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Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222 looks discontinued: no new owner reviews or road tests in five years and no current EU tyre label.

Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222 vs Kumho Ecsta KU31 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 1 + 0 road tests and 2 + 165 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Ventus RS3 Z222 and Ecsta KU31 are level at 67.

Check price on Amazon · Ventus RS3 Z222 Check price on Amazon · Ecsta KU31
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Kumho Ecsta KU31
Tire BKumho

Ecsta KU31

Summer

Tests – · none yet Owners 66 · 165 reviews

Category by category

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

  1. 72

    Dry

    Ventus RS3 Z222 +5
    67
    Why this score
    SourceVentus RS3 Z222Ecsta KU31
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests67≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online7967

    Ventus RS3 Z222: 60% × 67 + 40% × 79 = 72

    Ecsta KU31: 60% × 67.4 (est.) + 40% × 66.9 = 67

    No road tests of dry for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).

  2. 60

    Wet

    Ecsta KU31 +9
    69
    Why this score
    SourceVentus RS3 Z222Ecsta KU31
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests52≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online7268

    Ventus RS3 Z222: 60% × 51.9 + 40% × 71.8 = 60

    Ecsta KU31: 60% × 69 (est.) + 40% × 68.4 = 69

    No road tests of wet for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).

  3. 67

    Comfort

    Level
    67
    Why this score
    SourceVentus RS3 Z222Ecsta KU31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online6564

    Ventus RS3 Z222: 60% × 68.4 (est.) + 40% × 65.1 = 67

    Ecsta KU31: 60% × 68.2 (est.) + 40% × 63.9 = 67

    No road tests of comfort for Ventus RS3 Z222 or Ecsta KU31. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  4. 67

    Treadwear

    Ventus RS3 Z222 +4
    63
    Why this score
    SourceVentus RS3 Z222Ecsta KU31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 64 (est.)
    Reviews found online6861

    Ventus RS3 Z222: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 67.9 = 67

    Ecsta KU31: 60% × 64.3 (est.) + 40% × 61.4 = 63

    No road tests of treadwear for Ventus RS3 Z222. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).

    No road tests of treadwear for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).

  5. 77

    Handling (owners)

    Ventus RS3 Z222 +10
    67
    Why this score
    SourceVentus RS3 Z222Ecsta KU31
    Reviews found online7767
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Ventus RS3 Z222Kumho Ecsta KU31
Relative Score 67 67
Dry 72 67
Wet 60 69
Comfort 67 67
Treadwear 67 63
Handling (owners) 77 67

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score

Ventus RS3 Z222

Ecsta KU31

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.

DisciplineCategoryVentus RS3 Z222Ecsta KU31ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #3/5 2019 17 inch Track Day Tyre Test #7/7 2014 Auto Review Max Performance Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ventus RS3 Z222

Pros

  • Exceptional dry grip with minimal warm-up time required
  • Predictable and progressive handling characteristics
  • Superior wet weather performance compared to typical semi-slick tires

Cons

  • Limited suitability for snow or freezing conditions
  • Performance is highly dependent on achieving optimal operating temperature
  • Stiff sidewall construction may impact ride comfort for some users
All owner themes in the Ventus RS3 Z222 review

Tire B Ecsta KU31

Pros

  • Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
  • Strong dry and wet weather handling
  • Progressive and predictable feedback at the limit

Cons

  • Increased road noise and potential 'droning' as tread wears
  • Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting rapid wear
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to less precise steering feel for some drivers
All owner themes in the Ecsta KU31 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222 B · Kumho Ecsta KU31
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222

Kumho Ecsta KU31

Too close to call: Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222 and Kumho Ecsta KU31 are within 2 points overall. Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222 is stronger on handling, dry and treadwear. Kumho Ecsta KU31 is stronger on wet. Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222 rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 2 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222 scores 77 vs 67 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 69 vs 60 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222 scores 72 vs 67 on dry.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222 scores 67 vs 63 on treadwear.

Tire A · Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222
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Tire B · Kumho Ecsta KU31
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Ventus RS3 Z222 or Ecsta KU31?

Which is better in the wet, Ventus RS3 Z222 or Ecsta KU31?

Kumho Ecsta KU31, 69 vs 60 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ventus RS3 Z222 or Ecsta KU31?

Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222, 72 vs 67 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, Ventus RS3 Z222 or Ecsta KU31?

Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 67 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Ventus RS3 Z222 or Ecsta KU31?

Hankook Ventus RS3 Z222, 67 vs 63 on our treadwear 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