KUMHO ECSTA DX Aroma car tires roll out with lavender scent; don't ask why

File under "zomg finally!" -- KUMHO Tires is releasing its ECSTA DX Aroma line of car tires featuring "Lavender Scent Technology," which, to translate for the non-marketers in the house, means they smell. Don't fret if lavender isn't your bag, baby -- the company plans to later introduce models with orange and jasmine aromas (what, no new car scent?). To eradicate that embarassing "plain old tire" smell from your ride, you'll have to part with $119, $125, or $138 per tire depending on your choice of size.

[Via I4U]

[Bipedal @ Jan 7th 2007 1:19PM]

. . . I think I speak for all of us when I ask: 'Why?'

[Chris @ Jan 7th 2007 1:31PM]

Up next on the useless invention list: edible telephone poles!

[Exile @ Jan 7th 2007 1:42PM]

Good.

Next up, develop a way to smell the tires while driving inside your car.

[Axiom @ Jan 7th 2007 1:56PM]

I guess that makes the drifters less hated

[ConceptVBS @ Jan 7th 2007 1:59PM]

Obviously you tech nerds have no clue when it comes to automobile trends.

This product was probably made for the "drifting" community. Drifting consists of "sliding" into corners with your Rear Wheel Drive car. Meanwhile the rear tire is burning up like crazy thus producing copious amounts of burnt rubber. The smell is usually foul (if any of you have had experience with it).

This is where the Kumho Ecsta DX Aroma comes into play. Perhaps it was to address the concerns of the people on the stands.

Make love, not war ya'll.

[fusenmuse @ Jan 7th 2007 3:01PM]

They aren't for drifting. Burnt rubber with lavender oil would smell remarkably similar to plain ol' burnt rubber.

To quote the press release:
"The tire is targeted at female consumers who drive such sedans as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Subaru Outback, Chrysler Sebring and Ford Taurus."

We tech nerds are grateful for your hip insight. Obviously

[Spartacus @ Jan 7th 2007 3:29PM]

I think VBS has gotten a wee bit too full of himself. Automotive trends? Hows about $250+ per tire for anything a real drifter would put on their car?

No I think what we're talking about here is a 17 year old kid who really has no idea. Wal-Mart does not sell performance parts, quit thinking your cool because you've cleaned out the entire 'performance' aisle and mounted it all on your '97 civic hatchback.

Another punk who lives his life a quarter mile at a time...

[Conor @ Jan 7th 2007 4:07PM]

Gangsters put 26'' rims on their rides.
Real gangsters put 26'' rims that smell like weed and Old English on their ride.

[asa79 @ Jan 7th 2007 6:57PM]

Now when you get run over by a vertically challanged lady driving a large 4x4 that cant bearly see above the steering wheel, you can smell the lavender scent, while waiting for help.

[pushlatency @ Jan 7th 2007 7:27PM]

For drifting? what an idiot. Next time take 5 seconds to read the referenced official press release Engadget kindly links for you.

Kumho makes some great tires, but who the hell was the product focus group for this? Korean schoolgirls ages 6-12? Why don't they dye the compound purple while they're at it?

[elf @ Jan 8th 2007 1:23AM]

This really makes no scents...

What's next - rose coolant, chocolate flavoured power steering fluid & engine oil with a hint of green apples?!!!????

[mathew @ Jan 8th 2007 10:37AM]

If only they'd had these things in the 80s, Winnie Mandela wouldn't have had to put up with such an unpleasant smell when necklacing collaborators.