Tests – · none yet Owners 66 · 165 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho Ecsta KU31 vs Nitto Neo Gen — 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 0 + 0 road tests and 165 + 51 owner reviews. How we score
Ecsta KU31 is ahead, 67–61
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Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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67
Dry
Ecsta KU31 +661Why this score
Source Ecsta KU31 Neo Gen Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 68 (est.) ≈ 64 (est.) Reviews found online 67 57 Ecsta KU31: 60% × 67.6 (est.) + 40% × 67.1 = 67
Neo Gen: 60% × 63.6 (est.) + 40% × 57.3 = 61
No road tests of dry for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
No road tests of dry for Neo Gen. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
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70
Wet
Ecsta KU31 +862Why this score
Source Ecsta KU31 Neo Gen Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 70 (est.) ≈ 64 (est.) Reviews found online 69 58 Ecsta KU31: 60% × 69.9 (est.) + 40% × 69.2 = 70
Neo Gen: 60% × 63.9 (est.) + 40% × 58.2 = 62
No road tests of wet for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
No road tests of wet for Neo Gen. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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–
Snow
No comparison48Why this score
Source Ecsta KU31 Neo Gen Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 59 (est.) Reviews found online – 33 Neo Gen: 60% × 58.6 (est.) + 40% × 33 = 48
No road tests of snow for Neo Gen. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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65
Comfort
Ecsta KU31 +758Why this score
Source Ecsta KU31 Neo Gen Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 68 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 63 54 Ecsta KU31: 40% × 67.5 (est.) + 60% × 63 = 65
Neo Gen: 40% × 65.6 (est.) + 60% × 53.5 = 58
No road tests of comfort for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
No road tests of comfort for Neo Gen. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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–
Noise
No comparison62Why this score
Source Ecsta KU31 Neo Gen Professional tests (TWG score) – ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online – 56 Neo Gen: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 55.6 = 62
No road tests of noise for Neo Gen. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
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63
Treadwear
Ecsta KU31 +360Why this score
Source Ecsta KU31 Neo Gen Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 64 (est.) ≈ 63 (est.) Reviews found online 61 56 Ecsta KU31: 60% × 64.3 (est.) + 40% × 60.5 = 63
Neo Gen: 60% × 62.5 (est.) + 40% × 55.5 = 60
No road tests of treadwear for Ecsta KU31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Neo Gen. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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67
Handling (owners)
Ecsta KU31 +958Why this score
Source Ecsta KU31 Neo Gen Reviews found online 67 58
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta KU31 | Nitto Neo Gen |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 61 |
| Dry | 67 | 61 |
| Wet | 70 | 62 |
| Snow | – | 48 |
| Comfort | 65 | 58 |
| Noise | – | 62 |
| Treadwear | 63 | 60 |
| Handling (owners) | 67 | 58 |
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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Ecsta KU31
61
/ 100
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
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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta KU31 | B · Nitto Neo Gen |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | All Season Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger 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?
67
/ 100
Kumho Ecsta KU31
61
/ 100
Nitto Neo Gen
Winner: Kumho Ecsta KU31 — better handling, wet and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 67 vs 58 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 70 vs 62 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 65 vs 58 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho Ecsta KU31 scores 67 vs 61 on dry.
Tire A · Kumho Ecsta KU31
Tire B · Nitto Neo Gen
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Ecsta KU31 or Neo Gen?
Which is better in the wet, Ecsta KU31 or Neo Gen?
Kumho Ecsta KU31, 70 vs 62 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Ecsta KU31 or Neo Gen?
Kumho Ecsta KU31, 67 vs 61 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, Ecsta KU31 or Neo Gen?
Kumho Ecsta KU31, 65 vs 58 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Ecsta KU31 or Neo Gen?
Kumho Ecsta KU31, 63 vs 60 on our treadwear 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