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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Kumho Ecsta PS71 vs Nexen Winguard Sport — 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
76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
73/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
46 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Kumho Ecsta PS71 — better noise, handling and wet. Pick the Nexen Winguard Sport if treadwear, comfort and dry 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
Score (0–100)
Winguard Sport leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 79 | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 82 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 95% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 68 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 79 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 94% | 90% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 92% | 98% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 90 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winguard Sport leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 74 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 81 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 41
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 92 | 29 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winguard Sport leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 65 |
| DriverReviews owners | 82 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Nexen Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 76 |
| Dry | 81 | 87 |
| Wet | 83 | 75 |
| Snow | – | 84 |
| Comfort | 74 | 87 |
| Noise | 92 | 51 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 86 |
| Handling | 79 | 65 |
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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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
79
/ 100
Tire A
76
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | 100% #1/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 95% #15/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +5.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 95% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | 99% #7/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -3.5 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 83% #15/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 71% #18/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +11.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #17/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 95% #1/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +4.9 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 62% #4/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 62% #2/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -0.5 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 98% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 63% #4/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +35.8 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 49% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 73% #18/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -23.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 14% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | 7% #15/56 · 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | +7.6 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/10 · 2022 Tyre Reviews UUHP Summer Tyre Test | 92% #16/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +7.5 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 0% #13/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 94% #5/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 90% #17/56 · 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | +3.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 92% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | 98% #10/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -5.6 | 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 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.
The Nexen Winguard Sport is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that offers impressive traction in snow and slush for its price point. While most users praise its comfort, low noise levels, and reliable cold-weather performance, a minority of drivers report inconsistent grip in wet or icy conditions compared to premium alternatives.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium winter tire brands
- Strong traction and confidence in snow and slush
- Low road noise and high ride comfort
- Good durability and tread life for a mid-range tire
Cons
- Inconsistent performance in wet or icy conditions for some users
- Potential for uneven tread wear
- Reported decrease in fuel economy for some vehicles
- Not intended for high-performance dry-weather driving
Observations
- BMW and Audi owners frequently report that the tires significantly improve winter capability on RWD and FWD platforms, often comparing them favorably to more expensive brands like Blizzaks.
- Users with performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., VW GTI, Subaru WRX) note a marked improvement in winter safety over stock summer tires, though some report understeer during spirited dry-weather driving.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
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
Tire B
Nexen Winguard Sport
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta PS71 | B · Nexen Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
79
/ 100
Kumho
76
/ 100
Nexen
Winner: Kumho Ecsta PS71 — better noise, handling and wet. Pick the Nexen Winguard Sport if treadwear, comfort and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 92 vs 51 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Nexen Winguard Sport scores 86 vs 71 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 79 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Nexen Winguard Sport scores 87 vs 74 on comfort.
Tire A · Kumho Ecsta PS71
Tire B · Nexen Winguard Sport
More comparisons
Also compared with
Kumho Ecsta PS71 also compared with
Nexen Winguard Sport 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.