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Head-to-head Updated

Kumho Ecsta PA51 vs Kumho Ecsta PS71 — 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 1 + 14 road tests and 165 + 8,191 owner reviews. How we score

Ecsta PA51 leads, 70–68 Narrow edge

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Kumho Ecsta PA51
Tire AKumho

Ecsta PA51

All Season

± 8

Tests – · 1 test Owners 70 · 165 reviews

Kumho Ecsta PS71
Tire BKumho

Ecsta PS71

Summer

± 6

Tests 68 · 14 tests Owners 69 · 8,191 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 18 in 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)

“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”

Category by category

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

  1. 69

    Dry

    Ecsta PS71 +6
    75
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PA51Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 12 tests≈ 69 (est.)78
    Reviews found online7072

    Ecsta PA51: 60% × 68.8 (est.) + 40% × 69.9 = 69

    Ecsta PS71: 60% × 77.6 + 40% × 71.7 = 75

    No road tests of dry for Ecsta PA51. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 71

    Wet

    Ecsta PS71 +14
    85
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PA51Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 13 tests≈ 71 (est.)92
    Reviews found online7175

    Ecsta PA51: 60% × 71.1 (est.) + 40% × 71.4 = 71

    Ecsta PS71: 60% × 91.8 + 40% × 74.6 = 85

    No road tests of wet for Ecsta PA51. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 64

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PA51Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)–
    Reviews found online59–

    Ecsta PA51: 60% × 67 (est.) + 40% × 59.3 = 64

    No road tests of snow for Ecsta PA51. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 66

    Comfort

    Ecsta PS71 +3
    69
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PA51Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 68 (est.)75
    Reviews found online6565

    Ecsta PA51: 40% × 67.9 (est.) + 60% × 64.7 = 66

    Ecsta PS71: 40% × 74.6 + 60% × 65.3 = 69

    No road tests of comfort for Ecsta PA51. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 69

    Noise

    Ecsta PA51 +33
    36
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PA51Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 8 tests≈ 66 (est.)16
    Reviews found online74≈ 66 (est.)

    Ecsta PA51: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 74 = 69

    Ecsta PS71: 60% × 15.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 36

    No road tests of noise for Ecsta PA51. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

    No owner ratings of noise for Ecsta PS71. 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.

  6. 72

    Treadwear

    Ecsta PA51 +20
    52
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PA51Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 6 tests7046
    Reviews found online7460

    Ecsta PA51: 60% × 69.9 + 40% × 74.4 = 72

    Ecsta PS71: 60% × 46 + 40% × 59.8 = 52

  7. 67

    Handling (owners)

    Ecsta PS71 +6
    73
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PA51Ecsta PS71
    Reviews found online6773
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    48
    Why this score
    SourceEcsta PA51Ecsta PS71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests–48
Scores at a glance
CategoryKumho Ecsta PA51Kumho Ecsta PS71
Relative Score 70 68
Dry 69 75
Wet 71 85
Snow 64 –
Comfort 66 69
Noise 69 36
Treadwear 72 52
Handling (owners) 67 73
Efficiency – 48

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.

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
Important
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 PA51

± 6

Ecsta PS71

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 PA51Ecsta PS71ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #7/19 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires #4/52 2025 Summer Tyre Test Shootout – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ecsta PA51

Pros

  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio
  • Strong dry pavement traction and cornering grip
  • Quiet and smooth ride quality

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance in heavy rain or standing water
  • Some reports of increased road noise over time
  • Limited availability in certain niche sizes
All owner themes in the Ecsta PA51 review

Tire B Ecsta PS71

Pros

  • Outstanding wet weather grip and aquaplaning resistance
  • High value for money compared to tier-one premium brands
  • Predictable handling and solid cornering stability in both dry and wet conditions

Cons

  • Noticeable road noise or droning at motorway speeds on certain vehicles
  • Occasional reports of balancing difficulties or out-of-round/egg-shaped tires
  • Softer sidewalls can lead to slightly vague steering response around center or tread block movement
All owner themes in the Ecsta PS71 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Kumho Ecsta PA51

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Kumho Ecsta PS71

Positive

Community members generally view the Kumho Ecsta PS71 as a capable and reliable mid-range ultra-high performance tire offering solid grip and value for money compared to premium alternatives. While perceived as good once warmed up, some drivers note that it does not quite reach the ultimate grip level of top-tier brands and question its tread wear longevity.

z4-forum.com ·2023-01-29

“Steve; have a look at Kuhmo Ecsta PS71s. I just fitted a set on my new wheels for my 440i. Weapon of choice for the 'non tyre snob' IMHO. Much cheaper than the 'big' brands, heat up quickly and they also look really nice (for a black round tyre). Can't comment on noise, as the exhaust on mine is so noisy I can't hear the radio, let alone tyres!”
r/tires ·5 upvotes ·2022-10-17

“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”
bimmerforums.co.uk ·1 upvote ·2024-05-05

“On Blackcircles all the 245/40 R19 ditch finders cost around £100 and have a poor wet grip & all the decent mid range cost around £170 and have A rated wet grip. Would you risk it for £240? I know I wouldn't. The cheapest A wet rated is a Kuhmo Ecsta PS71 at £136 if you really want to keep the cost down. If you want a relatively soft comfortable tyre then a Hankook S1 Evo 3 is an excellent choice.”
Top themes
#value for money#wet and dry grip#tire wear longevity#sporty handling performance#warm up temperature behavior#mid-range alternative comparison

Based on 23 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho Ecsta PA51 B · Kumho Ecsta PS71
CategoryAll SeasonSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available13133
Rim diameters16″ – 19″16″ – 22″
Tread depth10.5/32″—
UTQG500 A A—
Treadwear warranty45,000 mi—
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure51 psi—
Sizes in common88

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho Ecsta PA51

Kumho Ecsta PS71

Narrow edge: Kumho Ecsta PA51 — better noise and treadwear. Pick the Kumho Ecsta PS71 if wet, dry and handling matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Kumho Ecsta PA51 scores 69 vs 36 on noise.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Kumho Ecsta PA51 scores 72 vs 52 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 85 vs 71 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 75 vs 69 on dry.

Tire A · Kumho Ecsta PA51
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Tire B · Kumho Ecsta PS71
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Ecsta PA51 or Ecsta PS71?

Which is better in the wet, Ecsta PA51 or Ecsta PS71?

Kumho Ecsta PS71, 85 vs 71 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ecsta PA51 or Ecsta PS71?

Kumho Ecsta PS71, 75 vs 69 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Ecsta PA51 or Ecsta PS71?

Kumho Ecsta PA51, 69 vs 36 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Ecsta PA51 or Ecsta PS71?

Kumho Ecsta PS71, 69 vs 66 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Ecsta PA51 or Ecsta PS71?

Kumho Ecsta PA51, 72 vs 52 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