Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 50 · 187 reviews
Best test result: #4 of 11 in 2022 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test (dry handling)
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho Ecsta V730 vs Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect — 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 + 3 road tests and 187 + 9 owner reviews. How we score
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect is ahead, 70–57
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Tests 73 · 3 tests Owners 66 · 9 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 10 in 2022 Sport Auto UHP, UUHP and Semi Slick Tyre Test (dry handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
73
Dry
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect +174Why this score
Source Ecsta V730 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests 72 74 Reviews found online 76 76 Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 99% Ecsta V730: 60% × 71.6 + 40% × 76.3 = 73
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect: 60% × 73.6 + 40% × 75.6 = 74
-
35
Wet
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect +3772Why this score
Source Ecsta V730 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests ≈ 44 (est.) 74 Reviews found online 21 68 Ecsta V730: 60% × 43.8 (est.) + 40% × 21.4 = 35
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect: 60% × 73.7 + 40% × 68.4 = 72
No road tests of wet for Ecsta V730. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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50
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source Ecsta V730 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 59 (est.) – Reviews found online 35 – Ecsta V730: 60% × 59.3 (est.) + 40% × 35.1 = 50
No road tests of snow for Ecsta V730. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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53
Comfort
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect +1467Why this score
Source Ecsta V730 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 64 (est.) ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 45 66 Ecsta V730: 40% × 64 (est.) + 60% × 45.3 = 53
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect: 40% × 68.1 (est.) + 60% × 65.8 = 67
No road tests of comfort for Ecsta V730. 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 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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64
Noise
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect +569Why this score
Source Ecsta V730 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 66 (est.) 70 Reviews found online 61 ≈ 66 (est.) Ecsta V730: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 61.1 = 64
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect: 60% × 70 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69
No road tests of noise for Ecsta V730. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
No owner ratings of noise for Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect. 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.
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59
Treadwear
Ecsta V730 +158Why this score
Source Ecsta V730 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 62 (est.) ≈ 62 (est.) Reviews found online 55 53 Ecsta V730: 60% × 62.2 (est.) + 40% × 54.6 = 59
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect: 60% × 61.8 (est.) + 40% × 53.4 = 58
No road tests of treadwear for Ecsta V730. 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 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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69
Handling (owners)
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect +574Why this score
Source Ecsta V730 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect Reviews found online 69 74 -
–
Efficiency
No comparison67Why this score
Source Ecsta V730 Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests – 67
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho Ecsta V730 | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 57 | 70 |
| Dry | 73 | 74 |
| Wet | 35 | 72 |
| Snow | 50 | – |
| Comfort | 53 | 67 |
| Noise | 64 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 58 |
| Handling (owners) | 69 | 74 |
| Efficiency | – | 67 |
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
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
57
/ 100
Ecsta V730
70
/ 100
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
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.
In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, Kumho Ecsta V730 finished ahead 1 times and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | Ecsta V730 | Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 99% | +0.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #4/11 | #8/11 | – | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Ecsta V730
Pros
- Excellent dry grip and predictable handling characteristics at the limit.
- High heat tolerance with minimal 'greasy' drop-off during long track sessions.
- Superior tread life and durability compared to many direct 200TW competitors.
Cons
- Poor wet weather performance, particularly with standing water or worn tread.
- Requires significant heat to reach optimal operating temperature, making them poor for cold-weather street use.
- Harsh ride quality and high road noise due to the stiff sidewall construction.
Tire B Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
Pros
- Significant lap time improvements and reliable dry grip
- Enhanced wet performance and aquaplaning resistance compared to predecessor tires
- Surprising daily driving comfort and compliance
Cons
- Initial tread scrubbing and vibration when brand new
- Can struggle under extremely high track temperatures (e.g., 54C)
- Some users reported soft sidewalls or vague feedback near the limit
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho Ecsta V730 | B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 6 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | — |
| Tread depth | 8.5/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 200 A A | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
57
/ 100
Kumho Ecsta V730
70
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect — better wet, comfort and noise. Where the Kumho Ecsta V730 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect scores 72 vs 35 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect scores 67 vs 53 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect scores 69 vs 64 on noise.
Tire A · Kumho Ecsta V730
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect
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Ecsta V730 or Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect?
Which is better in the wet, Ecsta V730 or Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect, 72 vs 35 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Ecsta V730 or Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect?
Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 74 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is quieter, Ecsta V730 or Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect, 69 vs 64 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Ecsta V730 or Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect?
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect, 67 vs 53 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Ecsta V730 or Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect?
Neither, by our numbers: 59 vs 58 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
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