87
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
88/100
18 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Firestone Firehawk AS vs Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 — 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
86
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
88/100
31 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Firestone Firehawk AS and Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 are within 2 points overall. Firestone Firehawk AS is stronger on treadwear, noise and comfort. Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 is stronger on snow and wet.
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Category breakdown
7 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)
Why this score
| Source | Firehawk AS | Ecsta 4X KU22 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 80 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ecsta 4X KU22 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Firehawk AS | Ecsta 4X KU22 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 70 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Ecsta 4X KU22 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Firehawk AS | Ecsta 4X KU22 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 45 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Firehawk AS leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Firehawk AS | Ecsta 4X KU22 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 70 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Firehawk AS leads by 6
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Firehawk AS leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Firehawk AS | Ecsta 4X KU22 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 70 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Firehawk AS | Ecsta 4X KU22 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 70 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone Firehawk AS | Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 87 | 86 |
| Dry | 94 | 94 |
| Wet | 87 | 90 |
| Snow | 79 | 85 |
| Comfort | 94 | 90 |
| Noise | 90 | 84 |
| Treadwear | 92 | 85 |
| Handling | 70 | 70 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
87
/ 100
Tire A
86
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Firestone FireHawk AS is generally regarded as a high-value, sporty all-season tire that offers impressive dry grip and handling characteristics. While many users praise its longevity and aesthetic appeal, there is a notable divide regarding its wet-weather performance, with some users reporting significant concerns regarding hydroplaning.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability
- Strong dry traction and cornering stability
- Attractive aesthetic design
- High value-to-price ratio
- Responsive steering feedback and sidewall stiffness
Cons
- Significant concerns regarding hydroplaning in heavy rain
- Potential for tread cracking after extended high-mileage use
- Availability issues at local retail outlets
Observations
- Owners of RWD performance vehicles like the Ford Mustang and Infiniti G35 report high satisfaction with cornering and handling.
- The tire demonstrates robust durability on high-torque FWD vehicles, effectively resisting belt shifting compared to other brands.
- Drivers of heavy, body-on-frame sedans appreciate the increased sidewall stiffness for improved steering feedback.
The Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 is widely regarded as a high-value, all-season tire that delivers balanced performance across dry, wet, and light winter conditions. While it may not lead its class in any single performance metric, users consistently praise its affordability and reliability, making it a popular choice for daily drivers seeking a cost-effective alternative to premium brands.
Pros
- Exceptional price-to-performance ratio
- Strong wet weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- Responsive handling and cornering stability
- Surprisingly capable performance in light snow conditions
Cons
- Road noise can increase as the tire wears
- Some users find them louder than premium OEM alternatives
- Ride comfort is adequate but may not fully absorb road imperfections for all drivers
Observations
- Users with smaller, lighter vehicles like the Chevy Spark and Toyota Corolla report improved handling and rim protection compared to factory-installed tires.
- Owners of higher-horsepower vehicles, such as the Cadillac CTS-V, find the tire to be a capable and economical daily-driving option, though it is not marketed as a dedicated performance tire.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Firestone Firehawk AS | B · Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season High Performance tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 4 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 18″ | — |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 480 A A | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 50,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
87
/ 100
Firestone
86
/ 100
Kumho
Too close to call: Firestone Firehawk AS and Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 are within 2 points overall. Firestone Firehawk AS is stronger on treadwear, noise and comfort. Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 is stronger on snow and wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Firestone Firehawk AS scores 92 vs 85 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Firestone Firehawk AS scores 90 vs 84 on noise.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 scores 85 vs 79 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Firestone Firehawk AS scores 94 vs 90 on comfort.
Tire A · Firestone Firehawk AS
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22
More comparisons
Also compared with
Firestone Firehawk AS also compared with
Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22 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.