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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Kumho Ecsta PA51 vs Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 — 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 Kumho

Kumho Ecsta PA51

All Season Ultra High Performance tires

Kumho Ecsta PA51 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
68/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
91/100
108 owner reviews
Dry
79
Wet
86
Snow
76
Comfort
50
Noise
90
Treadwear
90
Handling
91

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Michelin

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4

All Season Ultra High Performance tires

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
85/100
5 professional tests
User signal (40%)
91/100
4,464 owner reviews
Dry
96
Wet
93
Snow
55
Comfort
89
Noise
97
Treadwear
87
Handling
96

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 — better comfort, dry and wet. Pick the Kumho Ecsta PA51 if snow and treadwear matter most to you.
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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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport All Season 4 leads by 17
A — Kumho Ecsta PA51
79
B — Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
96
Why this score
SourceEcsta PA51Pilot Sport All Season 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 69 96
Tire Rack owners 89 94
Tyre Reviews owners 75 89
SimpleTire owners 98 –
America's Tire owners 94 97
Dry Braking (% of best) 93% 100%
Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 98%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport All Season 4 leads by 7
A — Kumho Ecsta PA51
86
B — Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
93
Why this score
SourceEcsta PA51Pilot Sport All Season 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 85 94
Tire Rack owners 84 91
Tyre Reviews owners 58 89
SimpleTire owners 98 –
America's Tire owners 89 94
Wet Braking (% of best) 92% 100%
Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 96%

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ecsta PA51 leads by 21
A — Kumho Ecsta PA51
76
B — Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
55
Why this score
SourceEcsta PA51Pilot Sport All Season 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 74 43
Tire Rack owners 63 74
Tyre Reviews owners 60 68
SimpleTire owners 88 –
Snow Handling (% of best) 100% 88%
Snow Traction (% of best) 88% 62%

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport All Season 4 leads by 39
A — Kumho Ecsta PA51
50
B — Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
89
Why this score
SourceEcsta PA51Pilot Sport All Season 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 23 88
Tire Rack owners 82 88
Tyre Reviews owners 63 73
SimpleTire owners 93 –
America's Tire owners 92 94

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport All Season 4 leads by 7
A — Kumho Ecsta PA51
90
B — Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
97
Why this score
SourceEcsta PA51Pilot Sport All Season 4
Professional tests (TWG score) – 100
SimpleTire owners 96 –
America's Tire owners 89 92

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ecsta PA51 leads by 3
A — Kumho Ecsta PA51
90
B — Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
87
Why this score
SourceEcsta PA51Pilot Sport All Season 4
Tire Rack owners 79 84
Tyre Reviews owners 85 73
SimpleTire owners 94 –
America's Tire owners 90 91

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Pilot Sport All Season 4 leads by 5
A — Kumho Ecsta PA51
91
B — Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
96
Why this score
SourceEcsta PA51Pilot Sport All Season 4
Tyre Reviews owners 75 86
America's Tire owners 92 96

Scores at a glance

Kumho Ecsta PA51 vs Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryKumho Ecsta PA51Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
Relative Score 82 88
Dry 79 96
Wet 86 93
Snow 76 55
Comfort 50 89
Noise 90 97
Treadwear 90 87
Handling 91 96

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
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Important
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

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?
Dry Braking Dry 93% #7/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/4 · Tire Rack Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test -7.1 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #4/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 98% #2/4 · Tire Rack Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test +0.9 Different tests
Price Other 70% #2/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 100% #7/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test -30.4 Same test
Overall Ranking Overall 17% #6/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 25% #4/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test -8.3 Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 100% #6/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 88% #2/4 · 2022/23 UHP All Season Tyre Test +11.4 Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 88% #2/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 62% #2/2 · Michelin Pilot Sport 4S vs Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 vs Michelin X-Ice Snow +26.1 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 65% #6/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 94% #3/4 · Tire Rack Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test -28.5 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 80% #6/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 95% #3/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test -15 Same test
Subj. Noise Subj 100% #1/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 80% #4/4 · Tire Rack Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test +20 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 80% #5/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 85% #4/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test -5 Same test
Tyre Weight Tyre 100% #7/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 95% #5/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test +4.7 Same test
Wet Braking Wet 92% #6/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test -7.9 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 98% #6/7 · 2020 Tyre Reviews UHP All Season Tyre Test 96% #2/4 · 2022/23 UHP All Season Tyre Test +2.1 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Kumho Ecsta PA51

The Kumho Ecsta PA51 is widely regarded as a high-value, ultra-high-performance all-season tire that delivers impressive dry grip and ride comfort at a competitive price point. While the vast majority of users report satisfaction with its handling and noise levels, a small minority of drivers find its wet-weather performance and noise characteristics lacking compared to premium-tier alternatives.

Pros

  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio
  • Strong dry pavement traction and cornering grip
  • Quiet and smooth ride quality
  • Attractive sidewall aesthetics
  • Consistent, even tread wear over long-term use

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance in heavy rain or standing water
  • Some reports of increased road noise over time
  • Limited availability in certain niche sizes
  • Occasional traction loss under hard acceleration

Observations

  • Users with performance-oriented sedans (e.g., Acura TL, Infiniti G35x) report that the tire effectively manages power delivery and provides a significant upgrade over worn OEM tires.
  • Owners of daily drivers and SUVs frequently praise the tire's longevity and comfort, noting it performs well for suburban and highway commuting.
  • Some users noted that while the tire is excellent for general use, it may not meet the extreme performance expectations of high-horsepower sports cars compared to top-tier dedicated performance tires.
Tire B Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4

The Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 is widely regarded as a top-tier ultra-high-performance all-season tire, praised for its exceptional wet and dry grip that rivals dedicated summer tires. While many users appreciate its ability to eliminate the need for seasonal tire swaps, some owners report concerns regarding road noise, tread life, and a stiffer ride compared to touring-oriented tires.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry traction, providing high confidence in varied weather conditions.
  • Significant performance upgrade over OEM run-flat tires in terms of ride comfort and handling.
  • Strong performance in light snow and cold temperatures, making it a viable year-round option for many climates.
  • Predictable and stable handling characteristics, often described as 'planted' or 'on rails'.

Cons

  • Reports of excessive road noise or 'droning' at highway speeds, particularly on certain vehicle chassis.
  • Tread life often falls short of the 45,000-mile warranty, especially on high-torque or heavy vehicles.
  • Stiffer sidewalls can lead to a harsher ride over road imperfections and increased susceptibility to pothole damage.
  • Some users report a noticeable decrease in fuel efficiency or EV range compared to OEM low-rolling-resistance tires.

Observations

  • Tesla and EV owners frequently note a 5-20% reduction in range and increased tire noise compared to EV-specific tires.
  • Users with staggered wheel setups (common on BMWs and Corvettes) report faster rear tire wear and inability to rotate, leading to shorter overall tire life.
  • Drivers of heavy SUVs and performance sedans often praise the transformation in handling but note that the tires can be sensitive to alignment and road conditions.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Kumho Ecsta PA51

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4

Mixed

Community opinion on the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 is generally positive, with many drivers praising their excellent balance of dry/wet grip, sporty handling, and ride comfort compared to stock options. However, some users report mixed experiences regarding cold-weather limitations, road noise, and range/efficiency impacts on electric vehicles. Competitor comparisons against the Continental DWS06+ and Michelin CrossClimate2 also highlight varied preferences depending on regional climate and performance priorities.

r/TeslaModelY ·52 upvotes ·2023-02-26

“Replaced tires with Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4, ride significantly improved My 2021 MYLR with 19" Gemini wheels ran over a screw in the tire sidewall and I had to replace the tire. I decided to replace all four tires since the tread was low anyway. I ended up replacing with the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. I was happy to find that the ride quality significantly improved after this. Just wanted to let folks know. Others have pointed out that there's a slight range efficiency hit and the tires don't reach all the way to the Gemini rims like the stock Continentals do. I find I don't care about these things and enjoy the ride quality improvement a lot. If I put the car in Chill mode now and drive others around, it's a much better ride experience for them on residential streets. The tires were a bit expensive, $1700 to replace all four including labor (in the SF Bay, a HCOL area) but I had to replace the tires anyway and the benefits were worth it to me.”

r/tires ·8 upvotes ·2023-09-29

“Michelin PSAS4 vs Conti DWS06+ Recently did a change-up, went from a set of Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus (driven 17,000 miles / 27,360 kilometres) to a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season 4. I drive a VW GTI and live in Southern Oregon with a 75-mile (120-km) roundtrip commute everyday and here are my observations: the Michelins are a touch quieter and dare I say offer a more ‘refined’ ride the Contis felt stiffer (subjective) but has better cornering without a doubt. Ran both sets at 39 psi (269 kPa) for the 225/40-18 size. the Contis definitely brake better under cool rainy conditions (ambient temp was about 13°C) the Contis perform very, very well in snowy conditions but I’ve yet to test out the Michelins in the same environment. I drove the Continentals on more than 10,000 miles of snow just last winter. the Michelins quickly lose grip when I dump the clutch in first gear, compared to the Continentals. The ESC on my GTI turns on more often with the Michelins as well. the Michelins are ever so slightly more fuel efficient but only a 1-3 mpg difference at best, I found Overall, if you’re looking for a more performance-focused (and light snow-biased) UHPAS tire definitely go for the DWS06 Plus. As for me I’m delighted with the PSAS4 overall, but it’s also because I’m highly biased on Michelins as a brand. Read more”

r/BMW ·3 upvotes ·2026-04-06

“I use these on my F80 M3 competition with the 666M wheels for the winter. I had Continental DWS 06 Plus on my E90 M3. The PSAS4 have stiffer side wall than the DWS06 Plus, so the ride will feel more sporty if that's what you're after. PSAS4 also have slightly more dry pavement grip and tad more steering feel than the DWS. The DWS is a tad bit quieter and softer sidewall. Superior to the PSAS4 in light snow. Dry pavement grip is still amazing. I have 2 sets of 666m wheels for my F80 comp. One set outfitted with Pilot sport all season 4 and the other set outfitted with Pilot sport 4s.”

r/tires ·2 upvotes ·2022-12-13

“As someone who just bought a dedicated winter tire because my Pilot Sport AS4s don’t do well in just cold, let alone the snow, I’d go for the cross climates. In my experience, around 36° F the Pilot Sport AS4 start to get stiff and lose traction. Add cold with rain or snow/ice, they are outright squirrelly.”

Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Ride comfort and noise#Cold weather and snow performance#EV efficiency and range impact#Comparison with Continental DWS06+#Tread life and durability#Comparison with Michelin CrossClimate2

Based on 43 community posts

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho Ecsta PA51 B · Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4
CategoryAll Season Ultra High Performance tiresAll Season Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available131
Rim diameters16″ – 19″20″
Tread depth10.5/32″9 - 10/32″
UTQG500 A A440 - 540 A - AA A
Treadwear warranty45,000 mi—
SidewallBlackwallBlack Side Wall
Max pressure51 psi50 - 51 psi
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho

Michelin

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 — better comfort, dry and wet. Pick the Kumho Ecsta PA51 if snow and treadwear matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 scores 89 vs 50 on comfort.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Kumho Ecsta PA51 scores 76 vs 55 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 scores 96 vs 79 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 scores 93 vs 86 on wet.

Tire A · Kumho Ecsta PA51
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4

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.