59
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
55/100
21 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop SP Sport 270 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51 — Compared (September 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
82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
78/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
80/100
38 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Kumho Ecsta HS51 — better wet, handling and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
Category breakdown
6 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)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Ecsta HS51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 31
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Ecsta HS51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 27 | 83 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Ecsta HS51 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 55 | 84 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Ecsta HS51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 70 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Ecsta HS51 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 35 | 77 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 31
Why this score
| Source | SP Sport 270 | Ecsta HS51 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 49 | 80 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport 270 | Kumho Ecsta HS51 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 59 | 82 |
| Dry | 78 | 88 |
| Wet | 54 | 85 |
| Comfort | 68 | 84 |
| Noise | – | 70 |
| Treadwear | 53 | 77 |
| Handling | 49 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
59
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop SP Sport 270 receives a polarized reception, often serving as polarizing original equipment (OE) on various luxury and performance vehicles. While some users appreciate its quiet ride and stiff-walled handling characteristics, a significant portion of the user base reports severe safety concerns regarding wet-weather traction and rapid, uneven tread wear.
Pros
- Quiet and smooth ride quality
- Stiff sidewall construction provides predictable handling for specific vehicle architectures
- Solid dry-weather performance and cornering stability
- Competitive longevity compared to certain ultra-high-performance alternatives
Cons
- Poor wet-weather traction and high risk of hydroplaning
- Rapid and premature tread wear
- Inadequate grip for high-horsepower applications
- Vague steering feedback in certain conditions
Observations
- Lexus RX450h owners frequently report significant understeer and dangerous handling characteristics in wet conditions.
- High-performance vehicle owners (e.g., C63s AMG) note that the tire struggles to manage high torque, leading to excessive wheel spin.
- Users of larger SUVs like the Chevy Captiva report premature tread depletion, often requiring replacement before 30,000 km.
The Kumho Ecsta HS51 is widely regarded as a high-value, budget-friendly tire that offers performance comparable to premium brands for daily driving. While most users praise its wet and dry grip, comfort, and longevity, a subset of reviewers reports inconsistent experiences regarding sidewall stiffness and rapid tread wear.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium competitors
- Strong wet and dry traction for daily commuting
- High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
- Impressive tread life for many users, often exceeding 30,000 miles
Cons
- Reports of soft sidewalls leading to handling 'wobble' or lack of feedback
- Inconsistent tread wear, with some users reporting premature failure
- Occasional issues with aquaplaning in heavy rain
- Not recommended for high-performance or aggressive cornering
Observations
- Users with heavier vehicles or those driving at high speeds noted concerns regarding sidewall stability and cornering precision.
- Drivers of compact and mid-sized sedans generally report the highest satisfaction regarding noise levels and overall comfort.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport 270 | B · Kumho Ecsta HS51 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
59
/ 100
Dunlop
82
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: Kumho Ecsta HS51 — better wet, handling and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Kumho Ecsta HS51 scores 85 vs 54 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho Ecsta HS51 scores 80 vs 49 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Kumho Ecsta HS51 scores 77 vs 53 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho Ecsta HS51 scores 84 vs 68 on comfort.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport 270
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta HS51
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SP Sport 270 also compared with
Kumho Ecsta HS51 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.