75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
75/100
27 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 vs Sumitomo H/TR Z — 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
67
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
68/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 — better treadwear, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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Category breakdown
5 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)
H/TR Z leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HM KH31 | H/TR Z |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 83 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HM KH31 | H/TR Z |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 73 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HM KH31 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HM KH31 | H/TR Z |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 68 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HM KH31 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HM KH31 | H/TR Z |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 50 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HM KH31 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HM KH31 | H/TR Z |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 70 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 | Sumitomo H/TR Z |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 67 |
| Dry | 81 | 83 |
| Wet | 73 | 73 |
| Comfort | 78 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 50 |
| Handling | 74 | 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
75
/ 100
Tire A
67
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 is widely regarded as a high-value tire that offers a compelling balance of comfort, low noise, and reliable grip for daily driving. While the majority of users praise its performance-to-price ratio, there is a notable divide in user experience, with some reporting exceptional longevity and handling, while others cite inconsistent wet-weather performance and premature wear.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
- Low road noise and high levels of ride comfort
- Strong dry-weather handling and cornering confidence
- Good longevity for many users under varied driving conditions
Cons
- Inconsistent wet-weather grip reported by some users
- Reports of premature or uneven tread wear on certain vehicles
- Occasional complaints regarding sidewall durability and road hazard susceptibility
- Subjective 'plastic' feel or lack of steering feedback for performance-oriented drivers
Observations
- Users with smaller, performance-oriented hatchbacks (e.g., Peugeot 106 GTI) found the tire to be an excellent, cost-effective solution for awkward wheel sizes.
- Drivers of heavier vehicles and MPVs reported high satisfaction with the tire's ability to maintain composure and tread life during long-distance highway driving.
- Some owners of rear-wheel-drive sedans reported rapid outer-edge wear, suggesting the tire may be sensitive to alignment or specific suspension geometries.
The Sumitomo H/TR Z receives highly polarized feedback, with users divided between those praising its value and longevity and those reporting significant durability and safety concerns. While some drivers report excellent tread life and performance comparable to premium brands, others cite premature wear and catastrophic structural failure.
Pros
- High value-for-money proposition
- Strong dry weather traction
- Competitive tread life for some users
Cons
- Inconsistent tread wear and longevity
- Subpar wet weather performance
- Reports of structural failure and blowouts
Observations
- Users operating on challenging terrain, such as steep country roads, reported significantly accelerated tread wear compared to standard commuting.
- Drivers maintaining specific tire pressure protocols, such as nitrogen filling and slightly elevated PSI, reported better-than-average longevity on mid-sized vehicles like the Volvo V50.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 | B · Sumitomo H/TR Z |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Touring tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Kumho
67
/ 100
Sumitomo
Winner: Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 — better treadwear, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 scores 72 vs 50 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 scores 78 vs 68 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 scores 74 vs 70 on handling.
Tire A · Kumho Ecsta HM KH31
Tire B · Sumitomo H/TR Z
More comparisons
Also compared with
Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 also compared with
Sumitomo H/TR Z 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.