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Head-to-head Updated

Avon ZV7 vs Kumho Ecsta PS71 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 6 + 14 road tests and 146 + 8,191 owner reviews. How we score

Ecsta PS71 is ahead, 68–57

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Avon ZV7
Tire AAvon

ZV7

Summer

± 7

Tests 59 · 6 tests Owners 53 · 146 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)

Kumho Ecsta PS71
Tire BKumho

Ecsta PS71

Summer

± 6

Tests 68 · 14 tests Owners 69 · 8,191 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 18 in 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)

“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”

Category by category

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

  1. 61

    Dry

    Ecsta PS71 +14
    75
    Why this score
    SourceZV7Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 12 tests6478
    Reviews found online5872
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–193%93%

    ZV7: 60% × 63.5 + 40% × 57.9 = 61

    Ecsta PS71: 60% × 77.6 + 40% × 71.7 = 75

  2. 69

    Wet

    Ecsta PS71 +16
    85
    Why this score
    SourceZV7Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 13 tests7492
    Reviews found online6375
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–285%92%

    ZV7: 60% × 73.9 + 40% × 62.7 = 69

    Ecsta PS71: 60% × 91.8 + 40% × 74.6 = 85

  3. 61

    Comfort

    Ecsta PS71 +8
    69
    Why this score
    SourceZV7Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 66 (est.)75
    Reviews found online5865

    ZV7: 40% × 66.5 (est.) + 60% × 57.9 = 61

    Ecsta PS71: 40% × 74.6 + 60% × 65.3 = 69

    No road tests of comfort for ZV7. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  4. 67

    Noise

    ZV7 +31
    36
    Why this score
    SourceZV7Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests6816
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    ZV7: 60% × 67.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 67

    Ecsta PS71: 60% × 15.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 36

    No owner ratings of noise for ZV7 or Ecsta PS71. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  5. 36

    Treadwear

    Ecsta PS71 +16
    52
    Why this score
    SourceZV7Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 6 tests3646
    Reviews found online3660

    ZV7: 60% × 35.8 + 40% × 35.9 = 36

    Ecsta PS71: 60% × 46 + 40% × 59.8 = 52

  6. 56

    Handling (owners)

    Ecsta PS71 +17
    73
    Why this score
    SourceZV7Ecsta PS71
    Reviews found online5673
  7. 55

    Efficiency

    ZV7 +7
    48
    Why this score
    SourceZV7Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 7 tests5548
Scores at a glance
CategoryAvon ZV7Kumho Ecsta PS71
Relative Score 57 68
Dry 61 75
Wet 69 85
Comfort 61 69
Noise 67 36
Treadwear 36 52
Handling (owners) 56 73
Efficiency 55 48

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.

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Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

ZV7

± 6

Ecsta PS71

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

In the overall rankings of 2 tests that ran both, Avon ZV7 finished ahead 0 times and Kumho Ecsta PS71 2 times.

DisciplineCategoryZV7Ecsta PS71ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 93% 93% 0.0 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 Summer Tyre Market Overview · 225/45 R18
Wet Braking Wet 85% 92% −7.1 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 Summer Tyre Market Overview · 225/45 R18
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #23/48 #12/48 – 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 Summer Tyre Market Overview · 225/45 R18

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A ZV7

Pros

  • Excellent wet and dry traction when new
  • Quiet and comfortable ride quality
  • High value-for-money compared to premium brands

Cons

  • Widespread reports of premature tread cracking and perishing
  • Inconsistent and often rapid tread wear
  • Soft sidewalls leading to vague steering feedback
All owner themes in the ZV7 review

Tire B Ecsta PS71

Pros

  • Outstanding wet weather grip and aquaplaning resistance
  • High value for money compared to tier-one premium brands
  • Predictable handling and solid cornering stability in both dry and wet conditions

Cons

  • Noticeable road noise or droning at motorway speeds on certain vehicles
  • Occasional reports of balancing difficulties or out-of-round/egg-shaped tires
  • Softer sidewalls can lead to slightly vague steering response around center or tread block movement
All owner themes in the Ecsta PS71 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Avon ZV7

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

Tire B

Kumho Ecsta PS71

Positive

Community members generally view the Kumho Ecsta PS71 as a capable and reliable mid-range ultra-high performance tire offering solid grip and value for money compared to premium alternatives. While perceived as good once warmed up, some drivers note that it does not quite reach the ultimate grip level of top-tier brands and question its tread wear longevity.

z4-forum.com ·2023-01-29

“Steve; have a look at Kuhmo Ecsta PS71s. I just fitted a set on my new wheels for my 440i. Weapon of choice for the 'non tyre snob' IMHO. Much cheaper than the 'big' brands, heat up quickly and they also look really nice (for a black round tyre). Can't comment on noise, as the exhaust on mine is so noisy I can't hear the radio, let alone tyres!”
r/tires ·5 upvotes ·2022-10-17

“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”
bimmerforums.co.uk ·1 upvote ·2024-05-05

“On Blackcircles all the 245/40 R19 ditch finders cost around £100 and have a poor wet grip & all the decent mid range cost around £170 and have A rated wet grip. Would you risk it for £240? I know I wouldn't. The cheapest A wet rated is a Kuhmo Ecsta PS71 at £136 if you really want to keep the cost down. If you want a relatively soft comfortable tyre then a Hankook S1 Evo 3 is an excellent choice.”
Top themes
#value for money#wet and dry grip#tire wear longevity#sporty handling performance#warm up temperature behavior#mid-range alternative comparison

Based on 23 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Avon ZV7 B · Kumho Ecsta PS71
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—133
Rim diameters—16″ – 22″
Sidewall—Blackwall

Which one should you actually buy?

Avon ZV7

Kumho Ecsta PS71

Winner: Kumho Ecsta PS71 — better handling, wet and treadwear. Pick the Avon ZV7 if noise and efficiency matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Avon ZV7 scores 67 vs 36 on noise.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 73 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 85 vs 69 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 52 vs 36 on treadwear.

Tire A · Avon ZV7
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Tire B · Kumho Ecsta PS71
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ZV7 or Ecsta PS71?

Which is better in the wet, ZV7 or Ecsta PS71?

Kumho Ecsta PS71, 85 vs 69 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, ZV7 or Ecsta PS71?

Kumho Ecsta PS71, 75 vs 61 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, ZV7 or Ecsta PS71?

Avon ZV7, 67 vs 36 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, ZV7 or Ecsta PS71?

Kumho Ecsta PS71, 69 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, ZV7 or Ecsta PS71?

Kumho Ecsta PS71, 52 vs 36 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, ZV7 or Ecsta PS71?

Avon ZV7, 55 vs 48 on our efficiency score.

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.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

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