Kumho Road Venture MT71 Tire Review & Rating
Kumho’s Road Venture MT71 is an aggressive mud terrain tire for four-wheel drive vehicles including Jeeps, most SUVs or CUVs, and trucks. The tread is an asymmetrical melody of zig-zagging lugs with tire ejector bars between them to aid in self cleaning. The shoulders of the tire are adorned with alternating scalloped and siped lugs for extreme side bite on slippery rocks as well as in deep mud. The lug reach right around to halfway down the sidewall for prodigious traction no matter what angle you’re hitting the terrain at.
The MT71 boasts reinforced sidewalls and strengthened, stiffer tread blocks with a chamfered edge for more consistent traction and compliance to rougher roads. The tire is constructed in three parts: A trio of durable polyester overlaid with two steel belts and topped off with two-ply nylon reinforcement to help the tire retain its shape even at low air pressures. This is a proprietary blend that promises robust defense against punctures and damage even on sharp rocks.
All MT71 tires have a Q speed rating, meaning they’re good for up to 100 mph only. The load index varies from 109, which means 2,271 lb per tire, to 129, or 4,079 lb per tire. These are very much an off-road performance tire, and so you can expect a lot of road noise and a harsh ride on the highway.
The tires perform as well in deep snow as they do in mud, which is to say, they’re brilliant. On shallow or light snow or icy and slick surfaces though, these tires aren’t as good because they lack sipes and sharp edges for bite.
Pros:
- Excellent mud and gravel performance
- Resilience in harsh terrain
- Aggressive styling
Cons:
- Limited speed rating
- Less effective on ice or standing water.
Overall Thoughts
The Road Venture MT71 from Kumho is a meaty tire that has the performance chops to back up the Instagram-worthy appearance. Drivers who reached for this set motivated by its low sticker price were left impressed by its performance especially in the deep mud.
If you like getting your rig dirty but prefer to keep your shoes clean, then this is a good option at a great price. There are some compromises, mostly in the lack of sipes and grooves for consistent grip on flat wet surfaces. Those complicated cuts cost money, and it’s likely why Kumho is able to offer this tire at the price it does. Most users won’t need the on-road winter traction anyway, and are instead hoping to get through the trickiest terrain without a puncture, and without having to reach for the winch.
In short, Kumho’s mud terrain tires can dig you out of deep trouble but aren’t as good at getting you out of strife on ice.
Tire Sizes
15” Rims
- 31X10.5R15
- 33X12.5R15
- 35X12.5R15
16” Rims
- LT235/85R16
- LT265/75R16
- LT285/75R16
- LT315/75R16
17” Rims
- 33X12.5R17
- 35X12.5R17
- 37X12.5R17
- LT255/75R17
- LT265/70R17
- LT285/70R17
- LT295/70R17
- LT315/70R17
18” Rims
- 33X12.5R18
- 35X12.5R18
- LT275/65R18
- LT275/70R18
- LT295/70R18
20” Rims
- 33X12.5R20
- 35X12.5R20
- 37X12.5R20
- 37X13.5R20
- LT275/65R20
- LT285/55R20
- LT295/55R20
- LT305/55R20
22” Rims
- 33X12.5R22
- 35X12.5R22
- 37X13.5R22
Competitors & Alternatives
It’s hard to look past this option for pure off-road performance, but serious mudders might want to check out the General Grabber X3 for max traction. Better road manners can be found with the Toyo Open Country line up, and BFGoodrich T/A K02s remain a better choice for icy winter conditions and on-road performance. In both those last two instances, you’ll be trading off resilience against punctures and mud traction.
Price Range
These are among the least expensive mud terrain tires on the market. Common 18-inch sizes are around $270 per tire, some 30 percent less than the leading brands like BFGoodrich and General Tire. You may also find occasional rebates, discounts, coupons, and special offers on this tire.
Warranty
Kumho does not offer a tread life warranty for this tire. Materials and workmanship are warrantied for six years as is uniformity. Any claims made during the first 2/32 inches of wear will result in a new tire free of charge. A prorated cash amount is paid out for the remaining period down to the final 2/32 inches of wear. Kumho does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with your set of Road Venture MT71.