April 20, 2020
Dependable transportation requires dependable tires, and sometimes a good, basic Grand Touring All-Season tire can be the ideal solution. The classic jack-of-all-trades, Grand Touring All-Season tires are designed to deliver a balance of performance between on-road refinement, dry road engagement, confidence in wet conditions, and year-round capability.
In the 2020 test season, Kumho has a new entry in the form of the Majesty 9 Solus TA91. Designed to deliver performance that rivals some premium products, the company has high hopes for their flagship Grand Touring All-Season tire.
To find out how the Majesty 9 Solus TA91 compares in real-world use, we tested it against the BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport, the General AltiMAX RT43, and the Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2. Our evaluation used 2020 BMW F36 430i Gran Coupes fitted with new, full tread depth 225/50R17 tires mounted on 17x7.5 wheels.
Our 6.0-mile loop of expressway, state highway and county roads provides a great variety of road conditions that includes city and highway speeds, smooth and coarse concrete, as well as new and patched asphalt. This route allows our team to experience noise comfort, ride quality and everyday handling, just as you would during your drive to school or work.
The tires in our test group all delivered acceptable characteristics on the road, and while they don’t match the refined luxury of a premium Grand Touring All-Season tire, they are likely to satisfy drivers looking for pleasant, basic transportation.
On the road, the Majesty 9 Solus TA91 exhibited a level of refinement that was a step above the other tires in the group. The ride was controlled enough that it rarely felt unsettled over road imperfections, yet soft enough to be touring tire-comfortable. Test-leading noise comfort was also a high point, thanks to a pattern that was quiet over smooth surfaces and about equal with the rest of the group on rough and broken surfaces. Steering feel and light handling were appropriate for the category, though a little light and vague on-center, with response to inputs that required some correction through longer turns. In comparison to the other three tires tested, the Advantage T/A Sport felt athletic and performance-focused. The steering felt solid on-center, with prompt turn-in and linear response to inputs that delivered exactly what the driver wanted, every time. The ride was nicely controlled, though possibly a little firm for a touring tire, and the mildly aggressive tread pattern created some noticeable growl over all surfaces. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the AltiMAX RT43 felt perceptibly softer and more relaxed. Impacts were absorbed very well and never jarring, though our team thought the tire could use some control over secondary motion afterward. Sound quality was on par for the test over the rough sections of our route, but on smooth surfaces, there was some distinctive, slightly high-pitched growl from the tire. The steering was similarly relaxed, with a dull on-center feel and slight delay to the response. In all, it should be satisfying for tranquil drivers, but doesn’t provide a particularly engaging experience. Rounding out the group was the HTR Enhance LX2. While nothing about the tire was off-putting, our drivers had a few concerns that ultimately hurt its score. Initial compliance over impacts was followed by abrupt recovery, leading to a ride that could feel a little choppy over repetitive bumps. Noise comfort fell into the "acceptable" range, as well, with medium volume tones that could be somewhat distinct and noticeable over certain surfaces. The steering and light handling were adequate for the task at hand, skewing more toward the relaxed nature of the General, as opposed to the urgency of the BFGoodrich.
Our 1/3-mile per lap test track course includes 90-degree street corners, a five-cone slalom and simulated expressway ramps. Run in both dry and wet conditions, the test track allows our team to experience the traction, responsiveness, handling and drivability normally only encountered during abrupt emergency avoidance maneuvers or competition events.
In the dry, our team most preferred the feel of the Advantage T/A Sport. While it wasn’t as agile as some other tires, it was planted, balanced and faithfully responded to the driver’s inputs. Conversely, the Majesty 9 Solus TA91 felt eager and danced through the elements of the course, gliding in a controlled manner that delivered the fastest average lap. Despite what the experience on the street may have suggested, the AltiMAX RT43 felt very capable on the dry track. The somewhat slow steering response meant inputs had to be made a touch earlier than the other tires, but driven in this manner, the tire was a willing partner on the track. The HTR Enhance LX2 didn’t feel quite as cohesive or adept at being hustled around the track, but it delivered a satisfactory performance, both objectively and subjectively.
Wet testing shuffled the order a bit, with the General at the front of the pack. Best-in-test lap times, lateral Gs, and stopping distances represent a solid sweep of our objective testing, and combined with the balanced, composed performance around the track, helped earn the highest score from our team. The Kumho was a very close second in braking and around the skid pad, so it has the necessary traction to satisfy on the road. When driven aggressively around our track, resolute understeer was a common concern among our testers. The BFGoodrich was a step behind the test leaders in terms of outright traction, delivering a mid-pack, but still acceptable, performance. Braking distances were about 5 ft. longer than the test-leading General, and the lap times were about a second slower, on average. Some understeer at the front end coupled with a bit of power-on oversteer meant it required some attention when pushing to the limit. Taking another small step back brings us to Sumitomo’s entry, which, despite the slightly lower levels of traction, communicated well with our drivers. This allowed them to know what to expect and drive accordingly, resulting in lap times that were very close to the BFGoodrich.
The AltiMAX RT43 led the group in our light snow testing, delivering traction that was a noticeable step above the rest of the group, both in our measured tests and our drivers’ subjective impressions. The Advantage T/A Sport was a reasonable performer that would likely be considered adequate by most drivers who are used to using all-season tires year-round. The HTR Enhance LX2 was a small step back, providing traction that would get a driver by during the winter, but didn’t excel. The Majesty 9 Solus TA91 struggled to find traction for acceleration and braking or changing directions on the handling track, leaving our drivers wanting more and rounding out the group in all objective measurements.
Testing on the ice demonstrated once again that while there certainly are appreciable differences between products in the same all-season tire category, none of them come near the performance of a dedicated winter tire on the ice. Here, the Advantage T/A Sport led the group, though the HTR Enhance LX2 was close enough that it could nearly be considered a tie for first. The AltiMAX RT43 was in the middle of the pack, with the Majesty 9 Solus TA91 again trailing the rest of the group, albeit by a smaller margin than we found in the snow.
Due to the limited number of drivers participating in our 2020 testing as a result of the global pandemic, the sample size was not large enough to provide reliable fuel consumption data.
The Kumho Majesty 9 Solus TA91 delivers a surprising level of refinement on the road, with ride quality that is a nice blend of comfort and control, plus low levels of white noise that mostly blend in with the background. The steering isn’t perfect, but is acceptable for a Grand Touring All-Season tire, and the Kumho is balanced and fun-to-drive around the dry handling track. In the wet, the outright traction is likely enough to satisfy most drivers on the road, though it has a strong tendency to understeer when driven aggressively. Light snow traction is an area where we would like to see some improvement. The General AltiMAX RT43 has always been a strong contender, and we found that hasn’t changed with newer competitors in the mix. A soft ride and somewhat slow steering response means the tire feels very relaxed on the road, though it’s plenty capable when pushed on the dry track. Test-leading wet and light snow traction feel strong, and the easy-to-drive nature earned the highest score from our team in both disciplines. The sporty demeanor of the BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport might be just right for drivers who want a little fun mixed in with their daily commute. Weighty, direct, and relatively quick steering makes the tire feel athletic on the road, and it’s coupled with a firm but nicely-controlled ride and some noticeable tread growl over all surfaces. The sporty demeanor earned the highest score from our team on the dry track, but wet traction that is merely acceptable means the tire is toward the back of the pack in our objective testing. Sumitomo’s HTR Enhance LX2 is a reasonably well-balanced product that provides acceptable performance in most disciplines. The tire’s ride quality and noise comfort would benefit from some additional refinement, and the light handling is category-appropriate.
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