Kumho Tyre OMNI RING Wins 2026 Red Dot Recognition

Kumho Tyre’s OMNI RING concept tyre has been recognised at the 2026 Red Dot Design Award, adding to the company’s recent design award momentum. The modular concept is aimed at future urban mobility systems and follows earlier recognition at the 2026 iF Design Award.

A concept built around movement

OMNI RING is designed as a modular tyre concept for next-generation mobility platforms. Kumho says the structure allows free, multidirectional movement and can be adapted to different transport formats.

In practice, that means the number of tyre modules can be changed depending on the application. The concept also uses different tread ideas for different operating conditions, including a herringbone pattern for lower noise and energy efficiency in urban settings, and a block-type pattern for faster intercity travel.

The recognition matters because tyre makers are increasingly using concept design to test ideas beyond conventional passenger car and truck fitments. Tyre News has also reported on wider future mobility work, including Hankook’s 3D-printed concept tyre and WheelBot 2 platform, and analysis of tyre technology in the Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR.

Design awards and product relevance

The Red Dot Design Award is run by Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen and covers product design, brands and communication design, and design concepts. Its Design Concept category includes concepts, prototypes and ready-for-market products.

Kumho’s latest recognition follows its iF Design Award 2026 win for OMNI RING in the Product Concepts category. The company has also received Red Dot recognition for the ROAD VENTURE RT, an all-terrain tyre developed for on-road and off-road use.

Young-jin Kim, Head of Kumho Tyre’s R&D Division, said the company was pleased that OMNI RING had gained global recognition. He added that Kumho would continue developing products for a changing mobility market.

A wider R&D signal

The award comes as Kumho continues to expand its market profile beyond design concepts. Tyre News recently reported that Kumho posted record Q1 2025 sales, supported by electric vehicle and original equipment growth. It has also covered Kumho Tyre UK’s Road Transport Expo activity, where the company highlighted commercial vehicle tyres for fleet operators.

For tyre dealers, fleet suppliers and manufacturers, OMNI RING remains a concept rather than a near-term replacement product. Its value lies in showing how tyre design could adapt to autonomous, compact and multidirectional mobility systems.

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Tagged with: Kumho Tyre, OMNI RING, Red Dot Design Award, iF Design Award, tyre concept, modular tyre, future mobility, urban transport, EV tyres, tyre design, mobility platforms, R&D

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