Tests 77 · 14 tests Owners 73 · 124 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecsta PS71 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Ventus Prime 3 K125 is ahead, 75–68
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 67 · 14 tests Owners 69 · 8,166 reviews
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.
-
83
Dry
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +875Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) 87 78 Reviews found online 76 71 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 92% Dry Handling (% of best) 100% 95% -
78
Wet
Ecsta PS71 +684Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) 81 90 Reviews found online 75 73 Wet Braking (% of best) 89% 91% Wet Handling (% of best) 99% 98% -
74
Comfort
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +371Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 75 Reviews found online 70 65 -
75
Noise
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +3738Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) 81 18 -
64
Treadwear
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +1252Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) 61 45 Reviews found online 68 63 -
73
Handling
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +271Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Reviews found online 73 71
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 | Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 68 |
| Dry | 83 | 75 |
| Wet | 78 | 84 |
| Comfort | 74 | 71 |
| Noise | 75 | 38 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 52 |
| Handling | 73 | 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
75
/ 100
Ventus Prime 3 K125
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 | Ventus Prime 3 K125 | Ecsta PS71 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 92% #28/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout | +7.8 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Summer SUV Tyre Test | 95% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild 20 inch UHP Tyre Test | +4.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 95% #9/10 · 2020 Teknikens 17 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 88% #5/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | +6.5 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #8/10 · 2020 New 17 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 95% #20/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | +4.6 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 84% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 70% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +14.0 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 62% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 54% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +8.4 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 72% #7/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 50% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +21.8 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/47 · 2018 AutoBild Summer Tyre Overview | 6% #18/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout | +94.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #6/12 · 2018 Gute Fahrt Summer Tyre Test | 98% #3/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | −1.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 80% #7/11 · 2019 AMS Summer SUV Tyre Test | 78% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +2.2 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 90% #3/13 · 2019 Swedish Summer Tyre Test | 92% #2/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | −1.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 67% #5/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 89% #4/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | −22.2 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #13/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 0% #7/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 89% #9/10 · 2017 Mid Range Tyre Test | 91% #13/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout | −1.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #8/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 98% #5/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Ventus Prime 3 K125
Pros
- Excellent dry road grip and braking performance
- High value-for-money ratio compared to premium competitors
- Comfortable ride quality with effective vibration absorption
Cons
- Increased risk of hydroplaning as tread depth decreases
- Accelerated tread wear on heavier vehicles or under high-torque conditions
- Noise levels can increase noticeably after several thousand miles
Tire B Ecsta PS71
Pros
- Outstanding wet weather grip and aquaplaning resistance
- High value for money compared to tier-one premium brands
- Predictable handling and solid cornering stability in both dry and wet conditions
Cons
- Noticeable road noise or droning at motorway speeds on certain vehicles
- Occasional reports of balancing difficulties or out-of-round/egg-shaped tires
- Softer sidewalls can lead to slightly vague steering response around center or tread block movement
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Kumho Ecsta PS71
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.
z4-forum.com
·2023-01-29
“Steve; have a look at Kuhmo Ecsta PS71s. I just fitted a set on my new wheels for my 440i. Weapon of choice for the 'non tyre snob' IMHO. Much cheaper than the 'big' brands, heat up quickly and they also look really nice (for a black round tyre). Can't comment on noise, as the exhaust on mine is so noisy I can't hear the radio, let alone tyres!”
r/TeslaUK
·2 upvotes ·2026-08-28
“go with Kumho Ecsta PS71 EV around £140 – £165. Good value for money”
r/tires
·5 upvotes ·2022-10-17
“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”
Top themes
#Value for money#Wet grip performance#UHP budget alternative#Tread wear durability#Warm-up temperature behavior#Tire pressure specifications
Based on 24 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 | B · Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 60 | 133 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | 16″ – 22″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
68
/ 100
Kumho Ecsta PS71
Winner: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 — better noise, treadwear and dry. Pick the Kumho Ecsta PS71 if wet matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 75 vs 38 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 64 vs 52 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 83 vs 75 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 84 vs 78 on wet.
Tire A · Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta PS71
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.