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Head-to-head Updated

Kumho PorTran KC53 vs Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 — 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 + 5 road tests and 287 + 983 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: PorTran KC53 63, BluEarth-4S AW21 62.

Check price on Amazon · PorTran KC53 Check price on Amazon · BluEarth-4S AW21
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Kumho PorTran KC53
Tire AKumho

PorTran KC53

Summer Touring tires

± 9

Tests – · none yet Owners 60 · 287 reviews

Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21
Tire BYokohama

BluEarth-4S AW21

All Season

± 7

Tests 58 · 5 tests Owners 63 · 983 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 16 in 2024 ADAC All Season Tyre Test (snow braking)

Category by category

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

  1. 63

    Dry

    PorTran KC53 +4
    59
    Why this score
    SourcePorTran KC53BluEarth-4S AW21
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests≈ 65 (est.)55
    Reviews found online6166

    PorTran KC53: 60% × 65 (est.) + 40% × 60.8 = 63

    BluEarth-4S AW21: 60% × 54.5 + 40% × 65.5 = 59

    No road tests of dry for PorTran KC53. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 65

    Wet

    BluEarth-4S AW21 +6
    71
    Why this score
    SourcePorTran KC53BluEarth-4S AW21
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests≈ 66 (est.)71
    Reviews found online6371

    PorTran KC53: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 62.8 = 65

    BluEarth-4S AW21: 60% × 71.1 + 40% × 70.9 = 71

    No road tests of wet for PorTran KC53. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    67
    Why this score
    SourcePorTran KC53BluEarth-4S AW21
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests–66
    Reviews found online–68

    BluEarth-4S AW21: 60% × 66.5 + 40% × 67.6 = 67

  4. 58

    Comfort

    BluEarth-4S AW21 +5
    63
    Why this score
    SourcePorTran KC53BluEarth-4S AW21
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 65 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online5361

    PorTran KC53: 40% × 65.4 (est.) + 60% × 52.6 = 58

    BluEarth-4S AW21: 40% × 67.1 (est.) + 60% × 60.6 = 63

    No road tests of comfort for PorTran KC53. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.21).

    No road tests of comfort for BluEarth-4S AW21. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.21).

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    52
    Why this score
    SourcePorTran KC53BluEarth-4S AW21
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests–43
    Reviews found online–≈ 66 (est.)

    BluEarth-4S AW21: 60% × 43.2 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 52

    No owner ratings of noise for BluEarth-4S AW21. 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. 61

    Treadwear

    PorTran KC53 +12
    49
    Why this score
    SourcePorTran KC53BluEarth-4S AW21
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 63 (est.)48
    Reviews found online5751

    PorTran KC53: 60% × 63.1 (est.) + 40% × 57 = 61

    BluEarth-4S AW21: 60% × 47.6 + 40% × 51.1 = 49

    No road tests of treadwear for PorTran KC53. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 60

    Handling (owners)

    BluEarth-4S AW21 +1
    61
    Why this score
    SourcePorTran KC53BluEarth-4S AW21
    Reviews found online6061
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    42
    Why this score
    SourcePorTran KC53BluEarth-4S AW21
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests–42
Scores at a glance
CategoryKumho PorTran KC53Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21
Relative Score 63 62
Dry 63 59
Wet 65 71
Snow – 67
Comfort 58 63
Noise – 52
Treadwear 61 49
Handling (owners) 60 61
Efficiency – 42

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
± 9

PorTran KC53

± 7

BluEarth-4S AW21

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.

DisciplineCategoryPorTran KC53BluEarth-4S AW21ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #7/16 2019 ADAC Van 215/65 R16 C Tyre Test #6/7 2025 Motor All Season Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A PorTran KC53

Pros

  • Significantly quieter and more refined road noise compared to stock or competitor tires
  • Smoother, more forgiving ride quality (frequently noted by motorhome owners)
  • Excellent value for money and affordable pricing

Cons

  • Occasional wheel spin or reduced forward traction when accelerating quickly in the wet
  • Potential for accelerated edge wear under certain loads if pressures are not meticulously managed
  • Isolated reports of premature sidewall cracking after a few years
All owner themes in the PorTran KC53 review

Tire B BluEarth-4S AW21

Pros

  • Excellent grip and stability on wet and flooded roads
  • Strong traction and confidence-inspiring performance in snow and ice
  • Good value for money compared to premium competitors

Cons

  • Higher road noise levels ('howling' or noticeable hum) compared to some other brands
  • Softer cornering feel and reduced precision during hot summer months
  • Minor negative impact on fuel economy for some drivers
All owner themes in the BluEarth-4S AW21 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho PorTran KC53 B · Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21
CategorySummer Touring tiresAll Season
Vehicle typeVanPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available27104
Rim diameters14″ – 18″14″ – 22″
Sizes in common88

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho PorTran KC53

Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21

Too close to call: Kumho PorTran KC53 and Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 are within 2 points overall. Kumho PorTran KC53 is stronger on treadwear and dry. Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 is stronger on wet and comfort.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Kumho PorTran KC53 scores 61 vs 49 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 scores 71 vs 65 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 scores 63 vs 58 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Kumho PorTran KC53 scores 63 vs 59 on dry.

Tire A · Kumho PorTran KC53
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Tire B · Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21
Check price on Amazon

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PorTran KC53 or BluEarth-4S AW21?

Which is better in the wet, PorTran KC53 or BluEarth-4S AW21?

Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21, 71 vs 65 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, PorTran KC53 or BluEarth-4S AW21?

Kumho PorTran KC53, 63 vs 59 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, PorTran KC53 or BluEarth-4S AW21?

Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21, 63 vs 58 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, PorTran KC53 or BluEarth-4S AW21?

Kumho PorTran KC53, 61 vs 49 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