Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Ecsta KU39 leads, 69–68 Narrow edge
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Tests 76 · 19 tests Owners 59 · 3,355 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 8 in 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test (overall ranking)
“You will love the Ventus S1 EVO3's, I purchased a set back in May 2020 for $473 delivered. In your climate driving at Texas speeds (75-85) efficiency is gonna be about 270-295 Wh/m. I just ordered a set of the iON EVO AS to try out as I have a need for snow use but not bad enough for snow tires.”
Tests – · none yet Owners 69 · 125 reviews
Best test result: #11 of 11 in 2011 AMS Ultra High Performance Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | – |
| Reviews found online | 63 | 72 |
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 88 | – |
| Reviews found online | 69 | 72 |
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | – |
| Reviews found online | 59 | 70 |
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 74 | – |
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 61 | – |
| Reviews found online | 46 | 63 |
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 60 | 69 |
| Category | Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 | Kumho Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 69 |
| Dry | 76 | 70 |
| Wet | 81 | 71 |
| Comfort | 62 | 70 |
| Noise | 71 | – |
| Treadwear | 55 | 64 |
| Handling | 60 | 69 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Ventus S1 evo3
Ecsta KU39
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 S1 evo3 | Ecsta KU39 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/8 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | 9% #11/11 · 2011 AMS Ultra High Performance Tyre Test | +10.9 | Different tests |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Community sentiment toward the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 is mixed, with users frequently praising its strong dry and wet grip, comfort, and competitive pricing. However, notable drawbacks include relatively fast tread wear, reports of increasing road noise over time, and mixed experiences with OEM specs versus premium competitors like Michelin.
“Tire preferences? My MK8 has a little over 18,000 miles now and the stock tires look like they’ve already gone to sh*t? Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 aren’t as good as they advertise? What do you recommend for tires?”
“My thoughts with the Hankooks on my '25R vs the Bridgestones on my '23R. Hankooks WAY louder but better ride quality & traction. As far as rotating - I rotate at least every two weeks (off before AutoX and on immediately after - I have dedicated AutoX tires ). I don't even pay attention to what position they're in. Zero issues.”
“Small tire size change having different ratings? (Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3) Hi all, I'm looking for a good all round tire for my MX5 (I'm in the non snowy regions of the UK so summer tires) and a pretty popular recommendation are the Ventus S1 Evo 3s. At the MX5's stock size of 205/45/R17 they are rated at A for fuel and wet performance, and 68db of noise, which is great! However I'd like to size up to 215/45/R17, and for whatever reason the ratings drop to B for fuel and wet performance, and most importantly to me, 71db of noise. I was just wondering how such a small difference in size changes things quite drastically? I know these ratings aren't that important, but it seems strange to me they'd change at all Thanks! Read more”
Based on 33 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 | B · Kumho Ecsta KU39 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 110 | 4 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 22″ | 17″ – 19″ |
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Kumho Ecsta KU39
Too close to call: Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 and Kumho Ecsta KU39 are within 2 points overall. Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 is stronger on wet and dry. Kumho Ecsta KU39 is stronger on treadwear, handling and comfort.
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 81 vs 71 on wet.
Kumho Ecsta KU39 scores 64 vs 55 on treadwear.
Kumho Ecsta KU39 scores 69 vs 60 on handling.
Kumho Ecsta KU39 scores 70 vs 62 on comfort.
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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.
