90
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
90/100
1 owner review
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Cooper Sport AS vs Kumho Ecsta KU39 — Compared (May 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
78
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
79/100
125 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Cooper Sport AS — better treadwear, handling and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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Category breakdown
5 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Sport AS leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Sport AS | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 86 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Sport AS leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Sport AS | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 78 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Sport AS leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Sport AS | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 81 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Sport AS leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Sport AS | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 73 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Sport AS leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Sport AS | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 76 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Cooper Sport AS | Kumho Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 90 | 78 |
| Dry | 90 | 86 |
| Wet | 90 | 78 |
| Comfort | 90 | 81 |
| Treadwear | 90 | 73 |
| Handling | 90 | 76 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
90
/ 100
Tire A
78
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Cooper Sport AS is highly regarded by users for its exceptional noise suppression and balanced performance. It delivers a refined driving experience with strong traction capabilities in both wet and dry conditions.
Pros
- Outstanding reduction in road noise
- Excellent grip in dry conditions
- Reliable traction in wet weather
- High overall comfort levels
Observations
- Users noted a significant improvement in cabin quietness when transitioning from premium competitors like Michelin.
The Kumho Ecsta KU39 is widely regarded as a high-value, mid-range performance tire that offers a compelling alternative to premium brands. Users consistently praise its excellent dry and wet grip, comfort, and low noise levels, often noting that it outperforms more expensive tires while significantly reducing road noise and harshness. While most users are satisfied with the performance, some report concerns regarding tread longevity and a soft sidewall that can impact handling precision during aggressive cornering.
Pros
- Exceptional value for money compared to premium competitors
- Strong wet and dry traction
- Outstanding ride comfort and low road noise
- Progressive and predictable handling characteristics
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting premature wear
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a lack of steering sharpness or 'squirm' under heavy load
- Performance can drop off noticeably as tread depth approaches 3mm
- Occasional reports of sidewall durability issues or blowouts
Observations
- Users transitioning from run-flat tires on BMW and Mini models reported significant improvements in ride comfort and noise reduction.
- Drivers of high-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive vehicles (e.g., BMW 330ci, Jaguar XJ) noted the tire handles power well but can be sensitive to inflation pressure to maintain optimal handling.
- Some users on heavier vehicles or those with aggressive driving styles reported faster-than-expected tread wear.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Cooper Sport AS | B · Kumho Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season High Performance tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
90
/ 100
Cooper
78
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: Cooper Sport AS — better treadwear, handling and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Cooper Sport AS scores 90 vs 73 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Cooper Sport AS scores 90 vs 76 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Cooper Sport AS scores 90 vs 78 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Cooper Sport AS scores 90 vs 81 on comfort.
Tire A · Cooper Sport AS
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta KU39
More comparisons
Also compared with
Cooper Sport AS also compared with
Kumho Ecsta KU39 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.