Tests 76 · 6 tests Owners 47 · 485 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test (price)
“Mine are 275/40/18, but I had them on 10" wheels. IMO, that's the ideal daily driver size, particularly if you run them on 9.5's.”
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Ventus S1 evo3 is ahead, 69–62
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Tests 76 · 6 tests Owners 47 · 485 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test (price)
“Mine are 275/40/18, but I had them on 10" wheels. IMO, that's the ideal daily driver size, particularly if you run them on 9.5's.”
Tests 76 · 19 tests Owners 59 · 3,355 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 9 in 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test (noise)
“That would tally with what this person found with the 127 variant that preceded it “Hi just for information,I asked Hankook what tread depth when new was on their Ventus S1 Evo 3 K127 tyre, the reply was 6.6 mm””
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | Ecsta PS91 | Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 76 | 84 |
| Reviews found online | 57 | 63 |
| Source | Ecsta PS91 | Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 88 |
| Reviews found online | 55 | 69 |
| Source | Ecsta PS91 | Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 17 | – |
| Source | Ecsta PS91 | Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 65 |
| Reviews found online | 53 | 59 |
| Source | Ecsta PS91 | Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 75 | 74 |
| Reviews found online | 54 | – |
| Source | Ecsta PS91 | Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 61 |
| Reviews found online | 37 | 46 |
| Source | Ecsta PS91 | Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 57 | 60 |
| Category | Kumho Ecsta PS91 | Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 62 | 69 |
| Dry | 68 | 76 |
| Wet | 69 | 81 |
| Snow | 38 | – |
| Comfort | 61 | 62 |
| Noise | 66 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 49 | 55 |
| Handling | 57 | 60 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Ecsta PS91
Ventus S1 evo3
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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.
| Discipline | Category | Ecsta PS91 | Ventus S1 evo3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Cost | 100% #1/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | 74% #6/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test | +26.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 80% #5/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 96% #7/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | −16.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #7/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | 98% #7/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test | −0.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Dry | 70% #8/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 60% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 70% #5/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 97% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | −27.1 | Different tests |
| Interior Noise | Noise | 90% #2/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 94% #6/8 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −4.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 94% #8/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | 100% #1/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test | −5.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #9/10 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | #6/8 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 80% #7/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 98% #3/7 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | −18.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Wet | 96% #4/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | 98% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | −1.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Wet | 78% #6/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 80% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | −2.2 | Different tests |
| Transverse Aquaplaning | Wet | 90% #3/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 87% #6/7 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 70% #9/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 94% #6/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test | −24.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 70% #4/10 · 2023 AUTO Straßenverkehr 2023 Summer Tire Test R18 | 98% #5/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test | −28.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/10 · 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | 100% #2/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test | −3.0 | Different tests |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
The Kumho Ecsta PS91 is widely praised as an affordable, budget-friendly summer tire with attractive styling and respectable wet or daily street performance compared to pricier rivals like Michelin. However, several users express frustration with poor tread life, rapid wear, and insufficient grip or heat endurance under hard driving and track conditions. Others also note issues with sketchy handling, flat-spotting, or vibration when cold.
“90% used Michelin super sports or New Kumho ecsta ps91. I am juggling between either getting a set of used 90% tread Michelin pss or 4s... or getting some new kumho ecsta ps91s. I’ve always thought Michelin had the best ride and profile appearance even in a high end sport tire but of course the price. If I go used they are about the same price as a set of new kumho. I have never tried the ps91 but they look like Michelin’s even the recessed rim guard looks similar and many reviews say performance and ride is similar.”
“275/40 Square Can Fit on a Sedan Shout out to TireRack for having great information on actual tire size. Ecsta PS91 265/40 and ExtremeContact 275/40 has a tread width and section width difference of 0.1” and 0.2” respectively. Tires fit just about perfect. No rubbing so far, and don’t expect it to rub bc of the relatively minimal width change Really goes to show that tire brand matters for fitment Read more”
“Follow up on new wheels/tires for ZHP Well new wheels and tires are on aswell as aligned. I love the tire and fitment setup but really do not like the gunmetal grey color especially on imola. I will feel it out for a while but probably eventually powder coat to OEM silver. Wheels specs are 18 x 8.5 x ET50 with 255/35/18 Kuhmo Ecsta PS91 all around. -2.5 camber in the front and -2.8 in the rear.”
Based on 45 community posts
Community sentiment toward the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 is mixed, with users frequently praising its strong dry and wet grip, comfort, and competitive pricing. However, notable drawbacks include relatively fast tread wear, reports of increasing road noise over time, and mixed experiences with OEM specs versus premium competitors like Michelin.
“I had Hankook tires on my XKR, and thought they were the noisiest tires I had ever heard on a car, and I had to get rid of them as I couldn't stand it.”
“Small tire size change having different ratings? (Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3) Hi all, I'm looking for a good all round tire for my MX5 (I'm in the non snowy regions of the UK so summer tires) and a pretty popular recommendation are the Ventus S1 Evo 3s. At the MX5's stock size of 205/45/R17 they are rated at A for fuel and wet performance, and 68db of noise, which is great! However I'd like to size up to 215/45/R17, and for whatever reason the ratings drop to B for fuel and wet performance, and most importantly to me, 71db of noise. I was just wondering how such a small difference in size changes things quite drastically? I know these ratings aren't that important, but it seems strange to me they'd change at all Thanks! Read more”
“So, I was conversing on a Canadian EV group on Facebook and someone said their SE arrived with run flats…Hankook Ventus S1 evo3. My Mini also has Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 and I was not aware they are considered run flats. So I looked them up online and it appears that in 205/45R17 XL it says Run Flat…Y on . Was anyone else aware of this? Should it say run flat somewhere on the tire?”
Based on 33 community posts
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta PS91 | B · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 1 | 110 |
| Rim diameters | 19″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 9.5/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 260 A A | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Kumho Ecsta PS91
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Winner: Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — better wet, dry and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 81 vs 69 on wet.
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 76 vs 68 on dry.
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 55 vs 49 on treadwear.
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 71 vs 66 on noise.
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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.