Head-to-head Updated

Kumho Ecsta HS52 vs Toyo Proxes TR1 — 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 + 1 road tests and 2,387 + 903 owner reviews. How we score

Ecsta HS52 is ahead, 79–64

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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”

Toyo Proxes TR1
Tire BToyo

Proxes TR1

Summer

± 9

Tests 62 · 1 test Owners 66 · 903 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 6 in 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test (comfort (tester's mark))

“Avoid TR1.. the sound will become unbearable.. I suggest Yokohama ES32..”

Category by category

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

  1. 84

    Dry

    Ecsta HS52 +25
    59
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Proxes TR1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 1 tests8653
    Reviews found online8069

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

    Proxes TR1: 60% × 52.8 + 40% × 69.3 = 59

  2. 84

    Wet

    Ecsta HS52 +16
    68
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Proxes TR1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 1 tests8967
    Reviews found online7870

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

    Proxes TR1: 60% × 66.5 + 40% × 70.1 = 68

  3. 67

    Comfort

    Ecsta HS52 +4
    63
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Proxes TR1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 68 (est.)68
    Reviews found online6659

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

    Proxes TR1: 40% × 68.1 + 60% × 59.1 = 63

    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

    Proxes TR1 +3
    68
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Proxes TR1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests6468
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

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

    Proxes TR1: 60% × 68.2 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 68

    No owner ratings of noise for Ecsta HS52 or Proxes TR1. 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

    Ecsta HS52 +13
    63
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Proxes TR1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / – tests80≈ 64 (est.)
    Reviews found online7060

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

    Proxes TR1: 60% × 64.2 (est.) + 40% × 60.2 = 63

    No road tests of treadwear for Proxes TR1. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  6. 77

    Handling (owners)

    Ecsta HS52 +5
    72
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Proxes TR1
    Reviews found online7772
  7. 43

    Efficiency

    Proxes TR1 +28
    71
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta HS52Proxes TR1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests4371
Scores at a glance
Kumho Ecsta HS52 vs Toyo Proxes TR1: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryKumho Ecsta HS52Toyo Proxes TR1
Relative Score 79 64
Dry 84 59
Wet 84 68
Comfort 67 63
Noise 65 68
Treadwear 76 63
Handling (owners) 77 72
Efficiency 43 71

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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

Ecsta HS52

± 9

Proxes TR1

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 HS52Proxes TR1ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 95% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 87% #5/6 · 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #3/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test 96% #6/6 · 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 97% #5/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 97% #5/6 · 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 97% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 82% #5/6 · 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 91% #15/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 87% #5/6 · 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #2/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test 95% #5/6 · 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 96% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 99% #4/6 · 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 88% #16/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test 94% #3/6 · 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #9/16 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test #5/6 2024 TopTireReview Best UHP Tyres for Asia Test – 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 Proxes TR1

Pros

  • Exceptional dry grip and responsive steering feedback
  • High value-for-money proposition compared to premium tier-one brands
  • Attractive and aggressive directional tread design

Cons

  • Noticeable road noise and humming sounds at certain speeds
  • Soft sidewalls that can cause a slight squirm or delayed initial steering response
  • Rapid tread wear, particularly under aggressive driving or on rear axles
All owner themes in the Proxes TR1 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

Toyo Proxes TR1

Mixed

Community sentiment regarding the Toyo Proxes TR1 is mixed, with users frequently noting an attractive price point and smooth, comfortable ride when compared to factory tires or run-flats. However, multiple drivers report shortcomings in wet-weather performance, cold grip, and road noise as mileage increases, while several criticize its soft sidewalls for creating imprecise handling at the limit.

Top themes
#Wet grip performance#Soft sidewall stiffness#Affordable price point#Road noise issues#Ride comfort comparison#Handling at limit#T1R model confusion

Based on 36 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho Ecsta HS52 B · Toyo Proxes TR1
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available5361
Rim diameters14″ – 20″14″ – 20″
Sizes in common2727

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Toyo Proxes TR1

Winner: Kumho Ecsta HS52 — better dry, wet and treadwear. Pick the Toyo Proxes TR1 if efficiency and noise matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Toyo Proxes TR1 scores 71 vs 43 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores 84 vs 59 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores 84 vs 68 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores 76 vs 63 on treadwear.

Tire A · Kumho Ecsta HS52
Tire B · Toyo Proxes TR1

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Ecsta HS52 or Proxes TR1?

Which is better in the wet, Ecsta HS52 or Proxes TR1?

Kumho Ecsta HS52, 84 vs 68 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ecsta HS52 or Proxes TR1?

Kumho Ecsta HS52, 84 vs 59 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Ecsta HS52 or Proxes TR1?

Toyo Proxes TR1, 68 vs 65 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Ecsta HS52 or Proxes TR1?

Kumho Ecsta HS52, 67 vs 63 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Ecsta HS52 or Proxes TR1?

Kumho Ecsta HS52, 76 vs 63 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Ecsta HS52 or Proxes TR1?

Toyo Proxes TR1, 71 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