Head-to-head Updated

Falken Azenis FK520 vs Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 — 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 17 + 8 road tests and 589 + 1,068 owner reviews. How we score

Ecsta Sport PS72 leads, 80–78 Narrow edge

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Falken Azenis FK520
Tire AFalken

Azenis FK520

Summer

± 4

Tests 82 · 17 tests Owners 72 · 589 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2025 Autobild SUV Off-Road Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)

“Got some new tires mounted, excited to test the Falken FK520. 225/40&255/35/18 Idk why, but testing new tires is exciting and fun. Love how these tires look so far.. Read more”

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
Tire BKumho

Ecsta Sport PS72

Summer

± 7

Tests 78 · 8 tests Owners 83 · 1,068 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test (wet handling (tester's mark))

“I’m on the Kumho sport ps72 and in the dry on road they are great, wet road- great, dry track also great but on wet track; a little unpredictable.”

Category by category

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

Key facts

  • In 3 tests that measured dry braking for both, Azenis FK520 won 1 and Ecsta Sport PS72 won 2 (average 95% vs 95% of the best).
  • In 3 tests that measured wet braking for both, Azenis FK520 won 1 and Ecsta Sport PS72 won 2 (average 93% vs 93% of the best).
  1. 81

    Dry

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +5
    86
    Why this score
    SourceAzenis FK520Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 8 tests8687
    Reviews found online7485
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–295%95%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–297%98%
    Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–153%80%

    Azenis FK520: 60% × 85.7 + 40% × 73.7 = 81

    Ecsta Sport PS72: 60% × 86.6 + 40% × 85.3 = 86

  2. 81

    Wet

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +7
    88
    Why this score
    SourceAzenis FK520Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 8 tests8488
    Reviews found online7588
    Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–185%94%
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–195%96%
    Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–184%100%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–293%93%
    Wet Circle (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–096%96%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–297%98%

    Azenis FK520: 60% × 84.2 + 40% × 75.3 = 81

    Ecsta Sport PS72: 60% × 88.1 + 40% × 87.5 = 88

  3. 73

    Comfort

    Azenis FK520 +5
    68
    Why this score
    SourceAzenis FK520Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 5 tests8058
    Reviews found online6975
    Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–091%91%

    Azenis FK520: 40% × 79.8 + 60% × 68.8 = 73

    Ecsta Sport PS72: 40% × 57.9 + 60% × 75.4 = 68

  4. 71

    Noise

    Azenis FK520 +7
    64
    Why this score
    SourceAzenis FK520Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 7 tests7463
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–096%94%

    Azenis FK520: 60% × 74.4 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 71

    Ecsta Sport PS72: 60% × 62.5 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 64

    No owner ratings of noise for Azenis FK520 or Ecsta Sport PS72. 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. 75

    Treadwear

    Azenis FK520 +2
    73
    Why this score
    SourceAzenis FK520Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 1 tests8170
    Reviews found online6778
    Abrasion (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–086%70%
    Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–082%76%

    Azenis FK520: 60% × 80.6 + 40% × 67.4 = 75

    Ecsta Sport PS72: 60% × 69.9 + 40% × 78 = 73

  6. 74

    Handling (owners)

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +12
    86
    Why this score
    SourceAzenis FK520Ecsta Sport PS72
    Reviews found online7486
  7. 70

    Efficiency

    Ecsta Sport PS72 +1
    71
    Why this score
    SourceAzenis FK520Ecsta Sport PS72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 5 tests7071
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–090%86%
Scores at a glance
Falken Azenis FK520 vs Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryFalken Azenis FK520Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
Relative Score 78 80
Dry 81 86
Wet 81 88
Comfort 73 68
Noise 71 64
Treadwear 75 73
Handling (owners) 74 86
Efficiency 70 71

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
± 4

Azenis FK520

± 7

Ecsta Sport PS72

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 4 tests that ran both, Falken Azenis FK520 finished ahead 1 times and Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 3 times.

DisciplineCategoryAzenis FK520Ecsta Sport PS72ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 95% 95% +0.2 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? · 245/45 R19
Dry Handling Dry 97% 98% −1.7 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 53% 80% −27.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 85% 94% −8.6 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test · 255/45 R 19
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 95% 96% −0.7 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Wet Braking Wet 93% 93% +0.3 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? · 245/45 R19
Wet Circle Wet 96% 96% +0.4 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test · 255/45 R 19
Wet Handling Wet 97% 98% −0.8 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 84% 100% −16.1 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 91% 91% 0.0 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Noise Noise 96% 94% +2.4 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Abrasion Treadwear 86% 70% +16.1 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Wear Treadwear 82% 76% +6.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 90% 86% +4.0 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #4/20 #6/20 – 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Value Cost 86% 89% −2.9 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test · 245/45 R19
Grass Traction Off-road 71% 69% +2.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test · 255/45 R 19
Gravel Handling Off-road 98% 99% −1.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test · 255/45 R 19
Gravel Traction Off-road 87% 95% −7.7 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test · 255/45 R 19
Sand Traction Off-road 100% 94% +6.5 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test · 255/45 R 19
Overall Ranking Overall #4/10 #7/10 – 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2026 ACE Summer Tyre Test · 225/40 R18

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Azenis FK520

Pros

  • Exceptional value for money compared to premium tier alternatives
  • Strong and reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions
  • Low road noise and high cabin comfort

Cons

  • Stiff sidewalls can transmit sharper bumps on rougher roads
  • Some drivers report faster-than-average tread wear
  • Occasional reports of reduced grip or susceptibility to aquaplaning in heavy standing water
All owner themes in the Azenis FK520 review

Tire B Ecsta Sport PS72

Pros

  • Exceptional value and significantly lower price point compared to tier-one premium brands
  • Strong and predictable grip in both wet and dry conditions
  • Quieter road noise and high ride comfort relative to other performance tires

Cons

  • Occasional reports of out-of-round tires causing persistent vibrations at highway speeds
  • Stiffer sidewalls can result in a firmer ride or slight tracking issues when cold
  • Some users noted faster-than-expected wear under aggressive, spirited driving conditions
All owner themes in the Ecsta Sport PS72 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Falken Azenis FK520

Positive

The community generally views the Falken Azenis FK520 as a reliable, reasonably priced tire offering good comfort, quiet operation, and competent wet and dry performance. While praised as a cost-effective alternative to top-tier brands, some drivers note that it behaves more like a touring tire than a sharp ultra-high-performance option and may struggle for traction on higher-powered, tuned vehicles.

r/AutoTuga ·5 upvotes ·2025-11-06

“Escolha de pneus - consumo de combustível Estou a ver pneus para um dos carros cá de casa (Nissan Qashqai) que usa 225/45 R19. E estava a apontar para os Falken Azenis FK520 ou os Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 K127, ambos de Verão. Apesar de a Hankook ser considerada "premium", os Falken são mais caros mas também têm rebordo de proteção de jante (que estes Hankook não têm). No entanto, entretanto encontrei os Pirelli Powergy, também de Verão, mas com a diferença de ter classificação B no consumo de combustível, ao invés da categoria C dos Falken e Hankook. Custam mais 30€ que os Hankook e mais 11€ que os Falken. A minha dúvida é se a melhor classificação de consumo de combustível na prática traz algum benefício real e prático, que justifique pagar mais pelos pneus se eventualmente depois tiver uma notória poupança de consumo? Ou na prática estas classificações são irrelevantes e mais vale ir para os outros 2 mais baratos com classificação C? Read more”

vwcaliforniaclub.com ·2026-06-15

“I have these on the front of my T6 Ocean 150 and can't fault them. There's nothing special or concerning about them as summer tyres and they're a reasonable price.”

r/TyreReviews ·1 upvote ·2026-06-27

“Your pricing seems way off for Hankook. Here is comparison for 245/40/19 EU prices - Falken FK520 and Hankook Evo K137 (latest and very well performing against Contis, GYs and Michelins) are in 140€ range. GY F1AS6 is 170€ per piece. I went for latest HK Evo K137 and could not be happier - it stacks up very well for a fast driving, is quiet and has excellent response. Falken FK520 is snappy in wet. Goodyears are pensioneer tires, boring as hell.”

Top themes
#value and pricing#wet and dry grip#ride comfort and noise#touring versus UHP feel#traction on tuned cars#comparison with premium brands

Based on 14 community posts

Tire B

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72

Positive

Community sentiment toward the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 is largely positive, with drivers praising its impressive dry and wet grip, responsive handling, and low cabin noise compared to premium alternatives like the Michelin Pilot Sport series. Most owners view it as an outstanding value proposition, offering near-flagship performance at a significantly lower price point. Minor criticisms focus on potential treadwear longevity, lack of rim protection, mixed feedback on highway noise, and occasional wheel balance or vibration issues.

civicxi.com ·2026-01-19

“Anyone else running these tires? Is it possible the tire(s) out of round? New hypergram wheels/new tires w/ aluminum hubcentric rings. Has vibrations, but most noticed front right. Balanced again same thing. Took the hub rings off with significant decrease but still there. Will try again with plastic rings followed by swapping wheels front to rear. If still going on will have to live with it”

r/elektrischrijden ·1 upvote ·2026-09-02

“Ik heb nog een paar nieuwe banden liggen voor die maat. Continental PremiumContact 7. Had je voor heel weinig mogen hebben. Die zijn echt wel beter dan die Hankooks. Overigens hoeft een goede band niet heel duur te zijn. Ik was zelf niet tevreden mer Hankook. De laatste nieuwe banden die ik heb laten monteren waren Kumho's Ecsta sport PS72. Die zijn weliswaar goedkoop, maar komen uitstekend uit veel testen. Ze hebben ook echt meer grip dan de Hankooks en Vredesteins die ik hiervoor had.”

r/F30 ·6 upvotes ·2026-06-07

“Michelin PS5 vs Continental SC 7 vs Kumho PS72 for 437 wheels Looking for new tires for my F30 330i on 437M wheels (225/40R19 & 255/35R19). Main priorities are comfort, steering feel, low noise, and good grip for spirited driving. I’ve previously run Michelin PS5 and loved them, although they got a bit noisy over time. Now I’m deciding between: Michelin PS5 Continental SportContact 7 Kumho PS72 The Kumhos are much cheaper and reviews seem very positive. Are they really close to the PS5/SC7, or is it worth spending more?”

Top themes
#value for money#dry and wet grip#low road noise#Michelin PS4 comparison#balancing and vibration#ride comfort compliance#treadwear longevity

Based on 33 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Falken Azenis FK520 B · Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available13150
Rim diameters17″ – 22″17″ – 21″
Tread depth9 - 10/32″9.4/32″
UTQG300 A - B A320 A A
Treadwear warranty—30,000 mi
SidewallBlack Side WallBlackwall
Max pressure50 - 51 psi50 psi
Sizes in common4343

Which one should you actually buy?

Falken Azenis FK520

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72

Narrow edge: Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Falken Azenis FK520 if noise and comfort matter most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 86 vs 74 on handling.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Falken Azenis FK520 scores 71 vs 64 on noise.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 88 vs 81 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Falken Azenis FK520 scores 73 vs 68 on comfort.

Tire A · Falken Azenis FK520
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72

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Azenis FK520 or Ecsta Sport PS72?

Which is better in the wet, Azenis FK520 or Ecsta Sport PS72?

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72, 88 vs 81 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Azenis FK520 or Ecsta Sport PS72?

Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72, 86 vs 81 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Azenis FK520 or Ecsta Sport PS72?

Falken Azenis FK520, 71 vs 64 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Azenis FK520 or Ecsta Sport PS72?

Falken Azenis FK520, 73 vs 68 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Azenis FK520 or Ecsta Sport PS72?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 73 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, Azenis FK520 or Ecsta Sport PS72?

Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 71 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.

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