70
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
70/100
56 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Kumho Solus KH17 vs Michelin Energy Saver — 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
79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
76/100
137 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Energy Saver — better treadwear, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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)
Energy Saver leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH17 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 83 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH17 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 71 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH17 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 80 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH17 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 37 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH17 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Solus KH17 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 71 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Solus KH17 | Michelin Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 70 | 79 |
| Dry | 76 | 81 |
| Wet | 70 | 76 |
| Snow | – | 52 |
| Comfort | 70 | 80 |
| Noise | – | 37 |
| Treadwear | 67 | 85 |
| Handling | 69 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
70
/ 100
Tire A
79
/ 100
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.
The Kumho Solus KH17 is widely regarded as a budget-friendly, high-value tire that performs reliably for daily commuting and highway driving. While many users praise its dry grip and cost-effectiveness, consensus is polarized by inconsistent tread wear and reports of premature degradation, particularly when fitted as original equipment on specific compact vehicles.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
- Strong dry weather traction and road feedback
- Generally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Predictable handling characteristics for normal driving
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life with reports of premature wear
- Mixed performance in wet conditions
- Susceptibility to sidewall bubbles and structural issues
- Increased road noise as the tread wears down
Observations
- Owners of Hyundai i10 and i20 models frequently report significantly lower-than-average tread life and rapid wear compared to users of other vehicle makes.
- Drivers of larger or heavier vehicles often report better satisfaction with longevity and stability than those using the tire on smaller city cars.
- Some users noted that the tire's noise profile changes significantly, becoming more audible at city speeds (40-80 km/h) while remaining quiet at highway velocities.
The Michelin Energy Saver is widely regarded as a class-leading tire for longevity and fuel efficiency, often exceeding 40,000–60,000 miles for many users. While it excels in dry conditions and provides a comfortable, quiet ride, it receives consistent criticism for a decline in wet-weather performance as the tread wears down and a tendency for the rubber compound to develop sidewall cracking over time.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability
- Noticeable improvements in fuel economy
- Low road noise and high ride comfort
- Reliable dry-weather handling and stability
Cons
- Significant loss of wet-weather grip as the tire ages
- Susceptibility to sidewall cracking and dry rot after 3-4 years
- Hard compound can feel 'skating' or insecure in cold or wet conditions
- Lack of road feedback for spirited driving
Observations
- Users with heavier vehicles or those driving on rough, pothole-prone roads noted that the sidewalls can be fragile and prone to damage.
- Drivers of small hatchbacks (e.g., VW Polo, Ford Fiesta) frequently reported that the tire significantly improved steering lightness and overall handling compared to budget alternatives.
- Owners of high-mileage commuters and taxis consistently praise the tire for its cost-per-mile value, despite the performance drop-off in later years.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Solus KH17 | B · Michelin Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
70
/ 100
Kumho
79
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Energy Saver — better treadwear, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Energy Saver scores 85 vs 67 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Energy Saver scores 80 vs 70 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Energy Saver scores 76 vs 70 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Energy Saver scores 81 vs 76 on dry.
Tire A · Kumho Solus KH17
Tire B · Michelin Energy Saver
More comparisons
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Kumho Solus KH17 also compared with
Michelin Energy Saver 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.