Kumho, Bridgestone among BMW OE suppliers

London – Kumho Tire Co. has announced that it is supplying its high performance tires as original equipment for the BMW 3 Series range.

“The ECSTA HM KH31 has been approved by the BMW Group for fitment to certain models in the 3 Series range and deliveries of this product in size 225/55R16 are now being made to BMW’s Munich and Regensburg factories,” announced the Korean tire manufacturer on 1 Dec.

The ECSTA HM has been a key pattern in Kumho’s European line-up in recent years, and its UHP tread technology ensures responsive handling as well as “excellent” stability and wet weather traction.

“Kumho’s recent uplift in sales of OE tires has been made possible by the company’s world-leading technology. We expect this achievement to significantly enhance our brand recognition in the international arena,” said Taek-Gyun Jeong, Managing Director of OE development at Kumho Tire. “We will continue to strengthen this technological prowess and brand power in order to further increase sales of OE products to premium car manufacturers, and generally accelerate our presence in the global market.”

In a separate development, Automotive News reported on 1 Dec that Bridgestone has begun supplying BMW's new i-series electric cars with what it markets as its "ologic" technology.

"Some observers believe those tires will begin to change car styling everywhere – especially if BMW expands their application," said the report.

The ologic look is essentially a large-diameter tire with a narrow width – but with a tall sidewall. The resulting tire covers more distance in a single revolution but has less contact with the pavement by being narrower – a concept intended to enable BMW's i3 and i8 electric cars to roll farther on a single battery charge.