Best test result: #2 of 20 in 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test (wet handling)
“Not sure if it is what you are looking for. I am Polish but I live in the USA. I am still following info from Poland but I am not buying tires there anymore. A magazine Motor tests tires. magazynauto.pl Firestone was included in their "accessibly priced" summer tires: Firestone Roadhawk. They lost to Uniroyal, Semperit, Dębica but were ahead of Kumho, Apollo, Tomket, Imperial and Double Coin. They were not included in their premium and middle priced test. German based Auto Bild (and its Polish version Auto Świat) did a test in 2019 and the same Roadhawk passed the elimination test (53 down to 20: wet and dry braking distances added together as #13) and finished #18 in detailed test. So Firestone is present in Poland and Europe as a cheaper brand from Bridgestone but how popular it is I do not know. Krzyś”
Best test result: #2 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (price)
“I've had the PS71 several years ago - it was ok, nothing spectacular. They might have changed the compound now, so it may be better. Its a good tire, I don't remember any real weaknesses, it just never felt like "yeah, this sticks like glue to the road". Edit: I just remembered - it was mediocre in the city - when the tire was not warmed up, but I reckon this is shared between most sport tires with high speed rating. Once warmed up was good.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
70
Dry
Ecsta PS71 +5
75
Why this score
Source
RoadHawk
Ecsta PS71
Professional tests (TWG score)
81
78
Reviews found online
53
71
Dry Braking (% of best)
94%
92%
Dry Handling (% of best)
99%
98%
68
Wet
Ecsta PS71 +16
84
Why this score
Source
RoadHawk
Ecsta PS71
Professional tests (TWG score)
76
90
Reviews found online
55
73
Wet Braking (% of best)
84%
91%
Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best)
87%
95%
Wet Handling (% of best)
100%
96%
59
Comfort
Ecsta PS71 +12
71
Why this score
Source
RoadHawk
Ecsta PS71
Professional tests (TWG score)
67
75
Reviews found online
47
65
46
Noise
RoadHawk +8
38
Why this score
Source
RoadHawk
Ecsta PS71
Professional tests (TWG score)
32
18
54
Treadwear
RoadHawk +2
52
Why this score
Source
RoadHawk
Ecsta PS71
Professional tests (TWG score)
65
45
Reviews found online
38
63
43
Handling
Ecsta PS71 +28
71
Why this score
Source
RoadHawk
Ecsta PS71
Reviews found online
43
71
Scores at a glance
Firestone RoadHawk vs Kumho Ecsta PS71: scores by category (0–100)
Category
Firestone RoadHawk
Kumho Ecsta PS71
Relative Score
60
68
Dry
70
75
Wet
68
84
Comfort
59
71
Noise
46
38
Treadwear
54
52
Handling
43
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.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
60
/ 100
RoadHawk
68
/ 100
Ecsta PS71
The professional test results behind the scores
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
RoadHawk
Ecsta PS71
Δ
Both?
Curved Aquaplaning
Curved
92%#8/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test
90%#11/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test
+2.6
Different tests
Dry Braking
Dry
94%#18/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
92%#16/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
+2.2
Different tests
Dry Handling
Dry
99%#9/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test
98%#9/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test
+1.7
Different tests
Rolling Resistance
Efficiency
76%#15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test
88%#5/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test
−12.1
Different tests
Fuel Consumption
Fuel
93%#47/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
93%#17/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
+0.2
Different tests
Abrasion
Other
51%#9/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
51%#14/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
−0.6
Different tests
Noise
Other
97%#15/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test
99%#7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test
−1.6
Different tests
Price
Other
84%#8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
70%#2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
+14.3
Different tests
Value
Other
67%#14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
37%#11/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
+29.6
Different tests
Wear
Other
53%#25/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
78%#5/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test
−24.7
Different tests
Overall Ranking
Overall
25%#4/16 · 2018 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16
6%#18/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout
+19.4
Different tests
Straight Aqua
Straight
91%#20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
96%#6/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
−4.8
Same test
Subj. Comfort
Subj
56%#16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
78%#10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
−22.2
Same test
Subj. Dry Handling
Subj
83%#7/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test
70%#7/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test
+13.3
Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling
Subj
27%#15/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test
60%#13/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test
−33.3
Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership
Total
0%#10/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
0%#20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
0.0
Different tests
Wet Braking
Wet
84%#30/44 · 2022 Summer Tyre Market Overview
91%#13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
−7.0
Different tests
Wet Braking - Concrete
Wet
87%#29/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
95%#5/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
−8.3
Different tests
Wet Handling
Wet
100%#2/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test
96%#12/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test
+4.3
Different tests
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A RoadHawk
Pros
Exceptional wet weather performance, particularly in standing water and heavy rain
Strong dry grip and confident cornering for daily driving
Comfortable ride quality with good bump absorption
Cons
Accelerated and sometimes uneven tread wear, resulting in shorter-than-expected lifespan
Soft sidewalls that can cause a visual 'under-inflated' bulge and spongy cornering response
Limited steering feedback and precision during spirited driving
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Firestone RoadHawk
Mixed
Community discussions reflect mixed perspectives on the Firestone Roadhawk, noting reasonable reviews alongside concerns regarding tread wear. While some test results place it competitively among budget-friendly summer options, owners also discuss practical issues such as unusual noises, generational replacement difficulties, and overall value.
Community sentiment towards the Kumho Ecsta PS71 is generally positive, with drivers viewing it as an affordable, high-value mid-range/UHP tire that performs reliably compared to premium brands. Users praise its wet grip rating, competitive pricing, and overall road manners once warmed up, though some note it provides adequate rather than top-tier grip and raise questions regarding cold performance and tread life.
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.
