If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, Kumho’s latest range of Ecsta tires could be the answer.
Kumho is striving to establish itself in the performance tire sector with a fresh lineup of Ecsta products introduced towards the end of last year. The Ecosta Sport A/S, the Sport model, and the Sport S come with significant claims, as the company asserts to journalists that these tires surpass well-known brands such as Michelin, Bridgestone, and Pirelli in terms of performance—all at a lower cost.
Following some short testing sessions at Atlanta Motorsport Park, the Ecstas demonstrate promising capabilities in handling various challenging situations well. Although it would be difficult to claim that Kumho has produced a better tire outright without direct comparisons against rivals, it’s evident that these tires exhibit progression, responsiveness, and user-friendliness.
The Kumho Ecsta Sport A/S remains unchanged as it appears to be a proper noun referring to a tire model.
The Ecsta Sport A/S falls under the category of " Ultra High-Performance" all-season tires. This implies they excel in adverse conditions when needed and offer exceptional traction compared to typical all-season tires. The primary rival for this model is the widely favored Michelin Pilot Sport 4 All-Season, often found as original equipment on vehicles such as the Chevy Corvette .
Kumho showed media a few data points discovered by third-party testing, comparing the Sport A/S to the Michelin (cheekily defined as “M Brand” in Kumho’s presentation). According to the data, the Kumho performed better in wet braking tests and scored identically in the noise department. It fell short only in the "Steering/Highway Handling" test.
When using the Sport A/S, it feels like high-quality rubber. Kumho provided us access to three sports cars fitted with these tires so we could navigate an autocross track and assess their performance firsthand. An autocross serves as an ideal environment to push a tire to its extremes since achieving optimal times often means operating close to or exceeding your vehicle’s capabilities. This demands a tire capable of providing clear feedback without becoming unpredictable under intense conditions.
The Sport A/S exhibits excellent performance, generating considerable sound when approaching and exceeding its traction thresholds. It proved reliable during swift maneuvers, which was advantageous for navigating the circuit’s sharp turns. Additionally, Kumho allowed us to drive through a wet skid pad demonstration to showcase how the tire maintains stability even under wet conditions. Indeed, it managed this feat admirably, though with less noise compared to dry surfaces.
The Kumho Ecsta Sport
The Ecsta Sport is Kumho’s primary ultra-high performance summer tire designed to go up against competitors like the Bridgestone Potenza Sport or Goodyear Eagle F1. This implies quite sizable expectations. Upon initial observations, it holds its ground well during actual track testing rather than falling apart under pressure.
Kumho's independent tests indicate significant advantages. The information presented to journalists shows that the Ecsta Sport excels in braking performance both on wet and dry surfaces compared to rival brands. Additionally, it demonstrates superior longevity and enhanced wet-handling capabilities. Furthermore, it operates more quietly than many competitors. Based on these metrics, it ranks among the top choices within its category.
Driving from behind the wheel, the Ecsta Sport seems capable of meeting those ambitious promises. Kumho provided me with a key to a 991-series Porsche 911 Carrera 4S for several follow-the-leader sessions trailing a Miata fitted with identical tires. Given the significant performance difference, it was difficult to test the boundaries of the tire’s capabilities, yet the Sport demonstrated potential, offering substantial feedback via the steering wheel.
Furthermore, the Sport tires maintained their performance throughout the entire day of testing with journalists, never losing steam. This endurance is crucial alongside performance at this tier. Potential buyers are expected to drive these tires regularly every day, hence it's vital that they can withstand numerous circuits beyond mere laps during racing conditions.
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 standard Sport model, Kumho asserts that their testing shows the Sport S can surpass Michelins in braking capabilities, perform better in wet conditions, and produce equivalent levels of road noise.
Rather than allowing me to try out the Sport S on a regular production vehicle, Kumho put me behind the wheel of a Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport—an official racing machine—for some circuits at AMP. Unfortunately, these laps were accompanied by a Miata, which meant I couldn't fully explore the tire's capabilities.
Nevertheless, the Sport S tires maintained their user-friendly characteristics 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 additional tests are required, my initial observations have been favorable.
Since there weren't any Michelin tires (or another brand for comparison) available at this event, I cannot claim that the Kumho tires outperform them. However, the statistics suggest they could excel in certain key areas. Additionally, their pleasant handling further cements their value, just as much as the numerical data does.
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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