-size SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento report highly variable experiences, ranging from extreme longevity to early failure.
- The tire is frequently noted as a standard OEM fitment for Korean-manufactured SUVs, which influences user expectations regarding replacement intervals.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Solus KH16 | B · Kumho Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Touring tires | All Season Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Kumho
76
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: Kumho Solus KL21 — better snow, treadwear and wet. Pick the Kumho Solus KH16 if handling and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 72 vs 51 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 81 vs 69 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho Solus KH16 scores 70 vs 61 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 76 vs 67 on wet.
Tire A · Kumho Solus KH16
Tire B · Kumho Solus KL21
More comparisons
Also compared with
Kumho Solus KH16 also compared with
Kumho Solus KL21 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.