84
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
86/100
21 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Kumho Ecsta PA31 vs Nexen CP641 — 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
69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
67/100
33 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Kumho Ecsta PA31 — better wet, comfort and dry. Pick the Nexen CP641 if handling matters most to you.
Read full
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Category breakdown
7 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)
Ecsta PA31 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PA31 | CP641 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 75 |
| SimpleTire owners | 96 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PA31 leads by 31
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PA31 | CP641 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 79 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 59 |
| SimpleTire owners | 95 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PA31 | CP641 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 65 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 82 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PA31 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PA31 | CP641 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 76 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | 92 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PA31 | CP641 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 92 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PA31 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PA31 | CP641 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 68 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 76 |
| SimpleTire owners | 93 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
CP641 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PA31 | CP641 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 67 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta PA31 | Nexen CP641 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 84 | 69 |
| Dry | 92 | 75 |
| Wet | 90 | 59 |
| Snow | 79 | – |
| Comfort | 88 | 70 |
| Noise | 91 | – |
| Treadwear | 86 | 76 |
| Handling | 60 | 67 |
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
84
/ 100
Tire A
69
/ 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 Kumho Ecsta PA31 is widely regarded as a high-value, budget-friendly tire that delivers impressive dry and wet weather handling for daily driving. While most users praise its stability and comfort, some report issues with temporary flat-spotting after the vehicle has been parked for extended periods.
Pros
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Strong wet and dry traction
- Responsive handling and cornering stability
- Comfortable and quiet ride quality
Cons
- Tendency to develop temporary flat spots after sitting
- Occasional reports of sidewall durability issues
- Not intended for high-performance track use
Observations
- Users reported successful application on diverse platforms ranging from vintage compacts like the Corolla FX16 to larger sedans like the BMW 528i.
- The tire was noted as a viable, cost-effective option for the rear fitment of heavy motorcycles like the Honda Gold Wing GL1800.
The Nexen CP641 is a polarizing budget-tier tire that receives mixed reviews, primarily praised for its exceptional tread longevity and value-for-money proposition. While many users appreciate its dry-weather comfort and quiet ride, a significant portion of the user base reports poor wet-weather performance, including hydroplaning and a lack of steering confidence.
Pros
- Excellent tread life and durability
- High value for money compared to premium brands
- Generally comfortable ride quality
- Good dry-weather traction
Cons
- Poor wet-weather grip and braking performance
- High levels of road noise reported by many users
- Inconsistent quality control, including reports of sidewall cracking and belt separation
- Lack of steering feedback and confidence during aggressive maneuvers
Observations
- Users with heavier or performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., Celica GT-Four, Turbo Rover) noted a lack of confidence and 'twitchy' handling at the limit.
- Drivers of family vehicles like the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Scenic reported higher satisfaction regarding comfort and noise levels compared to those with sportier setups.
- The tire is directional, which some users noted as a limitation for rotation patterns.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta PA31 | B · Nexen CP641 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Ultra High Performance tires | All Season Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 7 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 18″ | — |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 500 A A | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 50,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
84
/ 100
Kumho
69
/ 100
Nexen
Winner: Kumho Ecsta PA31 — better wet, comfort and dry. Pick the Nexen CP641 if handling matters most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Kumho Ecsta PA31 scores 90 vs 59 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho Ecsta PA31 scores 88 vs 70 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho Ecsta PA31 scores 92 vs 75 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Kumho Ecsta PA31 scores 86 vs 76 on treadwear.
Tire A · Kumho Ecsta PA31
Tire B · Nexen CP641
More comparisons
Also compared with
Kumho Ecsta PA31 also compared with
Nexen CP641 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.