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Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 vs Kumho Ecsta KU31 — 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 63 + 165 owner reviews. How we score

SP Sport FM800 is ahead, 76–67

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Kumho Ecsta KU31
Tire BKumho

Ecsta KU31

Summer

± 8

Tests – · none yet Owners 66 · 165 reviews

Category by category

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

  1. 75

    Dry

    SP Sport FM800 +8
    67
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta KU31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 72 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online7867

    SP Sport FM800: 60% × 72.1 (est.) + 40% × 78.1 = 75

    Ecsta KU31: 60% × 67.6 (est.) + 40% × 67.1 = 67

    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 0.41).

    No road tests of dry for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 79

    Wet

    SP Sport FM800 +9
    70
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta KU31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 77 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online8269

    SP Sport FM800: 60% × 76.8 (est.) + 40% × 81.8 = 79

    Ecsta KU31: 60% × 69.9 (est.) + 40% × 69.2 = 70

    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 KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 73

    Comfort

    SP Sport FM800 +8
    65
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta KU31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 70 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online7663

    SP Sport FM800: 40% × 70 (est.) + 60% × 75.6 = 73

    Ecsta KU31: 40% × 67.5 (est.) + 60% × 63 = 65

    No road tests of comfort for SP Sport FM800. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

    No road tests of comfort for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  4. 72

    Treadwear

    SP Sport FM800 +9
    63
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta KU31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 70 (est.)≈ 64 (est.)
    Reviews found online7661

    SP Sport FM800: 60% × 69.8 (est.) + 40% × 75.7 = 72

    Ecsta KU31: 60% × 64.3 (est.) + 40% × 60.5 = 63

    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 0.36).

    No road tests of treadwear for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  5. 79

    Handling (owners)

    SP Sport FM800 +12
    67
    Why this score
    SourceSP Sport FM800Ecsta KU31
    Reviews found online7967
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop SP Sport FM800Kumho Ecsta KU31
Relative Score 76 67
Dry 75 67
Wet 79 70
Comfort 73 65
Treadwear 72 63
Handling (owners) 79 67

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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

SP Sport FM800

± 8

Ecsta KU31

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 KU31

Pros

  • Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
  • Strong dry and wet weather handling
  • Progressive and predictable feedback at the limit

Cons

  • Increased road noise and potential 'droning' as tread wears
  • Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting rapid wear
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to less precise steering feel for some drivers
All owner themes in the Ecsta KU31 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop SP Sport FM800 B · Kumho Ecsta KU31
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
UTQG320 B A—

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800

Kumho Ecsta KU31

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

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 79 vs 67 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 79 vs 70 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 72 vs 63 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop SP Sport FM800 scores 75 vs 67 on dry.

Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport FM800
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Tire B · Kumho Ecsta KU31
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SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta KU31?

Which is better in the wet, SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta KU31?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800, 79 vs 70 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta KU31?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800, 75 vs 67 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta KU31?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800, 73 vs 65 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, SP Sport FM800 or Ecsta KU31?

Dunlop SP Sport FM800, 72 vs 63 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