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Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Ventus V12 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 1 + 6 road tests and 93 + 485 owner reviews. How we score

Ventus V12 evo2 is ahead, 69–61

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Kumho Ecsta PS91
Tire BKumho

Ecsta PS91

Summer

± 5

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.

  1. 71

    Dry

    Ventus V12 evo2 +4
    67
    Why this score
    SourceVentus V12 evo2Ecsta PS91
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests7177
    Reviews found online7152

    Ventus V12 evo2: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 71.4 = 71

    Ecsta PS91: 60% × 76.7 + 40% × 51.6 = 67

  2. 71

    Wet

    Ventus V12 evo2 +3
    68
    Why this score
    SourceVentus V12 evo2Ecsta PS91
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests6979
    Reviews found online7352

    Ventus V12 evo2: 60% × 69.2 + 40% × 73.2 = 71

    Ecsta PS91: 60% × 79 + 40% × 51.9 = 68

  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    36
    Why this score
    SourceVentus V12 evo2Ecsta PS91
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 50 (est.)
    Reviews found online–16

    Ecsta PS91: 60% × 50.2 (est.) + 40% × 15.7 = 36

    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 0.37).

  4. 67

    Comfort

    Ventus V12 evo2 +12
    55
    Why this score
    SourceVentus V12 evo2Ecsta PS91
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 65 (est.)
    Reviews found online6649

    Ventus V12 evo2: 40% × 68.5 (est.) + 60% × 65.6 = 67

    Ecsta PS91: 40% × 65.3 (est.) + 60% × 48.5 = 55

    No road tests of comfort for Ventus V12 evo2 or Ecsta PS91. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 73

    Noise

    Ventus V12 evo2 +11
    62
    Why this score
    SourceVentus V12 evo2Ecsta PS91
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7870
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)50

    Ventus V12 evo2: 60% × 77.5 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 73

    Ecsta PS91: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 50.2 = 62

    No owner ratings of noise for Ventus V12 evo2. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 61

    Treadwear

    Ventus V12 evo2 +17
    44
    Why this score
    SourceVentus V12 evo2Ecsta PS91
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 54 (est.)
    Reviews found online5830

    Ventus V12 evo2: 60% × 63.4 (est.) + 40% × 58.4 = 61

    Ecsta PS91: 60% × 53.5 (est.) + 40% × 29.9 = 44

    No road tests of treadwear for Ventus V12 evo2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

    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 0.35).

  7. 70

    Handling (owners)

    Ventus V12 evo2 +16
    54
    Why this score
    SourceVentus V12 evo2Ecsta PS91
    Reviews found online7054
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    48
    Why this score
    SourceVentus V12 evo2Ecsta PS91
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests–48
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Ventus V12 evo2Kumho Ecsta PS91
Relative Score 69 61
Dry 71 67
Wet 71 68
Snow – 36
Comfort 67 55
Noise 73 62
Treadwear 61 44
Handling (owners) 70 54
Efficiency – 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 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

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Ventus V12 evo2

± 5

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.

DisciplineCategoryVentus V12 evo2Ecsta PS91ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 97% #4/5 · 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test 80% #5/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 97% #4/5 · 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test 98% #7/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 88% #4/5 · 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test 70% #9/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 95% #4/5 · 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test 97% #5/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #1/5 · 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test 94% #8/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #4/5 2017 Car and Driver UHP Tyre Test #9/10 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ventus V12 evo2

Pros

  • Excellent value and cost-to-performance ratio compared to premium brands
  • Strong, reliable grip in both dry and wet conditions with good aquaplaning resistance
  • Comfortable ride with low initial road noise

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls can cause a floaty feel or roll during aggressive cornering and track use
  • Road noise increases noticeably as the tires wear down
  • Treadwear is relatively fast, leading to shorter overall mileage
All owner themes in the Ventus V12 evo2 review

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
All owner themes in the Ecsta PS91 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Kumho Ecsta PS91

Mixed

The Kumho Ecsta PS91 is widely praised as an affordable, budget-friendly summer tire with attractive styling and respectable wet or daily street performance compared to pricier rivals like Michelin. However, several users express frustration with poor tread life, rapid wear, and insufficient grip or heat endurance under hard driving and track conditions. Others also note issues with sketchy handling, flat-spotting, or vibration when cold.

mbworld.org

“They are actually good tires. I used to have them, they have decent wet/dry traction which is good right now since its raining.”
mustang6g.com ·1 upvote ·2017-01-05

“They were good enough for 1:46.708 at Mazda Laguna Seca 285/35ZR-19 Actually, thats better than I thought”
r/e46 ·222 upvotes ·2025-03-27

“Follow up on new wheels/tires for ZHP Well new wheels and tires are on aswell as aligned. I love the tire and fitment setup but really do not like the gunmetal grey color especially on imola. I will feel it out for a while but probably eventually powder coat to OEM silver. Wheels specs are 18 x 8.5 x ET50 with 255/35/18 Kuhmo Ecsta PS91 all around. -2.5 camber in the front and -2.8 in the rear.”
Top themes
#budget performance value#rapid tread wear#wet and dry traction#track and heat limitations#ride quality and appearance#Michelin alternative comparison

Based on 45 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 B · Kumho Ecsta PS91
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available381
Rim diameters15″ – 21″19″
Tread depth—9.5/32″
UTQG—260 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2

Kumho Ecsta PS91

Winner: Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 — better treadwear, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 scores 61 vs 44 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 scores 70 vs 54 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 scores 67 vs 55 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 scores 73 vs 62 on noise.

Tire A · Hankook Ventus V12 evo2
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Tire B · Kumho Ecsta PS91
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Ventus V12 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?

Which is better in the wet, Ventus V12 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2, 71 vs 68 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ventus V12 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2, 71 vs 67 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Ventus V12 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2, 73 vs 62 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Ventus V12 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2, 67 vs 55 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Ventus V12 evo2 or Ecsta PS91?

Hankook Ventus V12 evo2, 61 vs 44 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