Tests 78 · 13 tests Owners 92 · 2,926 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 20 in 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test (value)
“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Ecsta Sport PS72 is ahead, 83–71
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Tests 78 · 13 tests Owners 92 · 2,926 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 20 in 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test (value)
“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”
Tests 85 · 8 tests Owners 94 · 542 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 9 in 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
“Kumho ecsta sport S. Huge improvement Just finished off the stock Michelin Pilot sport 4 street tires. They were so darn loud. I had my track tires on and they were significantly quieter than the PS4 tires. So I decided to switch to the Kumho Ecsta Sport S (PS72) in a 225/40/18 Immediately noticed a slightly more compliant ride (taller sidewall is the cause?) and much quieter even on crosshatch concrete. They’re relatively cheap at $160 per tire. Treadwear is much lower at 240 so I’ll see how long they last.”
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 72 | 82 |
| Reviews found online | 85 | 91 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 86% | 92% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 86 |
| Reviews found online | 80 | 88 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 100% | 93% |
| Wet Circle (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 79 | 82 |
| Reviews found online | 73 | 75 |
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 30 | 69 |
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 71 | 85 |
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 79 | 87 |
| Category | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 83 |
| Dry | 77 | 85 |
| Wet | 84 | 87 |
| Comfort | 76 | 79 |
| Noise | 30 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 85 |
| Handling | 79 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Ecsta PS71
Ecsta Sport PS72
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 | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 86% #6/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 94% #5/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −8.0 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 86% #10/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 92% #8/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −6.2 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #12/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 99% #4/9 · 2026 Motor Summer Tyre Test | −0.8 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 95% #2/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 95% #2/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −0.4 | Different tests |
| Abrasion | Other | 51% #14/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 70% #11/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | −18.7 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 95% #20/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 95% #18/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | −0.7 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 89% #2/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 89% #7/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 49% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 76% #13/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | −26.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/52 · 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout | 25% #4/7 · 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #2/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 91% #9/9 · 2026 Motor Summer Tyre Test | +9.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 94% #10/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 80% #7/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | +14.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 92% #2/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 85% #5/7 · 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test | +6.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 89% #4/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | −11.1 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #7/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | 0% #6/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #2/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 93% #4/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | +7.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 99% #5/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 98% #8/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | +0.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #5/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 99% #4/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −0.9 | Different tests |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
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.
“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.”
“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.”
“go with Kumho Ecsta PS71 EV around £140 – £165. Good value for money”
Based on 19 community posts
Community opinion on the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 (and its 'Sport S' variant) is overwhelmingly positive, with many users praising its exceptional value, low noise levels, and impressive dry and wet grip that rivals premium tier brands like Michelin. While a few note potential drawbacks such as a lack of rim protection or varied longevity expectations, the general consensus is that these tires punch significantly above their weight class for the price.
“New summer tires A while ago, I made a post during my search for a new set of summer tires. In the end, I chose the Kumho PS72 Ecsta Sport S. My previous tires included the Michelin PS4S, Bridgestone Turanza T005, Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3, and Toyo Proxes Sport 2. With the Michelins being my favorite in terms of driving feel. By now, I’ve driven around 1,000 km on the Kumhos, and I’m pleasantly surprised. They offer excellent grip on dry roads and in corners, and they still perform well in wet conditions. My car has over 300 hp and AWD, so grip is definitely important. I can highly recommend these tires, especially considering the price. In terms of feel and performance, they don’t seem to fall short of the Michelin PS4S I had before, yet they cost me about half as much.”
“Thoroughly delighted with the new Kumho Ecsta Sport S (PS72) 500 miles ago I swapped out my “winter” (Pirelli WeatherActives) set for these Kumhos and I have been extremely satisfied with performance, cornering, and especially ride comfort and quietness. Mind you, this is the Ecsta Sport S, which is above the Ecsta Sport A/S and Sport in terms of sportiness. The price was also a delight, at just a hair above US$1,000 including labor. Car is a 2013 Audi Q5 with the supercharged 3.0 V6 running 20x9 Porsche Macan wheels. Read more”
“Kumho Sport PS72 (225/40/18) Absolutely in love with these tyres so far! I’ve currently only done about 150 miles in the warm UK weather, the dry grip is unbelievable & it feels so responsive. I moved from Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6’s to these, so you’d probably consider it a ‘downgrade’ however from what I’ve felt so far it feels great, we’re getting heavy rain over the next 5/6 days so I’ll be able to test the wet grip & braking so I’ll report back for that. One massive downside… the severe lack of Rim protection (as seen in the photos) if you regularly parking near kerbs or you’re a woman this is not ideal.”
Based on 29 community posts
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta PS71 | B · Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | — |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | — |
| Sizes available | 1 | 37 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 9.4/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 320 A A |
| Treadwear warranty | — | 30,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Kumho Ecsta PS71
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
Winner: Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 — better noise, treadwear and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 69 vs 30 on noise.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 85 vs 71 on treadwear.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 85 vs 77 on dry.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 87 vs 79 on handling.
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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 found online. 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.