Head-to-head Updated

Kumho Ecsta HS52 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — 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 7 + 23 road tests and 2,387 + 6,510 owner reviews. How we score

Pilot Sport 5 is ahead, 86–79

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Kumho Ecsta HS52
Tire AKumho

Ecsta HS52

Summer

± 5

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”

Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Tire BMichelin

Pilot Sport 5

Summer

± 4

Tests 86 · 23 tests Owners 87 · 6,510 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test (dry handling (tester's mark))

“Put some 235/45 R17 ps5’s on my 9-5 They fill up the arches quite nice!”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 84

    Dry

    Pilot Sport 5 +8
    92
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 23 tests8693
    Reviews found online8090

    Ecsta HS52: 60% × 86.4 + 40% × 80.1 = 84

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.2 + 40% × 90.2 = 92

  2. 84

    Wet

    Pilot Sport 5 +10
    94
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 23 tests8994
    Reviews found online7893

    Ecsta HS52: 60% × 89.2 + 40% × 77.5 = 84

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 93.7 + 40% × 93.3 = 94

  3. 67

    Comfort

    Pilot Sport 5 +11
    78
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 9 tests≈ 68 (est.)71
    Reviews found online6683

    Ecsta HS52: 40% × 68.1 (est.) + 60% × 65.9 = 67

    Pilot Sport 5: 40% × 70.9 + 60% × 83.4 = 78

    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).

  4. 65

    Noise

    Ecsta HS52 +18
    47
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 15 tests6433
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Ecsta HS52: 60% × 63.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 65

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 33.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 47

    No owner ratings of noise for Ecsta HS52 or Pilot Sport 5. 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.

  5. 76

    Treadwear

    Pilot Sport 5 +10
    86
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 6 tests8092
    Reviews found online7078

    Ecsta HS52: 60% × 79.7 + 40% × 69.6 = 76

    Pilot Sport 5: 60% × 92 + 40% × 77.9 = 86

  6. 77

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Sport 5 +12
    89
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Pilot Sport 5
    Reviews found online7789
  7. 43

    Efficiency

    Pilot Sport 5 +20
    63
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Pilot Sport 5
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 17 tests4363
Scores at a glance
Kumho Ecsta HS52 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryKumho Ecsta HS52Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Relative Score 79 86
Dry 84 92
Wet 84 94
Comfort 67 78
Noise 65 47
Treadwear 76 86
Handling (owners) 77 89
Efficiency 43 63

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
± 5

Ecsta HS52

± 4

Pilot Sport 5

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.

DisciplineCategoryEcsta HS52Pilot Sport 5ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 95% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 95% #10/50 · 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% #4/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 86% #12/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 87% #6/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 97% #5/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 94% #6/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 97% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 91% #9/50 · 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? – Different tests
Wet Braking (concrete) Wet 90% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 97% #3/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 91% #15/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 97% #5/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #2/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test 98% #3/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Noise Noise 96% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/4 · 2026 AutoView Value Sport Tyre Test – Different tests
Abrasion Treadwear 59% #12/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 83% #5/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 75% #8/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 93% #2/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 93% #15/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 95% #8/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 88% #16/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test 92% #3/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 77% #5/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 56% #13/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #12/20 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test #13/20 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 100% #1/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 71% #15/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #9/16 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test #9/50 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ecsta HS52

Pros

  • Excellent wet and dry weather traction
  • Low road noise and quiet operation
  • Smooth and comfortable ride quality

Cons

  • A few reports of accelerated or abnormal tread wear
  • Slightly sensitive to tire pressure regarding comfort
  • Occasional complaints of high-speed vibration or imbalance early on
All owner themes in the Ecsta HS52 review

Tire B Pilot Sport 5

Pros

  • Outstanding wet and dry traction with high resistance to aquaplaning
  • Superior tread life and longevity compared to competitors and previous generations
  • Noticeable improvements in ride comfort and a quieter cabin over rough road surfaces

Cons

  • Softer sidewalls can lead to initial steering vagueness or understeer during hard cornering
  • Higher price point compared to some tier-one competitors
  • Performance and grip degrade significantly under intense track heat or heavy circuit use
All owner themes in the Pilot Sport 5 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Mixed

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.

r/TyreReviews ·1 upvote ·2026-01-22

“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.”

r/CarTalkUK ·1 upvote ·2025-01-11

“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”

r/tires ·3 upvotes ·2025-09-23

“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)”

Top themes
#Dry grip and handling#Wet weather performance#Sidewall stiffness#Price and value#Comparison with competitors#Fuel economy and weight#Tread wear and durability

Based on 17 community posts

Tire B

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Positive

Community sentiment towards the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is largely positive, with drivers frequently praising its outstanding wet grip, daily driving comfort, and impressive tread life. While widely recommended as a dependable, premium all-round performance tire, some enthusiasts criticize it for having a slightly numb steering feel, softer sidewalls, and poor heat resistance during track use compared to more aggressive alternatives.

r/i20n ·17 upvotes ·2025-07-21

“Tyres: Ps5’s initial impression Tyres seem to be a common question across a few forums so I thought ide share. So after 12 months (27,000kms) with my i20n, I was (over) due to replace my tyres. While I loved the p-zeros, I wasn’t keen on the short life, so went with the pilot sport 5. My impressions as follows: Initial impression: a lot less road noise than the p-zero City drive: no noticeable difference (apart from the reduced noise) Highway drive: handling is not noticeably changed, but the reduced noise is really appreciated here! Twisty’s: the difference here is notable, ps5’s don’t provide quite the same aggressive limitless grip feel as the p-zeros. Still holds the line perfectly but noted a bit of slip on the inside front wheel under heavy throttle. I do approx 100km on back roads commuting to and from work every day, so I’ll update this thread if I find anything worth reporting Read more”

r/ft86 ·2 upvotes ·2026-07-21

“PS5 is a very good allround, comfortable but grippy tire. PS4S has a stiffer sidewall and is way sportier but harsher. There is to date no successor for the PS4S. I switched from PS4S to PS5 on my mustang and its a way better fit for a daily tire. I would remommend to get PS5 for the rear aswell.”

r/Miata ·2 upvotes ·2026-05-13

“Anyone else greatly disappointed with their Michelin Pilot sport 5? My 10th anniversary recently got a set of 16 inch ND wheels (due to better tires being available on 16s) and a set of brand new PS5s. It’s on the original bilstein suspension with H&R sway bars and poly bushings all around. After having driven the PS5s for around 4k km i have to say i really don’t like them most of the time. Pros: They’re numb, which is amazing for highway driving. You really can’t feel anything from the tires and they’re super quiet. Cons: They’re numb. I literally can’t feel what they’re doing, they just don’t give any useable feedback from the road and the main thing i do is spirited driving. They also overheat extremely fast? I take five to six quicker turns and on the next turn in the entire car is just sliding around doing whatever the fuck it wants all while there still being no feedback whatsoever.. I’m frustrated af because i thought i’d treat myself to a good nice quality set of tires for once and thats the result.. I have driven on Kumho PS71s for i think a thousand km’s last year and they were waaay grippier and gave very good feedback. The car just isn’t as fun to drive now and it sucks hard. Rant over, thanks for listening. Tldr: Tyre bad :(”

Top themes
#wet grip performance#tread life longevity#daily driving comfort#track heat delamination#premium pricing comparisons#road noise levels#steering feel feedback

Based on 173 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho Ecsta HS52 B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available5366
Rim diameters14″ – 20″16″ – 22″
UTQG—320 - 340 A - B A
Sizes in common1616

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Michelin Pilot Sport 5

Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better efficiency, handling and comfort. Pick the Kumho Ecsta HS52 if noise matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 63 vs 43 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores 65 vs 47 on noise.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 89 vs 77 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 78 vs 67 on comfort.

Tire A · Kumho Ecsta HS52
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5

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Ecsta HS52 or Pilot Sport 5?

Which is better in the wet, Ecsta HS52 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 94 vs 84 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ecsta HS52 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 92 vs 84 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Ecsta HS52 or Pilot Sport 5?

Kumho Ecsta HS52, 65 vs 47 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Ecsta HS52 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 78 vs 67 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Ecsta HS52 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 86 vs 76 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Ecsta HS52 or Pilot Sport 5?

Michelin Pilot Sport 5, 63 vs 43 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