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Head-to-head Updated

Pirelli Cinturato P7 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51 — 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 8 + 6 road tests and 307 + 1,663 owner reviews. How we score

Ecsta HS51 leads, 72–68 Narrow edge

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Pirelli Cinturato P7
Tire APirelli

Cinturato P7

Summer

± 7

Tests 74 · 8 tests Owners 62 · 307 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 12 in 2023 Best SUV Tyres Tested (dry braking)

Kumho Ecsta HS51
Tire BKumho

Ecsta HS51

Summer

± 5

Tests 76 · 6 tests Owners 69 · 1,663 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test (wet handling)

Category by category

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

  1. 73

    Dry

    Ecsta HS51 +1
    74
    Why this score
    SourceCinturato P7Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 4 tests7877
    Reviews found online6471
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–096%92%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%98%

    Cinturato P7: 60% × 78.3 + 40% × 64.1 = 73

    Ecsta HS51: 60% × 76.6 + 40% × 70.9 = 74

  2. 76

    Wet

    Ecsta HS51 +1
    77
    Why this score
    SourceCinturato P7Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 4 tests8080
    Reviews found online6973
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–199%100%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–093%75%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–093%92%

    Cinturato P7: 60% × 80.3 + 40% × 68.6 = 76

    Ecsta HS51: 60% × 79.7 + 40% × 72.9 = 77

  3. 61

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceCinturato P7Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 65 (est.)–
    Reviews found online55–

    Cinturato P7: 60% × 64.8 (est.) + 40% × 54.9 = 61

    No road tests of snow for Cinturato P7. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 74

    Comfort

    Cinturato P7 +5
    69
    Why this score
    SourceCinturato P7Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / – tests92≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online6269

    Cinturato P7: 40% × 92.3 + 60% × 61.6 = 74

    Ecsta HS51: 40% × 69.1 (est.) + 60% × 68.8 = 69

    No road tests of comfort for Ecsta HS51. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 63

    Noise

    Ecsta HS51 +3
    66
    Why this score
    SourceCinturato P7Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests6165
    Reviews found online66≈ 67 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–097%97%

    Cinturato P7: 60% × 61.1 + 40% × 65.8 = 63

    Ecsta HS51: 60% × 65.2 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 66

    No owner ratings of noise for Ecsta HS51. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 58

    Treadwear

    Ecsta HS51 +12
    70
    Why this score
    SourceCinturato P7Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests6073
    Reviews found online5565
    Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–073%71%

    Cinturato P7: 60% × 60.3 + 40% × 54.9 = 58

    Ecsta HS51: 60% × 73.4 + 40% × 64.9 = 70

  7. 63

    Handling (owners)

    Ecsta HS51 +6
    69
    Why this score
    SourceCinturato P7Ecsta HS51
    Reviews found online6369
  8. 75

    Efficiency

    Cinturato P7 +18
    57
    Why this score
    SourceCinturato P7Ecsta HS51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests7557
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–088%85%
Scores at a glance
CategoryPirelli Cinturato P7Kumho Ecsta HS51
Relative Score 68 72
Dry 73 74
Wet 76 77
Snow 61 –
Comfort 74 69
Noise 63 66
Treadwear 58 70
Handling (owners) 63 69
Efficiency 75 57

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
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Neutral
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Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
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Important
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Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Cinturato P7

± 5

Ecsta HS51

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 4 tests that ran both, Pirelli Cinturato P7 finished ahead 3 times and Kumho Ecsta HS51 1 times.

DisciplineCategoryCinturato P7Ecsta HS51ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 96% 92% +4.2 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Dry Handling Dry 99% 98% +0.8 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 99% 100% −1.2 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Wet Braking Wet 93% 75% +18.2 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Wet Handling Wet 93% 92% +1.4 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Noise Noise 97% 97% 0.0 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Wear Treadwear 73% 71% +1.1 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 ADAC SUV Summer Tyre Test · 235/55 R17
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 88% 85% +3.1 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 57% 82% −24.5 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Overall Ranking Overall #10/11 #3/11 – 3–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2021 Autonavigator Summer Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Cinturato P7

Pros

  • Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality when new
  • Strong dry traction, stability, and confident cornering grip
  • Low rolling resistance contributing to improved fuel economy

Cons

  • Faster-than-expected tread wear and reduced mileage lifespan
  • Noticeable increase in road noise and harshness as the tread wears down
  • Subpar wet-weather and cold-temperature grip compared to competitors
All owner themes in the Cinturato P7 review

Tire B Ecsta HS51

Pros

  • Impressive wet and dry weather traction
  • Excellent value for money compared to tier-one premium brands
  • Low road noise and enhanced ride comfort

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls can cause a wobbly or loose feeling during aggressive cornering
  • Some users experienced faster-than-expected tread wear on the front axle
  • Occasional complaints regarding poor steering feedback and high-speed handling at the limit
All owner themes in the Ecsta HS51 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Pirelli Cinturato P7 B · Kumho Ecsta HS51
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available4927
Rim diameters16″ – 21″14″ – 18″
Tread depth11/32″—
UTQG260 A A—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure44 psi—
Sizes in common88

Which one should you actually buy?

Pirelli Cinturato P7

Kumho Ecsta HS51

Narrow edge: Kumho Ecsta HS51 — better treadwear, handling and noise. Pick the Pirelli Cinturato P7 if efficiency and comfort matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Pirelli Cinturato P7 scores 75 vs 57 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Kumho Ecsta HS51 scores 70 vs 58 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho Ecsta HS51 scores 69 vs 63 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Pirelli Cinturato P7 scores 74 vs 69 on comfort.

Tire A · Pirelli Cinturato P7
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Tire B · Kumho Ecsta HS51
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Cinturato P7 or Ecsta HS51?

Which is better in the wet, Cinturato P7 or Ecsta HS51?

Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 77 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Cinturato P7 or Ecsta HS51?

Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 74 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Cinturato P7 or Ecsta HS51?

Kumho Ecsta HS51, 66 vs 63 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Cinturato P7 or Ecsta HS51?

Pirelli Cinturato P7, 74 vs 69 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Cinturato P7 or Ecsta HS51?

Kumho Ecsta HS51, 70 vs 58 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Cinturato P7 or Ecsta HS51?

Pirelli Cinturato P7, 75 vs 57 on our efficiency 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