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 Kumho Ecsta PS91 — 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
71
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
70/100
56 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Kumho Ecsta PS71 — better comfort, treadwear and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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 PS91 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 79 | 81 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 82 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 93% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 80 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 73 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 94% | 95% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 100% | 87% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 74 | 37 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 73 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 92 | 87 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 64 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 55 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ecsta PS71 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta PS71 | Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 75 |
| DriverReviews owners | 82 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Kumho Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 71 |
| Dry | 81 | 82 |
| Wet | 83 | 78 |
| Comfort | 74 | 52 |
| Noise | 92 | 87 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 57 |
| Handling | 79 | 75 |
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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Recomputed
Headline score
79
/ 100
Tire A
71
/ 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 | 100% #1/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 93% #6/8 · 2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | +7.2 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #12/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 98% #10/11 · 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test | +0.1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 83% #15/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 78% #8/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | +5.4 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | 98% #4/8 · 2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 62% #4/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 55% #1/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | +6.2 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 10% #10/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | 13% #8/11 · 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test | -2.5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 99% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 96% #7/8 · 2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 78% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 71% #6/8 · 2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | +6.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 70% #7/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | 83% #6/8 · 2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | -13.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 60% #13/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | 67% #6/8 · 2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | -6.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 94% #5/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 95% #9/11 · 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test | -0.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #2/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 87% #7/8 · 2019 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer Tyre Test | +13.3 | 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 Kumho Ecsta PS91 is widely regarded as a high-value performance tire that offers impressive dry grip and steering feedback, often rivaling more expensive premium brands. However, user consensus is polarized regarding tread longevity, with many owners reporting premature wear, and some experiencing inconsistent performance in wet conditions or issues with sidewall durability.
Pros
- Excellent dry weather grip and cornering stability
- High value-for-money proposition compared to premium competitors
- Stiff sidewalls provide sharp, responsive steering feedback
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality for a performance-oriented tire
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear, particularly on heavier or high-torque vehicles
- Inconsistent wet weather performance and aquaplaning susceptibility
- Reports of sidewall cracking or deformation after moderate use
- Tendency to tramline or follow road ruts on highway surfaces
Observations
- Owners of heavy, high-torque vehicles (e.g., BMW 5-series, performance saloons) frequently report significantly accelerated tread wear.
- BMW and Mini owners transitioning from factory run-flat tires often praise the PS91 for improved comfort and steering feel due to its specific sidewall construction.
- Some users noted that the tire's actual width when inflated can be narrower than the nominal size, leading to fitment or aesthetic concerns.
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
Mixed
Kumho Ecsta PS91
Community opinion on the Kumho Ecsta PS91 is generally mixed, praising them as a budget-friendly, good-looking max performance summer tire that rivals premium brands in daily driving comfort and appearance. However, multiple users note concerns regarding rapid tread wear, poor heat capacity under track conditions, and susceptibility to degrading under hard abuse compared to dedicated 200 treadwear or extreme performance tires.
r/e46
·222 upvotes ·2025-03-27
“Follow up on new wheels/tires for ZHP Well new wheels and tires are on aswell as aligned. I love the tire and fitment setup but really do not like the gunmetal grey color especially on imola. I will feel it out for a while but probably eventually powder coat to OEM silver. Wheels specs are 18 x 8.5 x ET50 with 255/35/18 Kuhmo Ecsta PS91 all around. -2.5 camber in the front and -2.8 in the rear.”
r/E90
·180 upvotes ·2025-09-17
“New meaty tires set up installed, now I can order spacers Went up tire sizes and they definitely fill the gap a bit. First time running sticky kumhos on anytime so excited to see how they turn out.Specs are Kumho Ecsta Ps91 235/40/18 up front and 265/40/18 in the rear. Read more”
r/e46
·39 upvotes ·2025-03-26
“New wheels and tires for my ZHP My old wheels were super beat up and tires were showing wire so I figured I’d upgrade both. Was able to get these freshly powder coated squared set (18/8.5/et 50). Im excited to feel the Kuhmo Ecsta PS91 as they are a budget friendly performance tire. 255/35/18 tires all around”
r/G37
·30 upvotes ·2026-03-21
“275/40 Square Can Fit on a Sedan Shout out to TireRack for having great information on actual tire size. Ecsta PS91 265/40 and ExtremeContact 275/40 has a tread width and section width difference of 0.1” and 0.2” respectively. Tires fit just about perfect. No rubbing so far, and don’t expect it to rub bc of the relatively minimal width change Really goes to show that tire brand matters for fitment Read more”
Top themes
#budget friendly performance#ride quality and comfort#tread wear longevity#track and heat performance#tire mixing risks#fitment and appearance
Based on 16 community posts
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta PS71 | B · Kumho Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Extreme Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
79
/ 100
Kumho
71
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: Kumho Ecsta PS71 — better comfort, treadwear and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 74 vs 52 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 71 vs 57 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 83 vs 78 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 92 vs 87 on noise.
Tire A · Kumho Ecsta PS71
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta PS91
More comparisons
Also compared with
Kumho Ecsta PS71 also compared with
Kumho Ecsta PS91 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.