Kumho Ecsta HS51 review
The Kumho Ecsta HS51 is widely regarded as a high-value, budget-friendly tire that offers performance comparable to premium brands for daily driving. While most users praise its wet and dry grip, comfort, and longevity, a subset of reviewers reports inconsistent experiences regarding sidewall stiffness and rapid tread wear.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
80%By road tests
78%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 38 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Kumho Ecsta HS51 is widely regarded as a high-value, budget-friendly tire that offers performance comparable to premium brands for daily driving. While most users praise its wet and dry grip, comfort, and longevity, a subset of reviewers reports inconsistent experiences regarding sidewall stiffness and rapid tread wear.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium competitors
- Strong wet and dry traction for daily commuting
- High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
- Impressive tread life for many users, often exceeding 30,000 miles
Cons
- Reports of soft sidewalls leading to handling 'wobble' or lack of feedback
- Inconsistent tread wear, with some users reporting premature failure
- Occasional issues with aquaplaning in heavy rain
- Not recommended for high-performance or aggressive cornering
Worth knowing
- Users with heavier vehicles or those driving at high speeds noted concerns regarding sidewall stability and cornering precision.
- Drivers of compact and mid-sized sedans generally report the highest satisfaction regarding noise levels and overall comfort.
6 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16
1st of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 1st of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 5th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 20th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 20 | |
| Noise | 15th of 20 | |
| Value | 3rd of 20 | |
| Wear | 3rd of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 9th of 20 |
2021 ADAC Summer tire Test - 205/55 R16 · 205/55 R16
5th of 15
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wear | 4th of 15 |
2021 53 Summer tire Braking Test · 205/55 R16
3rd of 53
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 6th of 53 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 53 |
2020 ADAC SUV Summer tire Test · 235/55 R17
10th of 12
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wear | 12th of 12 |
2019 Auto Zeitung Summer tire Test · 235/45 R18
9th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 8th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 10 | |
| Noise | 5th of 10 | |
| Price | 2nd of 10 |
2018 ADAC Summer tire Test - 205/55 R16 · 205/55 R16
8th of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|