81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
80/100
30 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 vs Kumho Ecsta KU31 — 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
75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
76/100
165 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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)
Eagle F1 Directional 5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Eagle F1 Directional 5 | Ecsta KU31 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 83 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Eagle F1 Directional 5 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Eagle F1 Directional 5 | Ecsta KU31 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 75 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Eagle F1 Directional 5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Eagle F1 Directional 5 | Ecsta KU31 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 74 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Eagle F1 Directional 5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Eagle F1 Directional 5 | Ecsta KU31 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 72 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Eagle F1 Directional 5 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Eagle F1 Directional 5 | Ecsta KU31 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 76 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 | Kumho Ecsta KU31 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 75 |
| Dry | 87 | 83 |
| Wet | 81 | 75 |
| Snow | 52 | – |
| Comfort | 78 | 74 |
| Treadwear | 76 | 72 |
| Handling | 85 | 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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
75
/ 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 Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 is widely regarded as a high-value, ultra-high-performance tire that punches above its price point. Users consistently praise its impressive wet and dry grip, progressive handling, and surprising longevity, making it a popular choice for those seeking performance without the premium cost of top-tier flagship tires.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium competitors
- Strong wet weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of road feedback and predictable handling at the limit
- Impressive tread life for a performance-oriented tire
Cons
- Reports of soft sidewalls requiring higher tire pressures
- Increased road noise compared to some touring-focused tires
- Inconsistent ride comfort, with some users reporting a harsh or 'bouncy' experience
- Performance can degrade slightly under extreme, sustained heat
Observations
- Drivers of heavier vehicles, such as the BMW 5-series, noted the need for higher tire pressures to compensate for the softer sidewall construction.
- Users of smaller, lighter vehicles like the Honda Integra and Mazda MX-5 reported high satisfaction with the tire's turn-in responsiveness and cornering grip.
The Kumho Ecsta KU31 is widely regarded as a high-value, mid-range performance tire that offers impressive dry and wet grip for its price point. While many users report performance comparable to premium brands, consensus notes that the tire can become noisy as it wears and may exhibit inconsistent longevity depending on vehicle weight and driving style.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
- Strong dry and wet weather handling
- Progressive and predictable feedback at the limit
- Quiet and comfortable ride when new
Cons
- Increased road noise and potential 'droning' as tread wears
- Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting rapid wear
- Soft sidewalls can lead to less precise steering feel for some drivers
- Occasional reports of balancing issues or structural defects like sidewall bulges
Observations
- Heavier vehicles, such as large sedans and wagons, may experience accelerated inner-edge wear or 'feathering' if alignment is not perfectly maintained.
- Users with high-performance or remapped vehicles report that the tire handles increased torque well, though it may require more frequent rotation to maintain even wear.
- Some owners of vehicles with stiff or lowered suspension noted that the soft sidewalls provide good comfort but can feel slightly 'lethargic' during aggressive cornering.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 | B · Kumho Ecsta KU31 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Goodyear
75
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 scores 85 vs 76 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 scores 81 vs 75 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 scores 87 vs 83 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 scores 78 vs 74 on comfort.
Tire A · Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta KU31
More comparisons
Also compared with
Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 also compared with
Kumho Ecsta KU31 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.