Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 7 + 8 road tests and 2,387 + 1,068 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: Ecsta HS52 79, Ecsta Sport PS72 80.
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Tests 83 · 7 tests Owners 75 · 2,387 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 21 in 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (dry braking)
“I have kuhmo ecsta hs52's on my renault megane during spring and summer and they are really good. No complaints at all. My milage did go up a little bit but that's it”
Tests 78 · 8 tests Owners 83 · 1,068 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test (wet handling (tester's mark))
“I’m on the Kumho sport ps72 and in the dry on road they are great, wet road- great, dry track also great but on wet track; a little unpredictable.”
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Ecsta HS52 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 8 tests | 86 | 87 |
| Reviews found online | 80 | 85 |
Ecsta HS52: 60% × 86.4 + 40% × 80.1 = 84
Ecsta Sport PS72: 60% × 86.6 + 40% × 85.3 = 86
| Source | Ecsta HS52 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 8 tests | 89 | 88 |
| Reviews found online | 78 | 88 |
Ecsta HS52: 60% × 89.2 + 40% × 77.5 = 84
Ecsta Sport PS72: 60% × 88.1 + 40% × 87.5 = 88
| Source | Ecsta HS52 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests | ≈ 68 (est.) | 58 |
| Reviews found online | 66 | 75 |
Ecsta HS52: 40% × 68.1 (est.) + 60% × 65.9 = 67
Ecsta Sport PS72: 40% × 57.9 + 60% × 75.4 = 68
No road tests of comfort for Ecsta HS52. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
| Source | Ecsta HS52 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests | 64 | 63 |
| Reviews found online | ≈ 66 (est.) | ≈ 66 (est.) |
Ecsta HS52: 60% × 63.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 65
Ecsta Sport PS72: 60% × 62.5 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 64
No owner ratings of noise for Ecsta HS52 or Ecsta Sport PS72. 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.
| Source | Ecsta HS52 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests | 80 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 70 | 78 |
Ecsta HS52: 60% × 79.7 + 40% × 69.6 = 76
Ecsta Sport PS72: 60% × 69.9 + 40% × 78 = 73
| Source | Ecsta HS52 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 77 | 86 |
| Source | Ecsta HS52 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 5 tests | 43 | 71 |
| Category | Kumho Ecsta HS52 | Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 80 |
| Dry | 84 | 86 |
| Wet | 84 | 88 |
| Comfort | 67 | 68 |
| Noise | 65 | 64 |
| Treadwear | 76 | 73 |
| Handling (owners) | 77 | 86 |
| Efficiency | 43 | 71 |
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.
Ecsta HS52
Ecsta Sport PS72
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.
| Discipline | Category | Ecsta HS52 | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 95% #9/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #3/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 99% #3/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 86% #12/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 94% #5/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% #5/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 96% #14/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 97% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 93% #4/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | – | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 91% #15/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 96% #8/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #2/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 99% #5/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 96% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Abrasion | Treadwear | 59% #12/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 70% #11/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wear | Treadwear | 75% #8/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 76% #13/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 88% #16/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 82% #12/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #12/20 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | #6/20 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Value | Cost | 100% #1/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 89% #7/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #9/16 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | #7/10 2026 ACE Summer Tyre Test | – | 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
The Kumho Ecsta HS52 receives a polarized mix of reviews from the community, praised by many for its rigid sidewalls, strong dry grip, sharp steering responsiveness, and great value compared to premium alternatives. However, some users report disappointing wet weather performance, potential issues with aquaplaning resistance, and inconsistent test results across different sizes. Overall, it is viewed as a solid mid-range option, though experiences with wet traction and longevity vary significantly among drivers.
“Bad i have hs52 on my audi a3 8l quattro 1.8t i have no grip with rain.. Like cant corner fast it just goes straight... Dry its fine but wet forget it. My oncle has the same experience with kuhmo on his bmw 118 diesel he got some rims and they had pretty good threats kumho on it. He said all it wanted was to drift and spin out. He said a couple of times it did a 180 he said never again i said same don't trust my car with these tyres. Im gonna get some new rim 17" and Goodyear asymmetric 6. To replace my 16" stock rims with kumho... I have had bad tyres but never this bad. Like 1 ere prix were even better in my Mercedes even doh they became ovals.”
“I have kuhmo ecsta hs52's on my renault megane during spring and summer and they are really good. No complaints at all. My milage did go up a little bit but that's it”
“What’s up with these tyres? Kumho ectsa hs52 date code 3923, tyres are (UK) legal regards tread but I can’t imagine this damage is normal. Both front tyres have this, looks like the tread is tearing apart in multiple places. I did not fit these tyres but it was mot’d 3 months ago and has done 2k miles since. I’ve owned the car 11 months but only noticed this very recently. I am getting them replaced on Monday with little use before then but I’m curious how this has happened. Is it just a shit brand? Wear is even across the face so I don’t think it would be the alignment or anything to do with the car and the damage is random across the contact patch. It’s a Peugeot 508 2l diesel so quite a bit of weight on the nose. Fitting Bridgestone Turanza 6. Rear tyres are good, but a different brand (horizon horace 2122 date)”
Based on 17 community posts
Community sentiment toward the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 is largely positive, with drivers praising its impressive dry and wet grip, responsive handling, and low cabin noise compared to premium alternatives like the Michelin Pilot Sport series. Most owners view it as an outstanding value proposition, offering near-flagship performance at a significantly lower price point. Minor criticisms focus on potential treadwear longevity, lack of rim protection, mixed feedback on highway noise, and occasional wheel balance or vibration issues.
“Anyone else running these tires? Is it possible the tire(s) out of round? New hypergram wheels/new tires w/ aluminum hubcentric rings. Has vibrations, but most noticed front right. Balanced again same thing. Took the hub rings off with significant decrease but still there. Will try again with plastic rings followed by swapping wheels front to rear. If still going on will have to live with it”
“Ik heb nog een paar nieuwe banden liggen voor die maat. Continental PremiumContact 7. Had je voor heel weinig mogen hebben. Die zijn echt wel beter dan die Hankooks. Overigens hoeft een goede band niet heel duur te zijn. Ik was zelf niet tevreden mer Hankook. De laatste nieuwe banden die ik heb laten monteren waren Kumho's Ecsta sport PS72. Die zijn weliswaar goedkoop, maar komen uitstekend uit veel testen. Ze hebben ook echt meer grip dan de Hankooks en Vredesteins die ik hiervoor had.”
“Michelin PS5 vs Continental SC 7 vs Kumho PS72 for 437 wheels Looking for new tires for my F30 330i on 437M wheels (225/40R19 & 255/35R19). Main priorities are comfort, steering feel, low noise, and good grip for spirited driving. I’ve previously run Michelin PS5 and loved them, although they got a bit noisy over time. Now I’m deciding between: Michelin PS5 Continental SportContact 7 Kumho PS72 The Kumhos are much cheaper and reviews seem very positive. Are they really close to the PS5/SC7, or is it worth spending more?”
Based on 33 community posts
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta HS52 | B · Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 53 | 50 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 20″ | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 9.4/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 320 A A |
| Treadwear warranty | — | 30,000 mi |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
| Sizes in common | 12 | 12 |
Kumho Ecsta HS52
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
Too close to call: Kumho Ecsta HS52 and Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 are within 2 points overall. Kumho Ecsta HS52 is stronger on treadwear. Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 is stronger on efficiency, handling and wet.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 71 vs 43 on efficiency.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 86 vs 77 on handling.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 88 vs 84 on wet.
Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores 76 vs 73 on treadwear.
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Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72, 88 vs 84 on our wet score.
Neither, by our numbers: 84 vs 86 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Neither, by our numbers: 65 vs 64 on the noise score, within 3 points.
Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 68 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Kumho Ecsta HS52, 76 vs 73 on our treadwear score.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72, 71 vs 43 on our efficiency score.
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
