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Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 vs Kumho Ecsta AST KU25 — 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 0 + 0 road tests and 62 + 21 owner reviews. How we score

SP Sport FM800 is ahead, 77–59

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Category by category

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

  1. 76

    Dry

    SP Sport FM800 +15
    61
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta AST KU25
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 73 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online8157

    SP Sport FM800: 60% × 73.4 (est.) + 40% × 80.7 = 76

    Ecsta AST KU25: 60% × 63.3 (est.) + 40% × 56.6 = 61

    No road tests of dry for SP Sport FM800. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

    No road tests of dry for Ecsta AST KU25. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 80

    Wet

    SP Sport FM800 +21
    59
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta AST KU25
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 78 (est.)≈ 62 (est.)
    Reviews found online8455

    SP Sport FM800: 60% × 77.8 (est.) + 40% × 83.5 = 80

    Ecsta AST KU25: 60% × 61.9 (est.) + 40% × 54.8 = 59

    No road tests of wet for SP Sport FM800. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

    No road tests of wet for Ecsta AST KU25. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    47
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta AST KU25
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 57 (est.)
    Reviews found online–34

    Ecsta AST KU25: 60% × 56.8 (est.) + 40% × 33.5 = 47

    No road tests of snow for Ecsta AST KU25. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 74

    Comfort

    SP Sport FM800 +22
    52
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta AST KU25
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 65 (est.)
    Reviews found online7744

    SP Sport FM800: 40% × 70.6 (est.) + 60% × 77 = 74

    Ecsta AST KU25: 40% × 64.5 (est.) + 60% × 43.9 = 52

    No road tests of comfort for SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta AST KU25. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    62
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta AST KU25
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online–55

    Ecsta AST KU25: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 54.9 = 62

    No road tests of noise for Ecsta AST KU25. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 73

    Treadwear

    SP Sport FM800 +12
    61
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta AST KU25
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 70 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online7758

    SP Sport FM800: 60% × 70 (est.) + 40% × 77.1 = 73

    Ecsta AST KU25: 60% × 63.3 (est.) + 40% × 58 = 61

    No road tests of treadwear for SP Sport FM800. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

    No road tests of treadwear for Ecsta AST KU25. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 81

    Handling (owners)

    SP Sport FM800 +29
    52
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta AST KU25
    Reviews found online8152
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop SP Sport FM800Kumho Ecsta AST KU25
Relative Score 77 59
Dry 76 61
Wet 80 59
Snow – 47
Comfort 74 52
Noise – 62
Treadwear 73 61
Handling (owners) 81 52

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

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

SP Sport FM800

± 8

Ecsta AST KU25

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

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A SP Sport FM800

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry traction with strong anti-aquaplaning capabilities
  • High value for money compared to premium brands like Michelin and Bridgestone
  • Low road noise and very quiet, smooth ride quality

Cons

  • Faster than average tread wear reported by some drivers
  • Rubber compound can harden over time, leading to reduced performance as the tire ages
  • Softer sidewalls can occasionally result in slightly less precise steering feel
All owner themes in the SP Sport FM800 review

Tire B Ecsta AST KU25

Pros

  • Attractive, budget-friendly price point
  • Impressive treadwear and longevity, particularly noted on alternative fitments like trikes
  • Good dry grip and handling once warmed up

Cons

  • Unpredictable and poor wet-weather traction
  • Excessive road noise
  • Abrupt loss of grip at the absolute limit rather than a gradual slip
All owner themes in the Ecsta AST KU25 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop SP Sport FM800 B · Kumho Ecsta AST KU25
CategorySummerAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Tread depth—10/32″
UTQG—400 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800

Kumho Ecsta AST KU25

Winner: Dunlop SP Sport FM800 — better handling, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 81 vs 52 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 74 vs 52 on comfort.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 80 vs 59 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 76 vs 61 on dry.

Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport FM800
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Tire B · Kumho Ecsta AST KU25
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SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta AST KU25?

Which is better in the wet, SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta AST KU25?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800, 80 vs 59 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta AST KU25?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800, 76 vs 61 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta AST KU25?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800, 74 vs 52 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta AST KU25?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800, 73 vs 61 on our treadwear 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