Tests 62 · 4 tests Owners 72 · 17 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 50 in 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (value)
Head-to-head
Updated
General Altimax One S vs Kumho Ecsta HS52 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Ecsta HS52 is ahead, 77–67
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Tests 81 · 7 tests Owners 71 · 2,328 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (wear)
“Mini review of the Kumho Ecsta HS52 I was running some Hankook's on my GT before and the tire wall not stiff enough. Now I've mounted these Kumho Ecsta HS52's and I highly recommend them: The tire wall is nicely rigid and they grip great in the dry, took quite some intent to make them loose traction. Additionally, I've accidentally ran over a pretty big sharp looking rock at decent speed that aimed right in a tread groove (thinnest part) and the thing shrugged it off no problem. And all of this for a damn good price too! So if anyone's looking for good tires, now you know.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
61
Dry
Ecsta HS52 +2182Why this score
Source Altimax One S Ecsta HS52 Professional tests (TWG score) 53 85 Reviews found online 74 76 Dry Braking (% of best) 91% 100% -
65
Wet
Ecsta HS52 +1479Why this score
Source Altimax One S Ecsta HS52 Professional tests (TWG score) 60 84 Reviews found online 72 71 Wet Braking (% of best) 78% 90% Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) 81% 94% -
68
Comfort
Altimax One S +365Why this score
Source Altimax One S Ecsta HS52 Reviews found online 68 60 -
–
Noise
No comparison65Why this score
Source Altimax One S Ecsta HS52 Professional tests (TWG score) – 64 -
72
Treadwear
Ecsta HS52 +274Why this score
Source Altimax One S Ecsta HS52 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 78 Reviews found online 72 67 -
70
Handling
Ecsta HS52 +676Why this score
Source Altimax One S Ecsta HS52 Reviews found online 70 76
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax One S | Kumho Ecsta HS52 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 77 |
| Dry | 61 | 82 |
| Wet | 65 | 79 |
| Comfort | 68 | 65 |
| Noise | – | 65 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 74 |
| Handling | 70 | 76 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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.
Important
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Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Altimax One S
77
/ 100
Ecsta HS52
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | Altimax One S | Ecsta HS52 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 91% #37/44 · 2022 Summer Tyre Market Overview | 100% #2/44 · 2022 Summer Tyre Market Overview | −9.2 | Same test |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 96% #17/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 93% #15/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | +3.4 | Different tests |
| Abrasion | Other | 46% #24/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 59% #12/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −13.4 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 66% #6/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 75% #5/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | −9.2 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 57% #16/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −42.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 3% #33/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test | 33% #3/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −30.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #42/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 94% #14/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −4.4 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 78% #39/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 90% #17/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −11.2 | Same test |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | Wet | 81% #38/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 94% #10/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −12.3 | Same test |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Altimax One S
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather grip and high driver confidence in the rain
- High level of ride comfort and quietness for most daily driving conditions
- Good tread wear longevity and overall value for money compared to premium brands
Cons
- Notable tire and road noise reported by multiple users
- Unresponsive steering feel and lack of sporty handling characteristics
- Very soft sidewalls that are vulnerable to punctures from minor hazards like thorns
Tire B Ecsta HS52
Pros
- Excellent wet and dry weather traction
- Low road noise and quiet operation
- Smooth and comfortable ride quality
Cons
- A few reports of accelerated or abnormal tread wear
- Slightly sensitive to tire pressure regarding comfort
- Occasional complaints of high-speed vibration or imbalance early on
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
General Altimax One S
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Kumho Ecsta HS52
The Kumho Ecsta HS52 receives a polarized mix of reviews from the community, praised by many for its rigid sidewalls, strong dry grip, sharp steering responsiveness, and great value compared to premium alternatives. However, some users report disappointing wet weather performance, potential issues with aquaplaning resistance, and inconsistent test results across different sizes. Overall, it is viewed as a solid mid-range option, though experiences with wet traction and longevity vary significantly among drivers.
r/tires
·3 upvotes ·2025-09-23
“What’s up with these tyres? Kumho ectsa hs52 date code 3923, tyres are (UK) legal regards tread but I can’t imagine this damage is normal. Both front tyres have this, looks like the tread is tearing apart in multiple places. I did not fit these tyres but it was mot’d 3 months ago and has done 2k miles since. I’ve owned the car 11 months but only noticed this very recently. I am getting them replaced on Monday with little use before then but I’m curious how this has happened. Is it just a shit brand? Wear is even across the face so I don’t think it would be the alignment or anything to do with the car and the damage is random across the contact patch. It’s a Peugeot 508 2l diesel so quite a bit of weight on the nose. Fitting Bridgestone Turanza 6. Rear tyres are good, but a different brand (horizon horace 2122 date)”
r/TyreReviews
·2 upvotes ·2026-02-07
“I had the kumho ecsta hs52's on my previous car. I was very satisfied with them. Good grip in the dry and wet and very responsive. Kumho in general makes really good tires”
r/TyreReviews
·1 upvote ·2026-01-22
“Bad i have hs52 on my audi a3 8l quattro 1.8t i have no grip with rain.. Like cant corner fast it just goes straight... Dry its fine but wet forget it. My oncle has the same experience with kuhmo on his bmw 118 diesel he got some rims and they had pretty good threats kumho on it. He said all it wanted was to drift and spin out. He said a couple of times it did a 180 he said never again i said same don't trust my car with these tyres. Im gonna get some new rim 17" and Goodyear asymmetric 6. To replace my 16" stock rims with kumho... I have had bad tyres but never this bad. Like 1 ere prix were even better in my Mercedes even doh they became ovals.”
Top themes
#Dry grip and handling#Wet weather performance#Sidewall stiffness#Price and value#Comparison with competitors#Fuel economy and weight#Tread wear and durability
Based on 17 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · General Altimax One S | B · Kumho Ecsta HS52 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
General Altimax One S
77
/ 100
Kumho Ecsta HS52
Winner: Kumho Ecsta HS52 — better dry, wet and handling. Pick the General Altimax One S if comfort matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores 82 vs 61 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores 79 vs 65 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores 76 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
General Altimax One S scores 68 vs 65 on comfort.
Tire A · General Altimax One S
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta HS52
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.