81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
78/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
80/100
38 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Kumho Ecsta HS51 vs Kumho Ecsta PS71 — 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.
VS
79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
84/100
13 professional tests
User signal (40%)
77/100
84 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Kumho Ecsta HS51 — better comfort, dry and treadwear. Pick the Kumho Ecsta PS71 if noise matters most to you.
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)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HS51 | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 85 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 92% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 95% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HS51 | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 80 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 75% | 88% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 100% | 92% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HS51 | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 74 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 73 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HS51 | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 70 | 92 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HS51 | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 71 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ecsta HS51 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta HS51 | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 79 |
| DriverReviews owners | 82 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta HS51 | Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 79 |
| Dry | 88 | 81 |
| Wet | 85 | 83 |
| Comfort | 84 | 74 |
| Noise | 70 | 92 |
| Treadwear | 77 | 71 |
| Handling | 80 | 79 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
79
/ 100
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.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 92% #9/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 95% #9/52 · 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout | -3.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #5/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 95% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | +4.1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 75% #20/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 83% #15/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | -7.6 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #5/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 100% #17/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | -2.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 50% #2/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 62% #4/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | -11.2 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 59% #3/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 47% #2/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | +11.5 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 73% #4/15 · 2021 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | 49% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +24.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 6% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +94.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 99% #2/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 93% #15/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | +6 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #9/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 0% #7/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 75% #9/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 88% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | -13.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 92% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | +7.7 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Kumho Ecsta HS51 is widely regarded as a high-value, budget-friendly tire that offers performance comparable to premium brands for daily driving. While most users praise its wet and dry grip, comfort, and longevity, a subset of reviewers reports inconsistent experiences regarding sidewall stiffness and rapid tread wear.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium competitors
- Strong wet and dry traction for daily commuting
- High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
- Impressive tread life for many users, often exceeding 30,000 miles
Cons
- Reports of soft sidewalls leading to handling 'wobble' or lack of feedback
- Inconsistent tread wear, with some users reporting premature failure
- Occasional issues with aquaplaning in heavy rain
- Not recommended for high-performance or aggressive cornering
Observations
- Users with heavier vehicles or those driving at high speeds noted concerns regarding sidewall stability and cornering precision.
- Drivers of compact and mid-sized sedans generally report the highest satisfaction regarding noise levels and overall comfort.
The Kumho Ecsta PS71 is widely regarded as a high-value, mid-range performance tire that offers impressive wet and dry grip, often rivaling more expensive premium brands. While most users praise its handling and affordability, a subset of owners reports significant issues with road noise, inconsistent manufacturing quality, and occasional balancing difficulties.
Pros
- Excellent wet and dry traction
- High value-for-money proposition
- Predictable handling and cornering feedback
- Strong aquaplaning resistance
Cons
- Reports of road noise and droning at highway speeds
- Inconsistent manufacturing quality (balancing issues and 'egg-shaped' tires)
- Soft sidewall construction leading to a 'floaty' or unstable feel for some drivers
- Variable tread life depending on vehicle type and driving style
Observations
- Users with high-torque RWD vehicles (e.g., BMW, Jaguar) generally report high satisfaction with grip levels, though some note faster rear-tire wear.
- Owners of smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., MX-5) occasionally report a 'floaty' sensation due to tread block movement, which can be unsettling during spirited driving.
- Some users on larger rim sizes (19-20 inch) report increased road noise and sensitivity to road imperfections.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Kumho Ecsta HS51
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Kumho Ecsta PS71
Community discussions regarding the Kumho Ecsta PS71 generally present it as a solid, budget-friendly ultra-high-performance (UHP) summer tire offering good value, though opinions on its limits vary. Some users praise its handling transformations and decent wet/dry grip for spirited driving, while others note it feels merely adequate or mediocre until warmed up, preferring premium alternatives when budget permits.
r/tires
·5 upvotes ·2022-10-17
“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”
r/TyreReviews
·3 upvotes ·2026-03-08
“Between those I'd go with the Premiumcontact 7 or the ZE320 if you want to save some money. The continental seems to be serious competition for premium UHP tyres, afaik it gets similar results to the PS5 in tests. I wouldn't touch any of the sporty tyres mentioned, except for the PS71 which I still wouldn't take over the Continental.”
r/TyreReviews
·2 upvotes ·2024-10-25
“I've had the PS71 several years ago - it was ok, nothing spectacular. They might have changed the compound now, so it may be better. Its a good tire, I don't remember any real weaknesses, it just never felt like "yeah, this sticks like glue to the road". Edit: I just remembered - it was mediocre in the city - when the tire was not warmed up, but I reckon this is shared between most sport tires with high speed rating. Once warmed up was good.”
r/TeslaUK
·2 upvotes ·2026-08-28
“go with Kumho Ecsta PS71 EV around £140 – £165. Good value for money”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Value for money#Tire wear and longevity#UHP performance characteristics#Comparison with premium brands#Sidewall width and markings#Tire pressure management
Based on 19 community posts
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta HS51 | B · Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Kumho
79
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: Kumho Ecsta HS51 — better comfort, dry and treadwear. Pick the Kumho Ecsta PS71 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 92 vs 70 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho Ecsta HS51 scores 84 vs 74 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho Ecsta HS51 scores 88 vs 81 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Kumho Ecsta HS51 scores 77 vs 71 on treadwear.
Tire A · Kumho Ecsta HS51
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta PS71
More comparisons
Also compared with
Kumho Ecsta HS51 also compared with
Kumho Ecsta PS71 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.