Tests 75 · 6 tests Owners 69 · 1,662 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho Ecsta HS51 vs Michelin Primacy 4+ — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Primacy 4+ is ahead, 77–72
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Tests 83 · 10 tests Owners 72 · 39 reviews
Best test result: #4 of 50 in 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (wear)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
74
Dry
Primacy 4+ +478Why this score
Source Ecsta HS51 Primacy 4+ Professional tests (TWG score) 76 82 Reviews found online 71 72 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 97% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 91% -
76
Wet
Primacy 4+ +379Why this score
Source Ecsta HS51 Primacy 4+ Professional tests (TWG score) 79 82 Reviews found online 73 76 Wet Braking (% of best) 75% 90% Wet Handling (% of best) 96% 98% -
69
Comfort
Primacy 4+ +473Why this score
Source Ecsta HS51 Primacy 4+ Professional tests (TWG score) – 73 Reviews found online 69 72 -
66
Noise
Primacy 4+ +672Why this score
Source Ecsta HS51 Primacy 4+ Professional tests (TWG score) 65 75 -
70
Treadwear
Primacy 4+ +1282Why this score
Source Ecsta HS51 Primacy 4+ Professional tests (TWG score) 73 90 Reviews found online 65 70 -
68
Handling
Level68Why this score
Source Ecsta HS51 Primacy 4+ Reviews found online 68 68
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta HS51 | Michelin Primacy 4+ |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 77 |
| Dry | 74 | 78 |
| Wet | 76 | 79 |
| Comfort | 69 | 73 |
| Noise | 66 | 72 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 82 |
| Handling | 68 | 68 |
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
72
/ 100
Ecsta HS51
77
/ 100
Primacy 4+
The professional test results behind the scores
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 | Ecsta HS51 | Primacy 4+ | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #3/53 · 2021 53 Summer Tyre Braking Test | 97% #3/10 · 2024 Motorhome Summer Tyre Test | +0.9 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #8/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 91% #2/6 · 2024 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ Summer Tire Test R17 | +6.8 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 75% #20/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 84% #4/8 · 2023 Motor Summer Tyre Test | −8.5 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #5/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 99% #3/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | −2.3 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 82% #2/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 93% #6/8 · 2023 Motor Summer Tyre Test | −11.0 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 99% #3/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 59% #10/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | +40.2 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 71% #12/12 · 2020 ADAC SUV Summer Tyre Test | 86% #4/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −14.3 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 13% #8/8 · 2024 AMS Summer SUV Tyre Test | +87.5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 99% #2/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 98% #8/10 · 2024 Motorhome Summer Tyre Test | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #9/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test | 0% #5/8 · 2025 EV Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 75% #9/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 90% #7/8 · 2024 AMS Summer SUV Tyre Test | −15.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 96% #20/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 98% #12/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | −1.5 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Ecsta HS51
Pros
- Impressive wet and dry weather traction
- Excellent value for money compared to tier-one premium brands
- Low road noise and enhanced ride comfort
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can cause a wobbly or loose feeling during aggressive cornering
- Some users experienced faster-than-expected tread wear on the front axle
- Occasional complaints regarding poor steering feedback and high-speed handling at the limit
Tire B Primacy 4+
Pros
- Excellent ride comfort and a smooth, compliant 'limousine-like' feel over bumps
- Strong and reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions, inspiring confidence
- Noticeable improvement in quietness and traction compared to predecessor tires or factory options
Cons
- Loud road noise and a harsh drone on rough or coarse asphalt surfaces
- Soft sidewalls can reduce steering agility and initial responsiveness compared to dedicated sport tires
- High premium price point relative to competitors
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta HS51 | B · Michelin Primacy 4+ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 27 | 66 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 18″ | 16″ – 21″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Kumho Ecsta HS51
77
/ 100
Michelin Primacy 4+
Winner: Michelin Primacy 4+ — better treadwear, noise and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Primacy 4+ scores 82 vs 70 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Primacy 4+ scores 72 vs 66 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Primacy 4+ scores 78 vs 74 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Primacy 4+ scores 73 vs 69 on comfort.
Tire A · Kumho Ecsta HS51
Tire B · Michelin Primacy 4+
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.