Skip to content
Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27 — 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.

Tire A Hankook

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125

Summer Premium Touring tires

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
81/100
12 professional tests
User signal (40%)
81/100
123 owner reviews
Dry
88
Wet
83
Comfort
68
Noise
65
Treadwear
80
Handling
79

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Kumho

Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27

Summer Premium Touring tires

Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
70/100
21 owner reviews
Dry
76
Wet
62
Comfort
80
Noise
–
Treadwear
77
Handling
61

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27 if comfort matters most to you.
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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 3 K125 leads by 12
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
88
B — Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27
76
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 3 K125Ecowing ES01 KH27
Professional tests (TWG score) 87 –
Tyre Reviews owners 89 76

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 3 K125 leads by 21
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
83
B — Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27
62
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 3 K125Ecowing ES01 KH27
Professional tests (TWG score) 85 –
Tyre Reviews owners 80 62

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ecowing ES01 KH27 leads by 12
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
68
B — Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27
80
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 3 K125Ecowing ES01 KH27
Professional tests (TWG score) 60 –
Tyre Reviews owners 80 80

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
65
B — Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27
–
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 3 K125Ecowing ES01 KH27
Professional tests (TWG score) 65 –

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 3 K125 leads by 3
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
80
B — Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27
77
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 3 K125Ecowing ES01 KH27
Tyre Reviews owners 80 77

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 3 K125 leads by 18
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
79
B — Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27
61
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 3 K125Ecowing ES01 KH27
Tyre Reviews owners 79 61
DriverReviews owners – 82

Scores at a glance

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryHankook Ventus Prime 3 K125Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27
Relative Score 80 71
Dry 88 76
Wet 83 62
Comfort 68 80
Noise 65 –
Treadwear 80 77
Handling 79 61

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

Tire A

Tire B

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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.

DisciplineCategoryTire ATire BΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 13% #8/18 · 2022 ADAC 16" SUV Summer Tyre Test 4% #28/47 · 2018 AutoBild Summer Tyre Overview +8.9 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125

The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 is widely regarded as a high-value touring tire that excels in dry conditions and offers a comfortable, quiet ride for daily commuting. While it is frequently praised for its competitive pricing and balanced performance, some users report inconsistent wet-weather confidence and accelerated tread wear when subjected to heavier vehicle loads or aggressive driving styles.

Pros

  • Excellent dry road grip and braking performance
  • High value-for-money ratio compared to premium competitors
  • Comfortable ride quality with effective vibration absorption
  • Predictable and stable handling for touring applications

Cons

  • Increased risk of hydroplaning as tread depth decreases
  • Accelerated tread wear on heavier vehicles or under high-torque conditions
  • Noise levels can increase noticeably after several thousand miles
  • Sidewall durability concerns, including reports of cracking

Observations

  • Users with heavier vehicles (e.g., MPVs like the Sharan or SUVs) report significantly faster tread wear and reduced longevity.
  • Drivers noted that the tire performs best as a comfort-oriented touring tire, with some users finding it less responsive or 'dull' on smaller 16-inch rim sizes compared to 17-inch variants.
  • Performance is highly sensitive to tread depth; wet-weather grip and aquaplaning resistance drop off noticeably once the tire reaches the 3-4mm wear mark.
Tire B Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27

The Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27 presents a highly polarized user experience, often described as either an excellent value-oriented eco-tire or a dangerous liability. While many owners praise its fuel efficiency, low noise levels, and comfort for daily commuting, a significant segment of users reports severe concerns regarding wet-weather traction and unpredictable handling during cornering.

Pros

  • High fuel efficiency and rolling resistance improvements
  • Low road noise and quiet operation
  • Good ride comfort and bump absorption
  • Strong value for money for casual, non-aggressive driving

Cons

  • Unpredictable and poor wet-weather grip
  • Tendency to slip or lose traction on roundabouts and corners
  • Soft sidewalls leading to a 'jelly' or unstable handling feel
  • High-pitched screeching noise when pushed in dry conditions

Observations

  • Users driving smaller hatchbacks like the Honda Jazz or VW Up report significant confidence issues with rear-end stability on roundabouts.
  • Drivers on rougher road surfaces, such as those in Kenya, noted that while tread life is impressive, the sidewalls are susceptible to damage from potholes.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 B · Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresSummer Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook

Kumho

Winner: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27 if comfort matters most to you.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 83 vs 62 on wet.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 79 vs 61 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 88 vs 76 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27 scores 80 vs 68 on comfort.

Tire A · Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
Tire B · Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27

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.