Head-to-head Updated

Michelin Primacy 4+ vs Kumho Ecsta HS52 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Primacy 4+ leads, 77–76 Narrow edge

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Tire AMichelin

Primacy 4+

Summer

Tests 83 · 10 tests Owners 72 · 39 reviews

Best test result: #4 of 50 in 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (abrasion)

Tire BKumho

Ecsta HS52

Summer

Tests 81 · 7 tests Owners 71 · 2,328 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 21 in 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (value)

“Mini review of the Kumho Ecsta HS52 I was running some Hankook's on my GT before and the tire wall not stiff enough. Now I've mounted these Kumho Ecsta HS52's and I highly recommend them: The tire wall is nicely rigid and they grip great in the dry, took quite some intent to make them loose traction. Additionally, I've accidentally ran over a pretty big sharp looking rock at decent speed that aimed right in a tread groove (thinnest part) and the thing shrugged it off no problem. And all of this for a damn good price too! So if anyone's looking for good tires, now you know.”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 79

    Dry

    Ecsta HS52 +3
    82
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4+Ecsta HS52
    Professional tests (TWG score)8285
    Reviews found online7376
    Dry Braking (% of best)79%100%
    Dry Handling (% of best)99%99%
  2. 77

    Wet

    Ecsta HS52 +2
    79
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4+Ecsta HS52
    Professional tests (TWG score)7984
    Reviews found online7571
    Wet Braking (% of best)89%97%
    Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best)93%90%
    Wet Circle (% of best)97%91%
    Wet Handling (% of best)25%97%
  3. 72

    Comfort

    Primacy 4+ +7
    65
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4+Ecsta HS52
    Professional tests (TWG score)72–
    Reviews found online7260
  4. 72

    Noise

    Primacy 4+ +7
    65
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4+Ecsta HS52
    Professional tests (TWG score)7564
  5. 83

    Treadwear

    Primacy 4+ +9
    74
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4+Ecsta HS52
    Professional tests (TWG score)9178
    Reviews found online7167
  6. 69

    Handling

    Ecsta HS52 +7
    76
    Why this score
    SourcePrimacy 4+Ecsta HS52
    Reviews found online6976
Scores at a glance
Michelin Primacy 4+ vs Kumho Ecsta HS52: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryMichelin Primacy 4+Kumho Ecsta HS52
Relative Score 77 76
Dry 79 82
Wet 77 79
Comfort 72 65
Noise 72 65
Treadwear 83 74
Handling 69 76

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.

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Primacy 4+

Ecsta HS52

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.

DisciplineCategoryPrimacy 4+Ecsta HS52ΔBoth?
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 86% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 82% #18/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +4.2 Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 79% #8/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 100% #2/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test −21.4 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #3/10 · 2024 Motorhome Summer Tyre Test 99% #12/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +0.8 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 76% #6/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 67% #14/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +9.6 Different tests
Fuel Consumption Fuel 95% #33/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 93% #15/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +1.7 Different tests
Abrasion Other 65% #4/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 87% #3/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test −22.7 Different tests
Noise Other 100% #3/8 · 2023 Motor Summer Tyre Test 98% #8/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +1.7 Different tests
Price Other 52% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 77% #5/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test −25.0 Same test
Value Other 59% #10/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 98% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test −39.2 Different tests
Wear Other 92% #2/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 77% #5/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +14.8 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 80% #3/11 · 2023 UTAC Summer Tire Test R17 40% #4/6 · 2023 Autoklub ČR Budget Summer Tire Test R16 +40.0 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 96% #7/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 94% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +2.3 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #9/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test 0% #7/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 0.0 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 89% #9/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 97% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test −8.2 Different tests
Wet Braking - Concrete Wet 93% #11/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 90% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +3.4 Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 97% #7/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test 91% #15/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +5.4 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 25% #5/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 97% #14/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test −71.9 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Primacy 4+

Pros

  • Excellent ride comfort and a smooth, compliant 'limousine-like' feel over bumps
  • Strong and reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions, inspiring confidence
  • Noticeable improvement in quietness and traction compared to predecessor tires or factory options

Cons

  • Loud road noise and a harsh drone on rough or coarse asphalt surfaces
  • Soft sidewalls can reduce steering agility and initial responsiveness compared to dedicated sport tires
  • High premium price point relative to competitors
All owner themes in the Primacy 4+ review

Tire B Ecsta HS52

Pros

  • Excellent wet and dry weather traction
  • Low road noise and quiet operation
  • Smooth and comfortable ride quality

Cons

  • A few reports of accelerated or abnormal tread wear
  • Slightly sensitive to tire pressure regarding comfort
  • Occasional complaints of high-speed vibration or imbalance early on
All owner themes in the Ecsta HS52 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Michelin Primacy 4+

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Mixed

The Kumho Ecsta HS52 receives a polarized mix of reviews from the community, praised by many for its rigid sidewalls, strong dry grip, sharp steering responsiveness, and great value compared to premium alternatives. However, some users report disappointing wet weather performance, potential issues with aquaplaning resistance, and inconsistent test results across different sizes. Overall, it is viewed as a solid mid-range option, though experiences with wet traction and longevity vary significantly among drivers.

r/tires ·3 upvotes ·2025-09-23

“What’s up with these tyres? Kumho ectsa hs52 date code 3923, tyres are (UK) legal regards tread but I can’t imagine this damage is normal. Both front tyres have this, looks like the tread is tearing apart in multiple places. I did not fit these tyres but it was mot’d 3 months ago and has done 2k miles since. I’ve owned the car 11 months but only noticed this very recently. I am getting them replaced on Monday with little use before then but I’m curious how this has happened. Is it just a shit brand? Wear is even across the face so I don’t think it would be the alignment or anything to do with the car and the damage is random across the contact patch. It’s a Peugeot 508 2l diesel so quite a bit of weight on the nose. Fitting Bridgestone Turanza 6. Rear tyres are good, but a different brand (horizon horace 2122 date)”

r/TyreReviews ·2 upvotes ·2026-02-07

“I had the kumho ecsta hs52's on my previous car. I was very satisfied with them. Good grip in the dry and wet and very responsive. Kumho in general makes really good tires”

r/TyreReviews ·1 upvote ·2026-01-22

“Bad i have hs52 on my audi a3 8l quattro 1.8t i have no grip with rain.. Like cant corner fast it just goes straight... Dry its fine but wet forget it. My oncle has the same experience with kuhmo on his bmw 118 diesel he got some rims and they had pretty good threats kumho on it. He said all it wanted was to drift and spin out. He said a couple of times it did a 180 he said never again i said same don't trust my car with these tyres. Im gonna get some new rim 17" and Goodyear asymmetric 6. To replace my 16" stock rims with kumho... I have had bad tyres but never this bad. Like 1 ere prix were even better in my Mercedes even doh they became ovals.”

Top themes
#Dry grip and handling#Wet weather performance#Sidewall stiffness#Price and value#Comparison with competitors#Fuel economy and weight#Tread wear and durability

Based on 17 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin Primacy 4+ B · Kumho Ecsta HS52
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin Primacy 4+

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Too close to call: Michelin Primacy 4+ and Kumho Ecsta HS52 are within 2 points overall. Michelin Primacy 4+ is stronger on treadwear, comfort and noise. Kumho Ecsta HS52 is stronger on handling and dry.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Michelin Primacy 4+ scores 83 vs 74 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Primacy 4+ scores 72 vs 65 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Michelin Primacy 4+ scores 72 vs 65 on noise.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores 76 vs 69 on handling.

Tire A · Michelin Primacy 4+
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta HS52

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How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.

77

Narrow edge

Primacy 4+

Amazon