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Head-to-head Updated

Kumho Ecsta LE Sport vs Nexen N Fera SU1 — 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 + 3 road tests and 33 + 164 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Ecsta LE Sport 62, N Fera SU1 63.

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Nexen N Fera SU1
Tire BNexen

N Fera SU1

Summer

± 7

Tests 63 · 3 tests Owners 62 · 164 reviews

Best test result: #6 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (tested tread life (miles))

Category by category

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

  1. 61

    Dry

    Ecsta LE Sport +2
    59
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta LE SportN Fera SU1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 63 (est.)55
    Reviews found online5764

    Ecsta LE Sport: 60% × 63.3 (est.) + 40% × 56.6 = 61

    N Fera SU1: 60% × 55 + 40% × 64.2 = 59

    No road tests of dry for Ecsta LE Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 65

    Wet

    Ecsta LE Sport +1
    64
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta LE SportN Fera SU1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 66 (est.)62
    Reviews found online6367

    Ecsta LE Sport: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 62.9 = 65

    N Fera SU1: 60% × 61.9 + 40% × 67.3 = 64

    No road tests of wet for Ecsta LE Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    58
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta LE SportN Fera SU1
    Professional tests (TWG score)–≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online–50

    N Fera SU1: 60% × 62.9 (est.) + 40% × 49.8 = 58

    No road tests of snow for N Fera SU1. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 62

    Comfort

    N Fera SU1 +4
    66
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta LE SportN Fera SU1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 67 (est.)66
    Reviews found online5966

    Ecsta LE Sport: 40% × 67.3 (est.) + 60% × 58.9 = 62

    N Fera SU1: 40% × 65.7 + 60% × 65.5 = 66

    No road tests of comfort for Ecsta LE Sport. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    69
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta LE SportN Fera SU1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests–69
    Reviews found online–70

    N Fera SU1: 60% × 69.3 + 40% × 69.7 = 69

  6. 60

    Treadwear

    N Fera SU1 +6
    66
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta LE SportN Fera SU1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 62 (est.)70
    Reviews found online5559

    Ecsta LE Sport: 60% × 62.3 (est.) + 40% × 55.3 = 60

    N Fera SU1: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 59.2 = 66

    No road tests of treadwear for Ecsta LE Sport. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 60

    Handling (owners)

    N Fera SU1 +6
    66
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta LE SportN Fera SU1
    Reviews found online6066
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    76
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta LE SportN Fera SU1
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests–76
Scores at a glance
CategoryKumho Ecsta LE SportNexen N Fera SU1
Relative Score 62 63
Dry 61 59
Wet 65 64
Snow – 58
Comfort 62 66
Noise – 69
Treadwear 60 66
Handling (owners) 60 66
Efficiency – 76

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
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Ecsta LE Sport

± 7

N Fera SU1

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

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 LE SportN Fera SU1ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #10/11 2018 Auto Review 225/45 R17 Tyre Test #5/6 2023 APAC Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ecsta LE Sport

Pros

  • Exceptional value compared to premium tier brands
  • Strong dry and wet road grip when relatively new
  • Predictable and progressive handling limits near the edge

Cons

  • Rapid and uneven tread wear, particularly on front or driven wheels
  • Fragile sidewalls prone to bubbling or damage from minor impacts
  • Noticeable drop-off in performance and increased tramlining as the tread wears down
All owner themes in the Ecsta LE Sport review

Tire B N Fera SU1

Pros

  • Exceptional value and significantly lower price compared to premium brands
  • Remarkably quiet ride and high overall comfort
  • Strong dry and wet grip for daily commuting and spirited driving

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls can cause vague handling, body roll, or a floating sensation on heavier vehicles
  • Faster than average tread wear or inconsistent durability for some users
  • Reports of rubber cracking or splitting along the sidewalls and tread blocks over time
All owner themes in the N Fera SU1 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho Ecsta LE Sport B · Nexen N Fera SU1
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—97
Rim diameters—15″ – 24″
Tread depth—9/32″
UTQG—300 A A
Treadwear warranty—25,000 mi
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho Ecsta LE Sport

Nexen N Fera SU1

Too close to call: Kumho Ecsta LE Sport and Nexen N Fera SU1 are within 2 points overall. Nexen N Fera SU1 is stronger on treadwear, handling and comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Nexen N Fera SU1 scores 66 vs 60 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Nexen N Fera SU1 scores 66 vs 60 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Nexen N Fera SU1 scores 66 vs 62 on comfort.

Tire A · Kumho Ecsta LE Sport
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Tire B · Nexen N Fera SU1
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Ecsta LE Sport or N Fera SU1?

Which is better in the wet, Ecsta LE Sport or N Fera SU1?

Neither, by our numbers: 65 vs 64 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ecsta LE Sport or N Fera SU1?

Neither, by our numbers: 61 vs 59 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Ecsta LE Sport or N Fera SU1?

Nexen N Fera SU1, 66 vs 62 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Ecsta LE Sport or N Fera SU1?

Nexen N Fera SU1, 66 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