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Kumho Ecsta V720 vs Kumho Ecsta XS KU36 — Compared (May 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.
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5 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
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta V720 | Ecsta XS KU36 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 91 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta V720 | Ecsta XS KU36 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 54 | 74 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta V720 | Ecsta XS KU36 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 45 | 62 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta V720 | Ecsta XS KU36 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 74 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Ecsta V720 | Ecsta XS KU36 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 94 | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta V720 | Kumho Ecsta XS KU36 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 64 | 76 |
| Dry | 93 | 91 |
| Wet | 54 | 74 |
| Comfort | 45 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 50 | 74 |
| Handling | 94 | 84 |
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.
Tire A
Tire B
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Kumho Ecsta V720 is widely regarded as a high-value extreme performance tire that excels in dry-weather traction and steering feedback. While users appreciate its competitive pricing and capability for spirited street or casual track use, the trade-offs include rapid tread wear and significant road noise, which may deter those seeking a refined daily driving experience.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and traction for high-horsepower vehicles
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Precise steering feedback and firm sidewall construction
- Reliable performance for spirited street driving and casual track days
Cons
- High levels of road noise
- Rapid tread wear
- Inconsistent wet weather performance, with some reports of hydroplaning
- Lack of comfort for daily commuting
Observations
- High-horsepower rear-wheel-drive vehicles (350hp-500hp) report excellent straight-line and cornering traction.
- Lightweight vehicles (sub-1 ton) may experience more pronounced issues with wet-weather grip and road noise.
The Kumho Ecsta XS KU36 is widely regarded as a budget-friendly, performance-oriented tire that excels in dry grip and track-day environments. While users appreciate its aggressive handling and value proposition, the consensus highlights significant drawbacks regarding road noise and steering feedback, making it better suited for dedicated weekend or track vehicles rather than daily commuters.
Pros
- Exceptional dry surface grip and cornering confidence
- Strong, rigid sidewall construction
- High value-to-performance ratio
- Surprisingly capable performance in wet conditions for a semi-slick design
Cons
- High levels of road noise that tend to worsen over time
- Lack of steering precision and on-center feel
- Rapid tread wear consistent with aggressive performance compounds
- Limited stability in heavy rain or at high speeds on wet surfaces
Observations
- Users running staggered setups (e.g., 245/40/18 front and 275/35/18 rear) report positive experiences with dry grip and cornering.
- Drivers with already loud or modified vehicles tend to be less bothered by the tire's significant road noise compared to those in stock, quieter vehicles.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta V720 | B · Kumho Ecsta XS KU36 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Extreme Performance tires | Summer Extreme Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Kumho
Kumho
Winner: Kumho Ecsta XS KU36 — better treadwear, wet and comfort. Pick the Kumho Ecsta V720 if handling matters most to you.
Kumho Ecsta XS KU36 scores 74 vs 50 on treadwear.
Kumho Ecsta XS KU36 scores 74 vs 54 on wet.
Kumho Ecsta XS KU36 scores 62 vs 45 on comfort.
Kumho Ecsta V720 scores 94 vs 84 on handling.
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.