69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
17 professional tests
User signal (40%)
66/100
44 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Firestone RoadHawk vs Kumho Ecsta PS71 — 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
79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
84/100
13 professional tests
User signal (40%)
77/100
84 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Kumho Ecsta PS71 — better comfort, treadwear and handling. Pick the Firestone RoadHawk if dry matters most to you.
Read full
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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)
RoadHawk leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 85 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 94% | 96% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 100% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 76 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 80 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 82% | 88% |
| Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) | 70% | 65% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 92% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 39 | 74 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 73 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | 92 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 55 | 71 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 79 |
| DriverReviews owners | 82 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone RoadHawk | Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 79 |
| Dry | 84 | 81 |
| Wet | 75 | 83 |
| Comfort | 52 | 74 |
| Noise | 91 | 92 |
| Treadwear | 55 | 71 |
| Handling | 63 | 79 |
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
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Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
Tire A
79
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 92% #8/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 90% #11/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | +2.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% #18/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 96% #9/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | -1.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #2/15 · 2019 Summer and All Season Tyre Test | 98% #12/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 76% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 97% #4/10 · 2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test | -20.4 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 100% #47/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 98% #17/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Abrasion | Other | 55% #9/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 88% #14/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | -33.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 99% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 68% #9/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 69% #6/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | -0.6 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 51% #7/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 81% #11/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | -30.7 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 66% #6/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 49% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +17 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 8% #13/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout | 50% #2/11 · 2018 Ace 235/45 R18 Summer Tyre Test | -42.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 94% #11/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 100% #2/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | -5.4 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 56% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 88% #8/10 · 2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test | -32.4 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 83% #7/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 70% #7/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | +13.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 27% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 60% #13/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | -33.3 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #14/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 0% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 82% #32/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 88% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | -5.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | Wet | 70% #29/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 65% #5/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | +4.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #3/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 92% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | +6.9 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Firestone RoadHawk is a polarizing mid-range tire that excels in comfort and wet-weather grip for daily commuting but suffers from significant durability concerns. While many users praise its value and performance on smaller, lighter vehicles, a substantial portion of owners report rapid, uneven tread wear and soft sidewalls that compromise handling precision during spirited driving.
Pros
- Strong wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of ride comfort and noise suppression
- Competitive price point compared to premium brands
- Effective performance for standard, non-sporty daily driving
Cons
- Rapid and often uneven tread wear
- Soft sidewalls leading to a 'mushy' feel and visual appearance of under-inflation
- Lack of steering feedback and precision in cornering
- Reports of premature cracking or perishing in low-mileage scenarios
Observations
- Users with smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., Fiesta, Golf) report higher satisfaction regarding comfort and handling compared to owners of heavier diesel estates or vans.
- Drivers of heavier vehicles frequently report significant sidewall deflection and poor cornering confidence, often requiring higher tire pressures to compensate.
- The tire is frequently criticized for lack of stability when fitted to commercial vans, with users noting a 'wobbling' sensation under load.
The Kumho Ecsta PS71 is widely regarded as a high-value, mid-range performance tire that offers impressive wet and dry grip, often rivaling more expensive premium brands. While most users praise its handling and affordability, a subset of owners reports significant issues with road noise, inconsistent manufacturing quality, and occasional balancing difficulties.
Pros
- Excellent wet and dry traction
- High value-for-money proposition
- Predictable handling and cornering feedback
- Strong aquaplaning resistance
Cons
- Reports of road noise and droning at highway speeds
- Inconsistent manufacturing quality (balancing issues and 'egg-shaped' tires)
- Soft sidewall construction leading to a 'floaty' or unstable feel for some drivers
- Variable tread life depending on vehicle type and driving style
Observations
- Users with high-torque RWD vehicles (e.g., BMW, Jaguar) generally report high satisfaction with grip levels, though some note faster rear-tire wear.
- Owners of smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., MX-5) occasionally report a 'floaty' sensation due to tread block movement, which can be unsettling during spirited driving.
- Some users on larger rim sizes (19-20 inch) report increased road noise and sensitivity to road imperfections.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Firestone RoadHawk
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Kumho Ecsta PS71
Community discussions regarding the Kumho Ecsta PS71 generally present it as a solid, budget-friendly ultra-high-performance (UHP) summer tire offering good value, though opinions on its limits vary. Some users praise its handling transformations and decent wet/dry grip for spirited driving, while others note it feels merely adequate or mediocre until warmed up, preferring premium alternatives when budget permits.
r/tires
·5 upvotes ·2022-10-17
“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”
r/TyreReviews
·3 upvotes ·2026-03-08
“Between those I'd go with the Premiumcontact 7 or the ZE320 if you want to save some money. The continental seems to be serious competition for premium UHP tyres, afaik it gets similar results to the PS5 in tests. I wouldn't touch any of the sporty tyres mentioned, except for the PS71 which I still wouldn't take over the Continental.”
r/TyreReviews
·2 upvotes ·2024-10-25
“I've had the PS71 several years ago - it was ok, nothing spectacular. They might have changed the compound now, so it may be better. Its a good tire, I don't remember any real weaknesses, it just never felt like "yeah, this sticks like glue to the road". Edit: I just remembered - it was mediocre in the city - when the tire was not warmed up, but I reckon this is shared between most sport tires with high speed rating. Once warmed up was good.”
r/TeslaUK
·2 upvotes ·2026-08-28
“go with Kumho Ecsta PS71 EV around £140 – £165. Good value for money”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Value for money#Tire wear and longevity#UHP performance characteristics#Comparison with premium brands#Sidewall width and markings#Tire pressure management
Based on 19 community posts
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Firestone RoadHawk | B · Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Firestone
79
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: Kumho Ecsta PS71 — better comfort, treadwear and handling. Pick the Firestone RoadHawk if dry matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 74 vs 52 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 71 vs 55 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 79 vs 63 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 83 vs 75 on wet.
Tire A · Firestone RoadHawk
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta PS71
More comparisons
Also compared with
Firestone RoadHawk also compared with
Kumho Ecsta PS71 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.