Kumho Road Venture AT52 Review: Off-Roading with Ease

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 is an all-terrain tire designed for SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks.

As an all-terrain tire, the AT52 is made to perform well on pavement as well as off-road conditions like dirt, gravel, and light mud.

Kumho designed the AT52 to provide a quiet, comfortable ride for daily driving while still offering capable traction for off-road adventures on the weekend.

The tire features an aggressive tread pattern to help claw through loose terrain, combined with rigid shoulder blocks for responsive handling.

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 aims to strike a balance between on-road refinement and off-road capability. It’s made for drivers who want a versatile tire that can handle commuting on the weekdays as well as heading out to the mountains or desert on the weekends.

With its blend of on-road comfort and off-road traction, the AT52 seeks to be a jack-of-all-trades for CUVs and SUVs.

Tread Design

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 features an aggressive tread pattern designed for excellent all-terrain traction.

The tire has an open shoulder tread with large, staggered blocks that provide plenty of biting edges for grip on loose surfaces like dirt or gravel.

The tread blocks contain multiple sipes, or small slits, that create additional biting edges and allow the blocks to flex independently for better traction.

This helps maintain grip as the treads wear down. The aggressive shoulder lugs also help clear mud and debris from the main tread blocks.

Overall, the Kumho Road Venture AT52 has a tread pattern optimized for all-terrain performance, with an emphasis on traction, braking, and handling in mud, dirt, gravel, and other loose surfaces.

The aggressive lug design combined with ample siping gives drivers robust traction for on and off-road adventures.

Traction of Kumho Road Venture AT52

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 is designed to provide excellent traction in both wet and dry conditions, on pavement as well as off-road.

The aggressive tread pattern features large, interlocking blocks that provide plenty of biting edges for grip on loose surfaces like gravel or dirt.

The deep, wide grooves help channel away water and prevent hydroplaning on wet roads.

Independent tests show the AT52 stops shorter on wet pavement compared to leading all-terrain competitors.

The tire earns an A temperature grade for impressive resistance to heat buildup during high-speed driving.

On dry roads, the stiff tread blocks maintain solid contact for responsive handling and braking.

The tires are surprisingly quiet and smooth on highway driving too, without much road noise or vibration.

Overall, the advanced tread design and rigid construction enable the AT52 to offer impressive traction off-road without compromising on-road comfort and performance.

Drivers praise the tires’ excellent grip and control in all conditions.

Ride Comfort of Kumho Road Venture AT52

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 provides a very comfortable ride for an all-terrain tire.

The tread pattern is designed to absorb impacts and reduce vibrations, making for a smooth ride on both pavement and off-road surfaces.

Noise levels are moderate, without the loud hum often associated with aggressive mud-terrain treads.

The tire absorbs small bumps and vibrations well, so the cabin remains quiet over most road surfaces.

Larger impacts from potholes or rocks are dampened enough to avoid jarring passengers.

Overall, the Kumho Road Venture AT52 balances comfort and capability. It provides a composed, relaxed ride on-road, soaking up imperfections in the pavement while maintaining responsiveness.

The comfort does not come at the expense of traction off-road, as the tire remains compliant over rocks, ruts, and loose terrain.

The flexible sidewalls and staggered shoulder blocks help smooth out impacts for a comfortable ride.

While not as plush as a dedicated highway tire, the Kumho Road Venture AT52 offers impressive comfort for an all-terrain.

Drivers who spend time both on and off the pavement will appreciate its blend of compliance, control, and cushioning.

Handling of Kumho Road Venture AT52

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 provides excellent handling and road manners.

The tire features an asymmetric tread design that helps stabilize the tire, providing a balanced feel that instills confidence when navigating turns or swerving maneuvers.

The steering response is precise and predictable, with the tires reacting immediately and accurately to steering inputs.

The tread compound and pattern deliver a strong cornering grip, with the outside tread blocks biting down in turns to resist sliding.

This allows the tires to take tight turns and winding roads in stride without losing traction.

The tires feel firmly planted on the road at all times. Even when pushed hard into turns, the tires maintain composure and control.

The tread design provides continuous contact with the road surface to prevent sudden loss of grip. The rigid internal construction also minimizes flex for more responsive handling.

At highway speeds, the tires excel at stability and straight-line tracking. They resist wandering or pulling to either side, ensuring a straight and true path down the road.

The tires also absorb impacts from road irregularities without deflecting the vehicle off course.

Overall, the Kumho Road Venture AT52 offers car-like handling that inspires confidence no matter the driving conditions.

The balanced feel and tenacious grip allow drivers to fully exploit the vehicle’s handling potential.

Durability of Kumho Road Venture AT52

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 is known for its durability and rugged build. The tread compound is designed to resist wear, enhancing tread life.

Independent tests show the AT52 averages around 65,000 miles until the tread is worn down to 2/32 inch, an impressive result.

The tire construction also contributes to longevity. The sturdy casing and sidewalls resist punctures well, with multiple-ply construction and a thick tread.

Owners report very few flats or puncture issues. Even on rough terrain and gravel roads, the AT52 holds up reliably.

Kumho provides a generous 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, showing their confidence in the tire’s durability.

This is higher than many all-terrain competitors. Workmanship and materials are covered under the warranty for the first 2 years or 24,000 miles.

Overall, drivers praise the Kumho Road Venture AT52 for its ruggedness and reliability, even on trucks used for work and towing.

The tread design, rubber compound, and sturdy construction enable this tire to hold up impressively over both on and off-road use. Durability is a key strength of the AT52.

Price

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 offers excellent value compared to similar all-terrain tires from other brands.

Despite being competitively priced, the AT52 does not compromise on performance or durability.

At around $150 per tire, the AT52 is less expensive than premium all-terrain tires like the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 which retails for around $180 per tire.

The AT52 can offer strong off-road traction and a quiet, comfortable ride at a more budget-friendly price point.

Compared to other mid-range all-terrain tires like the General Grabber AT2 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W, the AT52 is very competitively priced.

The AT52 matches or exceeds the performance of these tires across most categories while costing about the same.

Overall, the combination of strong performance in nearly all categories along with a reasonable price makes the AT52 an excellent value choice in the all-terrain category.

Drivers looking for an aggressive all-terrain tire without paying a premium price will find a lot to like with the AT52.

Tire Sizes Available

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 is available in a wide range of sizes to fit most vehicles. Here’s an overview of the key fitments:

• Passenger tires from 15″ to 20″
• Light truck tires from 15″ to 22
• SUV tires from 16″ to 22
• Crossover tires from 16″ to 20

The AT52 comes in a variety of widths, profiles, and load ranges to accommodate different vehicles and needs.

Widths range from 215 to 325mm to fit everything from compact sedans to full-size SUVs and trucks. Aspect ratios vary from 55 to 80 series.

Standard load (SL) tires are ideal for sedans and crossovers, while light truck (LT) tires have reinforced sidewalls for pickups, SUVs, and heavy-duty use.

There are also extra load (XL) and reinforced (RF) options for max load capacities.

With its wide range of sizes, the AT52 can fit small cars like the Honda Civic all the way up to heavy-duty pickups like the Ford F-250.

So whether you drive a compact sedan or a work truck, there’s likely a size that fits your vehicle.

Who Are They For?

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 is best suited for crossover SUVs, pickups, vans, and some sedans that are regularly driven on paved roads but also go off-roading occasionally.

With its all-terrain tread design, the AT52 provides a good balance of on-road comfort and off-road capability.

Some of the best applications and vehicles for the AT52 tire include:

• Crossover SUVs – The AT52 works well for popular crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, and Nissan Rogue. It provides a smooth ride on the highway while still offering enough traction for light off-roading and snow.
• Pickup Trucks – For pickup trucks like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, Toyota Tacoma, and GMC Sierra, the AT52 is a great choice for an all-terrain tire that won’t sacrifice too much on-road manners. The aggressive tread pattern gives good off-road grip.
• Vans – For vans and minivans that are used for family hauling but also go on camping trips, the AT52 is a versatile pick. It offers a comfortable ride for passenger comfort while tackling dirt roads and trails.
• Smaller Sedans – While all-terrain tires are less common for sedans, the AT52 can work for smaller sedans like the Subaru Outback that are taken off-road. The tire provides light trail capability without too much road noise.

The AT52 works best for drivers who want one tire to handle both on-road and off-road duties fairly well, without needing maximum performance in either setting.

The tread design provides a balanced all-terrain tire well-suited to crossover SUVs, pickups, vans, and select sedans.

Conclusion

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 is an all-terrain tire that balances capability with comfort and refinement. Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons:

Pros:

• Excellent wet traction from an aggressive tread pattern
• Responsive, stable handling on pavement
• Comfortable, quiet ride thanks to rigid tread blocks
• Durable tread compound and sturdy casing design
• Great value for an all-terrain tire

Cons:

• Not as aggressive off-road as some all-terrains
• Snow traction falls short of a dedicated winter tire
• Some road noise on certain pavement types

Overall, the Road Venture AT52 is a great choice for an all-terrain tire that excels on pavement but can still handle moderate off-roading and weather conditions.

Drivers looking for maximum off-road traction may want a more aggressive option, but most will appreciate the AT52’s blend of on- and off-road abilities.

For a tire that can tackle everything from daily commutes to weekend adventures, the Kumho Road Venture AT52 is tough to beat.

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