Kumho Tire Challenge heading to Chicago

For those of you in the Chicago area Kumho will be holding their Tire Challenge at the Ikea in Schaumburg October 14-17. Here's some info from Kumho PR about the event and why a MINI owner might be interested:

FONTANA, CA…The Kumho Tire Challenge will be at the IKEA store in Schaumburg, IL, from October 14-17. The event teaches consumers how tires can make a difference in the way a car performs by giving them the opportunity to drive MINI Coopers equipped with different wheels and tires.

The event will be staged in the parking lot of the IKEA store (located at 1800 E. McConnor Parkway). Participants will drive the cars through an autocross course on the lot. The Kumho Tire Challenge is a national tour that was launched by KUMHO Tire USA in July of 2003 as a means to educate tire dealers and consumers about how different tires affect the performance and handling of a car. “”Unfortunately, most people don’t give much thought to their tires,” said Rick Brennan, high performance brand manager for KUMHO Tire USA. “They know they’re round, they’re black, they’re rubber and you have to put air in them.

“But when you give someone a bit of information and then put him behind the wheel of a car and turn him loose on an autocross course, he’ll quickly learn that tires play a huge role in how a car performs,” noted Brennan. “After going through this exercise, most people are amazed to learn that there can be such a difference between tires, and they’re also usually surprised to learn just how well the tires perform.”

Kumho uses three MINI Coopers for the Kumho Tire Challenge. The cars are equipped with automatic transmissions and a variety of aftermarket performance products, and each car is equipped with a different Kumho tire. “We use MINI Coopers for our Challenge program because the MINI is one of the best-handling cars in the world, which makes it the perfect vehicle to showcase the performance of our tires,” added Brennan. “And the MINI is a people magnet. The cars attract attention wherever they go.”

The Kumho Tire Challenge at IKEA will run rain or shine and will be open on a first-come-first-serve basis to the general public on the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, October 14, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 15, 11 .m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 16, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday, October 17, Noon to 7 p.m.