Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Ecsta PA51 leads, 68–66 Narrow edge
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Tests – · 1 test Owners 63 · 1,457 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (tested tread life (miles))
“Quote: Originally Posted by AUaviator I'm having trouble finding these tires in stock. Rears are back ordered and only 1 front available and it's on tire rack. 22545/17 255/40/17. www.simpletire.com looks to have them instock with free shipping and a 60 dollar rebate. A little hard to find but search for them individually by size.”
Tests – · 1 test Owners 67 · 165 reviews
Best test result: #7 of 19 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires (overall ranking)
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 77 | 68 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 66 | 67 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 28 | 57 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 65 | 63 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 66 | 72 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 70 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 62 | 72 |
| Source | Firehawk Indy 500 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 71 | 66 |
| Category | Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 | Kumho Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 66 | 68 |
| Dry | 73 | 68 |
| Wet | 67 | 68 |
| Snow | 45 | 62 |
| Comfort | 67 | 66 |
| Noise | 67 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 67 | 71 |
| Handling | 71 | 66 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Firehawk Indy 500
Ecsta PA51
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Firehawk Indy 500 | Ecsta PA51 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tested Tread Life (Miles) | Other | 62% #6/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires | 67% #11/19 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires | −5.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 62% #9/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires | 67% #7/19 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires | −4.8 | Different tests |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Community sentiment toward the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is overwhelmingly positive, with drivers frequently praising it as an exceptional value and budget-friendly alternative to premium summer tires. Owners report strong dry grip, solid wet-weather traction, good comfort, and predictable handling, though some note reduced performance in cold temperatures, softer sidewalls, and a tendency to get greasy during aggressive track sessions. Interest is also growing around the newer V2 version and its updated compound and tread design.
“I need a 224/45/15 I run these on my S2000 wheelset for driving around town and they are great. I also have used them for plenty of track days. They get a little greasy towards the end of sessions but have never let me down.”
“I have them on my 14 GT. 255 front/285 rear. They have roughly 5k on them and have worn well. Wheel spin has to be intentionally induced now. No more surprises. Highly recommend.”
“Will I regret buying Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s? I have a stock '21 GT Premium convertible with the black appearance package. It came with the upgraded Pirelli P Zero 255/40-19 tires, but with 35,000 miles, they are really worn, and I need new tires. I live in North Florida. We don't have a lot of cold weather (I missed the snow last month), but I do get a lot of rain. I don't track the car, and mostly drive on country roads and the interstate. The Pirelli's have treated me well as far as traction, dry and wet. I like the aggressive look of the Firehawks, but I am concerned about wet weather traction. Will the Firehawks be at least comparable to the Pirelli's for wet weather and general handling? If not, it sounds like the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 is the way to go. Also, the car is all black, with black rims, and the tires look wimpy. I'm not up for new rims this go-round, and I won't lower it because I like the clearance for potholes, etc., that I see a lot of in my area. I'm hoping the tires will help the look a little bit. Read more”
Based on 146 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 | B · Kumho Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 47 | 13 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 16″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | 9 - 10/32″ | 10.5/32″ |
| UTQG | 340 A A | 500 A A |
| Treadwear warranty | — | 45,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 51 psi |
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
Kumho Ecsta PA51
Winner: Kumho Ecsta PA51 — better snow and treadwear. Pick the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 if dry and handling matter most to you.
Kumho Ecsta PA51 scores 62 vs 45 on snow.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 scores 73 vs 68 on dry.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 scores 71 vs 66 on handling.
Kumho Ecsta PA51 scores 71 vs 67 on treadwear.
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.
