Head-to-head Updated

Kumho Ecsta PS71 vs Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Ecsta Sport PS72 is ahead, 83–71

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Tire AKumho

Ecsta PS71

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

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.”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 77

    Dry

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +8
    85
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PS71Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score)7282
    Reviews found online8591
    Dry Braking (% of best)86%92%
    Dry Handling (% of best)98%99%
  2. 84

    Wet

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +3
    87
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PS71Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score)8686
    Reviews found online8088
    Wet Braking (% of best)100%93%
    Wet Circle (% of best)99%98%
    Wet Handling (% of best)98%99%
  3. 76

    Comfort

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +3
    79
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PS71Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score)7982
    Reviews found online7375
  4. 30

    Noise

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +39
    69
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PS71Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score)3069
  5. 71

    Treadwear

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +14
    85
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PS71Ecsta Sport PS72
    Reviews found online7185
  6. 79

    Handling

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +8
    87
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PS71Ecsta Sport PS72
    Reviews found online7987
Scores at a glance
Kumho Ecsta PS71 vs Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryKumho Ecsta PS71Kumho 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.

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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
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Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Ecsta PS71

Ecsta Sport PS72

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.

DisciplineCategoryEcsta PS71Ecsta Sport PS72ΔBoth?
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

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Ecsta PS71

Pros

  • Outstanding wet weather grip and aquaplaning resistance
  • High value for money compared to tier-one premium brands
  • Predictable handling and solid cornering stability in both dry and wet conditions

Cons

  • Noticeable road noise or droning at motorway speeds on certain vehicles
  • Occasional reports of balancing difficulties or out-of-round/egg-shaped tires
  • Softer sidewalls can lead to slightly vague steering response around center or tread block movement
All owner themes in the Ecsta PS71 review

Tire B Ecsta Sport PS72

Pros

  • Excellent wet and dry grip with short braking distances
  • High value for money compared to Tier-1 premium brands
  • Stable, predictable handling and confident cornering

Cons

  • Reported instances of out-of-round tires causing high-speed steering vibrations
  • Occasional complaints about increased road noise on certain rough surfaces
  • Rapid tread wear reported by some users during aggressive, spirited driving
All owner themes in the Ecsta Sport PS72 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Kumho Ecsta PS71

Mixed

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.

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

Tire B

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72

Positive

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.

r/TyreReviews ·73 upvotes ·2026-04-04

“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.”

r/TyreReviews ·57 upvotes ·2025-06-21

“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”

r/TyreReviews ·38 upvotes ·2026-05-31

“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.”

Top themes
#Dry and wet grip#Price and value#Ride comfort and noise#Comparison to Michelin#Handling and steering feel#Treadwear and longevity

Based on 29 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho Ecsta PS71 B · Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
CategorySummer Ultra High Performance tires—
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover—
Sizes available137
Rim diameters16″17″ – 21″
Tread depth—9.4/32″
UTQG—320 A A
Treadwear warranty—30,000 mi
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure—50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

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.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 69 vs 30 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 85 vs 71 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 85 vs 77 on dry.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 87 vs 79 on handling.

Tire A · Kumho Ecsta PS71
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72

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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 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.

83

Leads

Ecsta Sport PS72

Amazon