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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Kumho Ecsta KU31 vs Kumho Solus TA31 — 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.

Tire A Kumho

Kumho Ecsta KU31

Summer Ultra High Performance tires

Kumho Ecsta KU31 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
76/100
165 owner reviews
Dry
83
Wet
75
Snow
–
Comfort
74
Treadwear
72
Handling
76

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Kumho

Kumho Solus TA31

All Season Premium Touring tires

Kumho Solus TA31 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
59/100
9 owner reviews
Dry
75
Wet
64
Snow
44
Comfort
74
Treadwear
63
Handling
64

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Kumho Ecsta KU31 — better handling, wet and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ecsta KU31 leads by 8
A — Kumho Ecsta KU31
83
B — Kumho Solus TA31
75
Why this score
SourceEcsta KU31Solus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 85
Tyre Reviews owners 83 74

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ecsta KU31 leads by 11
A — Kumho Ecsta KU31
75
B — Kumho Solus TA31
64
Why this score
SourceEcsta KU31Solus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 77
Tyre Reviews owners 75 63

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Kumho Ecsta KU31
–
B — Kumho Solus TA31
44
Why this score
SourceEcsta KU31Solus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 57
Tyre Reviews owners – 43

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Kumho Ecsta KU31
74
B — Kumho Solus TA31
74
Why this score
SourceEcsta KU31Solus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 78
Tyre Reviews owners 74 73

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ecsta KU31 leads by 9
A — Kumho Ecsta KU31
72
B — Kumho Solus TA31
63
Why this score
SourceEcsta KU31Solus TA31
Tire Rack owners – 78
Tyre Reviews owners 72 61

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ecsta KU31 leads by 12
A — Kumho Ecsta KU31
76
B — Kumho Solus TA31
64
Why this score
SourceEcsta KU31Solus TA31
Tyre Reviews owners 76 64

Scores at a glance

Kumho Ecsta KU31 vs Kumho Solus TA31: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryKumho Ecsta KU31Kumho Solus TA31
Relative Score 75 67
Dry 83 75
Wet 75 64
Snow – 44
Comfort 74 74
Treadwear 72 63
Handling 76 64

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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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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Important
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Kumho Ecsta KU31

The Kumho Ecsta KU31 is widely regarded as a high-value, mid-range performance tire that offers impressive dry and wet grip for its price point. While many users report performance comparable to premium brands, consensus notes that the tire can become noisy as it wears and may exhibit inconsistent longevity depending on vehicle weight and driving style.

Pros

  • Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
  • Strong dry and wet weather handling
  • Progressive and predictable feedback at the limit
  • Quiet and comfortable ride when new

Cons

  • Increased road noise and potential 'droning' as tread wears
  • Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting rapid wear
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to less precise steering feel for some drivers
  • Occasional reports of balancing issues or structural defects like sidewall bulges

Observations

  • Heavier vehicles, such as large sedans and wagons, may experience accelerated inner-edge wear or 'feathering' if alignment is not perfectly maintained.
  • Users with high-performance or remapped vehicles report that the tire handles increased torque well, though it may require more frequent rotation to maintain even wear.
  • Some owners of vehicles with stiff or lowered suspension noted that the soft sidewalls provide good comfort but can feel slightly 'lethargic' during aggressive cornering.
Tire B Kumho Solus TA31

The Kumho Solus TA31 receives a polarized reception, with users divided between those who value its quiet ride and affordability and those who find its handling and longevity lacking. While some drivers report excellent value and high mileage, others express significant concerns regarding stability during emergency maneuvers and premature tread wear.

Pros

  • Low noise levels and high ride comfort
  • Strong value for money
  • Attractive aesthetic design
  • Reliable performance for conservative, daily driving

Cons

  • Unpredictable handling during emergency maneuvers
  • Concerns regarding premature or uneven tread wear
  • Poor stability control compared to premium competitors
  • Reports of inconsistent tire pressure retention

Observations

  • Users noted that low-profile versions of this tire appear more susceptible to accelerated wear.
  • Front-wheel-drive vehicle owners reported higher-than-average wear rates on the front axle.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho Ecsta KU31 B · Kumho Solus TA31
CategorySummer Ultra High Performance tiresAll Season Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—19
Rim diameters—15″ – 20″
Tread depth—9.5/32″
UTQG—500 A A
Treadwear warranty—60,000 mi
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—44 psi
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho

Kumho

Winner: Kumho Ecsta KU31 — better handling, wet and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 76 vs 64 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 75 vs 64 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 72 vs 63 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 83 vs 75 on dry.

Tire A · Kumho Ecsta KU31
Tire B · Kumho Solus TA31

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.