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Head-to-head Updated

Kumho Ecsta KU31 vs Nitto Neo Gen — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Ecsta KU31 leads, 66–63 Narrow edge

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Tire AKumho

Ecsta KU31

Summer

Tests – · none yet Owners 66 · 165 reviews

Tire BNitto

Neo Gen

All Season Ultra High Performance tires

Tests – · none yet Owners 58 · 51 reviews

Category by category

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

  1. 67

    Dry

    Ecsta KU31 +3
    64
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta KU31Neo Gen
    Reviews found online6762
  2. 69

    Wet

    Ecsta KU31 +5
    64
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta KU31Neo Gen
    Reviews found online6962
  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    48
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta KU31Neo Gen
    Reviews found online–34
  4. 67

    Comfort

    Ecsta KU31 +4
    63
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta KU31Neo Gen
    Reviews found online6456
  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    63
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta KU31Neo Gen
    Reviews found online–58
  6. 63

    Treadwear

    Ecsta KU31 +1
    62
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta KU31Neo Gen
    Reviews found online6159
  7. 67

    Handling

    Ecsta KU31 +4
    63
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta KU31Neo Gen
    Reviews found online6763
Scores at a glance
CategoryKumho Ecsta KU31Nitto Neo Gen
Relative Score 66 63
Dry 67 64
Wet 69 64
Snow – 48
Comfort 67 63
Noise – 63
Treadwear 63 62
Handling 67 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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Neutral
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Less important
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Less important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Ecsta KU31

Neo Gen

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ecsta KU31

Pros

  • Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
  • Strong dry and wet weather handling
  • Progressive and predictable feedback at the limit

Cons

  • Increased road noise and potential 'droning' as tread wears
  • Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting rapid wear
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to less precise steering feel for some drivers
All owner themes in the Ecsta KU31 review

Tire B Neo Gen

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
  • Strong dry grip and cornering stability for spirited driving
  • Great value and affordable price point

Cons

  • Increased road noise at highway speeds
  • Firm or unrefined ride comfort
  • Soft sidewalls reported by some users affecting initial turn-in response
All owner themes in the Neo Gen review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho Ecsta KU31 B · Nitto Neo Gen
CategorySummerAll Season Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—28
Rim diameters—15″ – 20″
Tread depth—9.7/32″
UTQG—280 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho Ecsta KU31

Nitto Neo Gen

Winner: Kumho Ecsta KU31 — better wet, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 69 vs 64 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 67 vs 63 on comfort.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 67 vs 63 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 67 vs 64 on dry.

Tire A · Kumho Ecsta KU31
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Nitto Neo Gen
Check price on Amazon

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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.

66

Narrow edge

Ecsta KU31

Amazon