Kumho IZen KW23 review
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The Kumho IZen KW23 is highly regarded by users for its exceptional performance in severe winter conditions, frequently outperforming more expensive competitors on snow and ice. While it provides significant confidence and traction in cold weather, some users note that its performance in dry or wet conditions is merely adequate and can be accompanied by increased road noise.
What owners say
No road-test results yet, so every score here comes from owner reviews found online.
How scores work
- Relative score
- 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
- Road tests
- 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
- Owner reviews
- 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.
By owner reviews
73/100From 10 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 10 owner reviews found online.
The Kumho IZen KW23 is highly regarded by users for its exceptional performance in severe winter conditions, frequently outperforming more expensive competitors on snow and ice. While it provides significant confidence and traction in cold weather, some users note that its performance in dry or wet conditions is merely adequate and can be accompanied by increased road noise.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and handling on snow and ice
- Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
- Provides significant confidence for rear-wheel-drive vehicles in winter
- Improved ride comfort due to a softer compound
Cons
- Increased road noise levels
- Mediocre performance in wet, non-frozen conditions
- Potential for skidding if tire pressure is not strictly maintained
- Sidewall stiffness can vary depending on the specific tire size
Worth knowing
- Rear-wheel-drive owners, particularly those with BMW models, reported a transformative improvement in winter drivability.
- Users noted that the tire performs effectively even on smaller, lighter vehicles like the Fiat Punto.
- One user observed that the 195/65/R15 size featured notably stiff, non-flexible sidewalls.
Reviews from our readers
Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.
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8 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2014 AZ Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16
11th of 11
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2013 Winter tire Overview - Braking · 195/65 R15
33rd of 50
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter tire Braking Test · 205/55 R16
28th of 42
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2011 European Winter tire Test - 195/65 R15 · 195/65 R15
12th of 14
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2010 AMS Winter tire Test · 205/55 r16
10th of 10
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
2010 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 195/65 R15
11th of 12
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2010 European Winter tire Test Part 2 · 225/45 r17
10th of 12
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2010 Auto Zeitung Winter tire Test · 195/65 r15
10th of 13
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Zeitung
Kumho IZen KW23 compared
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