If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, Kumho’s latest range of Ecsta tires could be the answer.
Kumho is striving to gain ground in the performance tire sector with a fresh lineup of Ecsta products introduced towards the end of last year. The Ecsta Sport A/S, the Sport, and the Sport S come with significant claims, as the company asserts to the media that these tires surpass well-known brands such as Michelin, Bridgestone, and Pirelli in terms of performance, all while offering them at lower prices.
Following a short set of trials at Atlanta Motorsport Park, the Ecsta tires demonstrate promising potential for excelling across multiple high-performance conditions. Although it would be difficult to claim definitively that Kumho has produced an outstanding competitor without direct comparisons, these tires appear to offer a predictable, responsive, and user-friendly driving experience.
The Kumho Ecsta Sport A/S
The Ecsta Sport A/S falls under the category of " Ultra High-Performance" all-season tires. This implies that they excel in adverse conditions when necessary and offer better traction compared to typical all-season tires. The primary rival for this model is the widely favored Michelin Pilot Sport 4 All-Season, which often comes as original equipment on vehicles such as the Chevy Corvette .
Kumho presented several key findings from independent evaluations to the media, contrasting their Sport A/S with the Michelin tires (playfully referred to as “M Brand” in Kumho’s slides). The information indicated that the Kumho outperformed in wet-braking assessments and matched the Michelin in terms of noise levels. However, it lagged behind in the "Steering/Highway Handling" category.
When using the Sport A/S, it feels like high-quality rubber. Kumho provided us with three sportscars fitted with these tires to navigate through an autocross course, giving us ample opportunity to assess their performance. An autocross event serves as an ideal setting to push a tire to its extremes since achieving optimal times often demands operating close to—or even surpassing—the vehicle's capabilities. This necessitates a tire that effectively conveys information back to the driver without becoming unstable under intense conditions.
The Sport A/S demonstrates impressive performance, generating considerable sound when reaching and exceeding its traction thresholds. It excels in swift direction changes, making it ideal for navigating the track’s sharp turns. Additionally, Kumho allowed us to drive through a wet skid pad to prove that the tire maintains stability even under wet conditions. Indeed, it performed almost equally well, though with less noise.
The Kumho Ecsta Sport
The Ecsta Sport is Kumho's primary ultra-high performance summer tire designed to rival the Bridgestone Potenza Sport and Goodyear Eagle F1. This implies significant competition. Upon initial observation, it holds up well when subjected to actual racetrack conditions.
Third-party tests conducted by Kumho indicate significant advantages. The information presented to journalists shows that the Ecsta Sport performs superiorly when braking in both wet and dry conditions compared to competitors. Additionally, it excels in terms of tire longevity and wet grip performance. Furthermore, it operates more quietly than many others. Based on these metrics, it ranks among the top options within its category.
Driving the Ecsta Sport from behind the wheel, one might think it can meet those ambitious promises. Kumho provided me with a key to a 991-series Porsche 911 Carrera 4S for several follow-the-leader sessions after a Mazda fitted with identical tires. Given the significant difference in performance between them, pushing the limits of the tire wasn’t feasible; however, the car demonstrated potential, offering substantial feedback via the steering wheel.
What's crucial is that the Sport tires maintained their performance throughout an entire day of testing with journalists, never losing steam. In this category, durability holds the same weight as speed. Given that purchasers will probably drive these tires regularly every day, it's essential that they can withstand numerous circuits beyond just a handful on a racetrack.
The Kumho Ecsta Sport S
The Ecsta Sport S is Kumho’s counterpart to Michelin’s. Pilot Sport S 5 , the most widely-used performance tire globally. Similar to the regular Sport model, Kumho reports from independent tests indicate that their Sport S not only stops shorter than its Michelin rival but also maintains better control in rainy conditions and matches it regarding tread noise.
Rather than allowing me to try out the Sport S on a regular production vehicle, Kumho had me jump behind the wheel of a Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport—an official racing machine—for some circuits at AMP. Unfortunately, these sessions were accompanied by a Miata, which meant fully exploring the tire’s capabilities was not really an option.
Nevertheless, the Sport S tires maintained their user-friendly nature that I appreciated in the Sport model. They did not become erratic or difficult to predict, even when mounted on an actual racing vehicle. While further tests are required, my initial observations have been favorable.
Since there weren't any Michelines (or another type of tire) present for side-by-side comparison, I cannot claim that the Kumoos outshine them entirely. However, the statistics suggest they could potentially excel in certain crucial areas. Additionally, their user-friendly nature adds significant value, just like the numerical findings do.
Where the Kumhos win biggest is price. Even if the Michelin were the better tire overall, it’s still about 50 percent more expensive, depending on sizing. If you’re flush with cash, sure, splurge on the French stuff. But if you want most of the performance and want to save a few bucks, the Kumhos are a solid choice.
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