Tests 77 · 14 tests Owners 75 · 126 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 53 in 2021 53 Summer Tyre Braking Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecsta PS71 — 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 14 + 14 road tests and 126 + 8,191 owner reviews. How we score
Ventus Prime 3 K125 is ahead, 76–68
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Tests 68 · 14 tests Owners 69 · 8,191 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 18 in 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)
“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
85
Dry
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +1075Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 12 tests 89 78 Reviews found online 79 72 Ventus Prime 3 K125: 60% × 88.6 + 40% × 78.8 = 85
Ecsta PS71: 60% × 77.6 + 40% × 71.7 = 75
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80
Wet
Ecsta PS71 +585Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 13 tests 81 92 Reviews found online 77 75 Ventus Prime 3 K125: 60% × 81.4 + 40% × 77 = 80
Ecsta PS71: 60% × 91.8 + 40% × 74.6 = 85
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73
Comfort
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +469Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests 75 75 Reviews found online 72 65 Ventus Prime 3 K125: 40% × 75.1 + 60% × 71.9 = 73
Ecsta PS71: 40% × 74.6 + 60% × 65.3 = 69
-
74
Noise
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +3836Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 8 tests 80 16 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Ventus Prime 3 K125: 60% × 79.8 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 74
Ecsta PS71: 60% × 15.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 36
No owner ratings of noise for Ventus Prime 3 K125 or Ecsta PS71. 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.
-
65
Treadwear
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +1352Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 6 tests 61 46 Reviews found online 72 60 Ventus Prime 3 K125: 60% × 61 + 40% × 71.8 = 65
Ecsta PS71: 60% × 46 + 40% × 59.8 = 52
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75
Handling (owners)
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +273Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Reviews found online 75 73 -
66
Efficiency
Ventus Prime 3 K125 +1848Why this score
Source Ventus Prime 3 K125 Ecsta PS71 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 7 tests 66 48
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 | Kumho Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 68 |
| Dry | 85 | 75 |
| Wet | 80 | 85 |
| Comfort | 73 | 69 |
| Noise | 74 | 36 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 52 |
| Handling (owners) | 75 | 73 |
| Efficiency | 66 | 48 |
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
76
/ 100
Ventus Prime 3 K125
68
/ 100
Ecsta PS71
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.
| Discipline | Category | Ventus Prime 3 K125 | Ecsta PS71 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/53 · 2021 53 Summer Tyre Braking Test | 95% #9/52 · 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 98% #12/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 87% #4/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 92% #2/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 95% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/53 · 2021 53 Summer Tyre Braking Test | 100% #2/52 · 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #5/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 100% #2/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 67% #5/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 89% #4/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 88% #9/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 94% #10/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #2/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 97% #17/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wear | Treadwear | 58% #11/15 · 2021 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | 50% #14/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 84% #9/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 83% #15/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 59% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 83% #6/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #13/20 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | #7/20 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Value | Cost | 62% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 37% #11/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #8/18 2022 ADAC 16" SUV Summer Tyre Test | #4/52 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout | – | 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 members generally view the Kumho Ecsta PS71 as a capable and reliable mid-range ultra-high performance tire offering solid grip and value for money compared to premium alternatives. While perceived as good once warmed up, some drivers note that it does not quite reach the ultimate grip level of top-tier brands and question its tread wear longevity.
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/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?”
bimmerforums.co.uk
·1 upvote ·2024-05-05
“On Blackcircles all the 245/40 R19 ditch finders cost around £100 and have a poor wet grip & all the decent mid range cost around £170 and have A rated wet grip. Would you risk it for £240? I know I wouldn't. The cheapest A wet rated is a Kuhmo Ecsta PS71 at £136 if you really want to keep the cost down. If you want a relatively soft comfortable tyre then a Hankook S1 Evo 3 is an excellent choice.”
Top themes
#value for money#wet and dry grip#tire wear longevity#sporty handling performance#warm up temperature behavior#mid-range alternative comparison
Based on 23 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″ |
| UTQG | 240 - 500 A - AA A - B | — |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Sizes in common | 32 | 32 |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
68
/ 100
Kumho Ecsta PS71
Winner: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 — better noise, efficiency and treadwear. 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 74 vs 36 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 66 vs 48 on efficiency.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 65 vs 52 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 85 vs 75 on dry.
Tire A · Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta PS71
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Ventus Prime 3 K125 or Ecsta PS71?
Which is better in the wet, Ventus Prime 3 K125 or Ecsta PS71?
Kumho Ecsta PS71, 85 vs 80 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Ventus Prime 3 K125 or Ecsta PS71?
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125, 85 vs 75 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, Ventus Prime 3 K125 or Ecsta PS71?
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125, 74 vs 36 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Ventus Prime 3 K125 or Ecsta PS71?
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125, 73 vs 69 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Ventus Prime 3 K125 or Ecsta PS71?
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125, 65 vs 52 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Ventus Prime 3 K125 or Ecsta PS71?
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125, 66 vs 48 on our efficiency 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