Tests 67 · 14 tests Owners 69 · 8,155 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 20 in 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test (straight aqua)
“Those are Kumho Ecsta PS71s, thread width is supposed to be 245mm, the actual one is hardly 235. How so?”
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho Ecsta PS71 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Sport 4 SUV is ahead, 77–68
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Tests 79 · 9 tests Owners 76 · 1,363 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2024 Summer SUV Tyre Test (curved aquaplaning)
“Nope nope nope. I live in the SE and my RWD sports car get squirrelly with normal driving when it drops below 40 on my PS4Ss. You’d be in a ditch first bit of snow.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +883Why this score
Source Ecsta PS71 Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 78 84 Reviews found online 71 81 Dry Braking (% of best) 86% 100% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 100% -
84
Wet
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +488Why this score
Source Ecsta PS71 Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 90 92 Reviews found online 73 81 Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 95% Wet Circle (% of best) 99% 98% Wet Handling (% of best) 80% 97% -
71
Comfort
Ecsta PS71 +1160Why this score
Source Ecsta PS71 Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 75 54 Reviews found online 65 70 -
35
Noise
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +2459Why this score
Source Ecsta PS71 Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 15 50 Reviews found online – 74 -
52
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +1971Why this score
Source Ecsta PS71 Pilot Sport 4 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 45 76 Reviews found online 63 65 -
71
Handling
Pilot Sport 4 SUV +778Why this score
Source Ecsta PS71 Pilot Sport 4 SUV Reviews found online 71 78
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 77 |
| Dry | 75 | 83 |
| Wet | 84 | 88 |
| Comfort | 71 | 60 |
| Noise | 35 | 59 |
| Treadwear | 52 | 71 |
| Handling | 71 | 78 |
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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Recomputed
Headline score
68
/ 100
Ecsta PS71
77
/ 100
Pilot Sport 4 SUV
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Ecsta PS71 | Pilot Sport 4 SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 86% #6/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2024 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −14.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 86% #10/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 100% #1/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | −13.8 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #12/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | −1.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 95% #2/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 88% #8/12 · 2023 Best SUV Tyres Tested | +6.8 | Different tests |
| Abrasion | Other | 51% #14/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 88% #3/8 · 2024 EV Tyre Test | −37.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #17/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | 97% #8/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | −0.4 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 91% #4/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 57% #10/10 · 2020 SUV 4x4 Summer Tyre Test | +33.6 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 54% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 62% #7/8 · 2024 EV Tyre Test | −8.5 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 78% #5/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 97% #2/8 · 2024 EV Tyre Test | −19.2 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test | 20% #5/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #2/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 100% #1/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −0.1 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 78% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 75% #6/8 · 2020 ViBilagare SUV Tyre Test | +2.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 92% #2/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 100% #1/6 · 2025 Vi Bilagare Summer EV Tyre Test | −8.3 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 0% #7/8 · 2024 EV Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #2/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 95% #5/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | +5.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 99% #5/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test | 98% #3/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 80% #6/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 97% #5/9 · 2026 Summer SUV Tyre Test | −17.4 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A 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
Tire B Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Pros
- Outstanding grip and safety in both wet and dry conditions
- Precise steering response and enhanced cornering stability for heavy SUVs
- Noticeable improvement in ride comfort and overall handling
Cons
- Higher-than-average purchase price
- Increased road noise reported by some users as the tread wears down
- Faster tread wear and shorter mileage lifespan under aggressive driving or heavy vehicle loads
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Mixed
Kumho Ecsta PS71
Community discussions regarding the Kumho Ecsta PS71 generally present it as a solid, budget-friendly ultra-high-performance (UHP) summer tire offering good value, though opinions on its limits vary. Some users praise its handling transformations and decent wet/dry grip for spirited driving, while others note it feels merely adequate or mediocre until warmed up, preferring premium alternatives when budget permits.
r/TyreReviews
·2 upvotes ·2024-10-25
“I've had the PS71 several years ago - it was ok, nothing spectacular. They might have changed the compound now, so it may be better. Its a good tire, I don't remember any real weaknesses, it just never felt like "yeah, this sticks like glue to the road". Edit: I just remembered - it was mediocre in the city - when the tire was not warmed up, but I reckon this is shared between most sport tires with high speed rating. Once warmed up was good.”
r/TeslaUK
·2 upvotes ·2026-08-28
“go with Kumho Ecsta PS71 EV around £140 – £165. Good value for money”
r/TyreReviews
·1 upvote ·2026-06-17
“Kumho PS71 Question Replaced an older (2021 or 2022 production) set of ps71 with a new set (production 39-42 week of 2024) and noticed something on the new sidewalls I hadn't seen on the old ones. The new ones have ps71 with either a 1 or a 2 under it right above the bead in very small text. I'm curious what they mean if anything at all.”
Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Value for money#Tire wear and longevity#UHP performance characteristics#Comparison with premium brands#Sidewall width and markings#Tire pressure management
Based on 19 community posts
Tire B
Positive
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV is widely regarded as a high-performance tire option for luxury and sport utility vehicles, often compared against alternatives like Pirelli Scorpions and Michelin's own Latitude series. Users appreciate its strong grip and dynamic capabilities, though questions regarding tread wear, run-flat options, and comparisons with all-season variants are common.
r/PorscheMacan
·1 upvote ·2026-04-04
“I'm leaning towards the Pilot Sport 4 SUV over the LS3. I'd really like to see how much better these tires grip. Although it sounds like I'll be sacrificing a little comfort, but with air suspension I'm not too worried.”
r/Howsmytire
·1 upvote ·2026-07-15
“Used Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV I am looking to buy these used Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires. They have 7+ mm thread left, DOT 0923. I am wondering why the two tires on the right are so rough / full of small holes, while the ones on the left are so smooth. Probably the right ones were on the front, but still what could this condition be indicating? I still haven't been to the shop to see them and feel how is the rubber, wanted to hear an advice first.”
r/CX5
·103 upvotes ·2021-05-15
“Loving my new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires and Enkei Raijin wheels”
Top themes
#handling and grip#tread life and wear#comparison with other tires#luxury SUV fitment#seasonal performance
Based on 9 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta PS71 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 133 | 65 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 22″ | 17″ – 23″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
68
/ 100
Kumho Ecsta PS71
77
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV — better noise, treadwear and dry. Pick the Kumho Ecsta PS71 if comfort matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 59 vs 35 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 71 vs 52 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho Ecsta PS71 scores 71 vs 60 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV scores 83 vs 75 on dry.
Tire A · Kumho Ecsta PS71
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV
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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.