Tests 78 · 11 tests Owners 66 · 2,130 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 vs Kumho Ecsta PS91 — 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 11 + 6 road tests and 2,130 + 485 owner reviews. How we score
Ventus S1 evo2 is ahead, 72–61
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Tests 77 · 6 tests Owners 42 · 485 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 (exterior noise)
“Putting some Kumho Ecsta PS91s on. Curious how they’ll do since my go to Falken rt660 doesn’t come in the oem 18” sizes”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
74
Dry
Ventus S1 evo2 +866Why this score
Source Ventus S1 evo2 Ecsta PS91 Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 6 tests 77 77 Reviews found online 70 51 Dry Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 95% 96% Dry Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 99% 98% Ventus S1 evo2: 60% × 76.7 + 40% × 69.5 = 74
Ecsta PS91: 60% × 76.8 + 40% × 50.9 = 66
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79
Wet
Ventus S1 evo2 +1168Why this score
Source Ventus S1 evo2 Ecsta PS91 Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 6 tests 83 79 Reviews found online 73 52 Wet Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 95% 94% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 97% 97% Ventus S1 evo2: 60% × 83 + 40% × 73.2 = 79
Ecsta PS91: 60% × 78.8 + 40% × 51.5 = 68
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–
Snow
No comparison38Why this score
Source Ventus S1 evo2 Ecsta PS91 Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 53 (est.) Reviews found online – 15 Ecsta PS91: 60% × 52.8 (est.) + 40% × 14.7 = 38
No road tests of snow for Ecsta PS91. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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66
Comfort
Ventus S1 evo2 +1254Why this score
Source Ventus S1 evo2 Ecsta PS91 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 72 ≈ 65 (est.) Reviews found online 62 48 Ventus S1 evo2: 40% × 71.5 + 60% × 62.1 = 66
Ecsta PS91: 40% × 64.5 (est.) + 60% × 47.6 = 54
No road tests of comfort for Ecsta PS91. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
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72
Noise
Ventus S1 evo2 +1062Why this score
Source Ventus S1 evo2 Ecsta PS91 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 3 tests 76 70 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) 50 Ventus S1 evo2: 60% × 75.5 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 72
Ecsta PS91: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 49.5 = 62
No owner ratings of noise for Ventus S1 evo2. 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.
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61
Treadwear
Ventus S1 evo2 +1744Why this score
Source Ventus S1 evo2 Ecsta PS91 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 63 (est.) ≈ 54 (est.) Reviews found online 57 30 Ventus S1 evo2: 60% × 63.2 (est.) + 40% × 57.2 = 61
Ecsta PS91: 60% × 53.6 (est.) + 40% × 30.1 = 44
No road tests of treadwear for Ventus S1 evo2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Ecsta PS91. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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67
Handling (owners)
Ventus S1 evo2 +1354Why this score
Source Ventus S1 evo2 Ecsta PS91 Reviews found online 67 54 -
72
Efficiency
Ventus S1 evo2 +2547Why this score
Source Ventus S1 evo2 Ecsta PS91 Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 3 tests 72 47
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 | Kumho Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 61 |
| Dry | 74 | 66 |
| Wet | 79 | 68 |
| Snow | – | 38 |
| Comfort | 66 | 54 |
| Noise | 72 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 61 | 44 |
| Handling (owners) | 67 | 54 |
| Efficiency | 72 | 47 |
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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
Ventus S1 evo2
61
/ 100
Ecsta PS91
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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.
In the overall rankings of 3 tests that ran both, Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 finished ahead 2 times and Kumho Ecsta PS91 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | Ventus S1 evo2 | Ecsta PS91 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% | 96% | −0.9 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Sports Cars Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 98% | +0.4 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Sports Cars Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 80% #4/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | 70% #8/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 95% #2/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | 80% #7/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% | 94% | +0.1 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Sports Cars Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% | 97% | +0.3 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Sports Cars Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 80% #8/16 · 2018 Test World Summer Tyre Test | 78% #6/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 100% #1/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | 94% #8/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | 70% #5/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 65% #4/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #2/9 | #7/9 | – | 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Sports Cars Tyre Test · 235/35 R19 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Ventus S1 evo2
Pros
- Excellent dry and wet grip performance
- Strong value compared to premium alternatives like Michelin or Continental
- Crisp steering response and confident cornering handling
Cons
- Faster-than-expected tread wear, particularly on heavier or high-performance vehicles
- Increased road noise and harsher ride quality as the tire ages and tread depth lowers
- Occasional reports of structural weaknesses such as sidewall bulges or cracking
Tire B Ecsta PS91
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet grip providing high confidence during spirited driving
- Significantly more affordable than premium flagship alternatives while offering comparable performance
- Stiff sidewalls enhance steering response, cornering stability, and feedback
Cons
- Accelerated tread wear and shorter lifespan, particularly with aggressive driving or on heavier vehicles
- Stiff sidewalls result in a firmer, less comfortable ride that transmits road imperfections
- Tendency to tramline or follow road grooves on straight highways
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Kumho Ecsta PS91
The community views the Kumho Ecsta PS91 as an attractive, budget-friendly max performance summer tire that offers decent street traction, low noise, and a tread pattern resembling higher-end options like Michelin. However, opinions are split; while some drivers praise them as a great value alternative for daily driving and light spirited use, enthusiasts note limitations regarding rapid wear, subpar track endurance, and inferior grip compared to top-tier performance tires.
mustang6g.com
·2016-09-19
“Kuhmo Ecsta I had on a Mazda3 would flat spot overnite and vibrate like hell for 3-5miles til they warmed up. Hated them.”
r/Autocross
·1 upvote ·2025-09-30
“You will get smoked if you go with the PS91. They also do not hold well under abuse. I feel that the RE-71RS would be a better value for you simply because they'll hold and remain consistent even as they wear very far down. I've used the RE-71RS at a track day before and even as the tires were chunking and melting, they still maintained their grip, as if they were just BEGGING to be abused, to see how far they could be pushed.”
r/E90
·180 upvotes ·2025-09-17
“New meaty tires set up installed, now I can order spacers Went up tire sizes and they definitely fill the gap a bit. First time running sticky kumhos on anytime so excited to see how they turn out.Specs are Kumho Ecsta Ps91 235/40/18 up front and 265/40/18 in the rear. Read more”
Top themes
#Budget friendly pricing#Street performance and comfort#Tread wear and longevity#Track and grip limitations#Comparison to Michelin
Based on 46 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 | B · Kumho Ecsta PS91 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 61 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 19″ |
| Tread depth | — | 9.5/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 260 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
61
/ 100
Kumho Ecsta PS91
Winner: Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 — better efficiency, treadwear and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 scores 72 vs 47 on efficiency.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 scores 61 vs 44 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 scores 67 vs 54 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 scores 66 vs 54 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is dry braking
Kumho Ecsta PS91 won 2 of 2 shared dry braking tests.
Tire A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo2
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta PS91
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Ventus S1 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?
Which is better in the wet, Ventus S1 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2, 79 vs 68 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Ventus S1 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2, 74 vs 66 on our dry score.
Which is quieter, Ventus S1 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2, 72 vs 62 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Ventus S1 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2, 66 vs 54 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Ventus S1 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2, 61 vs 44 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Ventus S1 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2, 72 vs 47 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