Kumho Road Venture RT – The Perfect Balanced RT Option for Rugged-Terrain

Originally posted on Outdoors on SI | By Brad Repka | Last updated Aug 12, 2025 1:50 PM ET

Kumho Tires U.S.A. drops the Road Venture RT, an all-new rugged-terrain (RT) tire aimed at drivers who demand the reliability of off-road capabilities with the ability to live on the pavement. The tire is slated to hit the market in September 2025, and in its initial drop will be available in 27 different sizes, from 17 to 22 inches.

Broader sizes are expected to hit in 2026. Essentially, the Road Venture RT is a hybrid tire, falling between an all-terrain (AT) tire and the mud terrain (MT) categories. The tire is meant directly for drivers who live on and off-road. More specifically, featuring tread and compound features for SUVs, light trucks, and overland builds.

Tread Design & Off-Road Performance

The aggressive shoulder design with side biters improves lateral traction in softer terrains. The tire also features a wave pattern groove under the shoulder blocks to resist debris retention, like rocks and stones. This design attacks rugged terrain directly, which is a major cause of casing damage.

A unique feature of the tire is the spider web sidewall architecture, reinforcing the casing by distributing impact forces and adding sidewall protection without adding weight to the tire itself.

On-Road Behavior & Noise Control

Most times, RT tires sacrifice ride quality for aggression. This tire features a rigid center block layout to reduce tread squirm and dramatically improve straight-line stability under acceleration and braking conditions.

One of the biggest issues with aggressive tread is road noise, a frequent complaint among RT and MT tire users. Kuhmo employed a pitch sequence across the tread pattern to refine the dampening rate to further reduce the harshness during daily driving.

Wet Weather & Compound Technology

The Road Venture RT improves wet traction and shortens braking distance on slick pavement by employing a high-dispersion micro silica compound, and shaped tread voids to channel water even at higher speeds.

Kumho also designed the Road Venture RT to combat chip resistance and treadwear. The tire uses a proprietary blend of multi-functionalized S-SBR (solution styrene-butadiene rubber) and organized carbon black, specifically formulated to resist tearing on rocky and gravel trails. The tire also uses a uniform contact patch. This tire is engineered to evenly wear under numerous load conditions.

Durability & Warranty

The Road Venture RT comes loaded with a 50,000-mile warranty, immediately placing it among the best long-lasting tires in the RT market. The construction and compound choices on these tires are specifically suited for owners who off-road, tow, and haul, but still demand optimal on-road performance.

The Road Venture RT looks to fill the gap for drivers seeking RT performance, comfort, and tread life, who also want an aggressive tread look and the capability to handle MT conditions with ease.

This article first appeared on Outdoors on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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