Kumho Ecsta KU31
Show all: Kumho tyres, Passenger Car Summer Ultra High Performance tyres
The Kumho Ecsta KU31 is a Ultra High Performance Summer tyre designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars. Below is data from 84 tyre reviews averaging over 1,551,400 miles driven.
Dry Grip
85%
Wet Grip
79%
Road Feedback
78%
Progressiveness
76%
Wear
73%
Comfort
79%
Buy again
83%
Tyre Test Results:
- 9th: 2010 EVO FWD Tyre Test (235/35 r19)
Alternative Tyres

Kumho Ecsta KU31 Reviews
Given 93% (breakdown) while driving a Mazda Premacy (195-55-15-V)
Driving on a combination of roads for 12,800 easy going miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 12,800 easy going miles
Hello all, here is my second review of tyres for my Premacy...
My last tyres were Manufactured by Toyo (used 2010 - 2011), my last set and my soon to be new full set are fantastic Kumho KU31's.
Firstly a quick checklist:
Value for money - Check
Widely available - Check
Rubber compound not too soft - Check
Decent wear rate - Check
Good grip in the wet - Check
Not made by a cheapo, dodgy Chinese budget tyre manufacturer - Check
Are they going to keep your family safe - Check
Can they be bought for less than £270 for a set of 4 - Check (Actually got it down to £235 including fitting, disposal etc at Pellon Lane Auto Centre Halifax, thanks chaps)
Will I be putting them on the Caterham R500 - CHECK!!!!!
These tyres are excellent - do not buy anything else, hopefully the star score will say it all!! If anything the wear rate is only average but considering the way they perform elsewhere an average rating for them would just not be fair. P.S. They are also now fitted to the Zafira 07, 1.9 Diesel, Design.
My last tyres were Manufactured by Toyo (used 2010 - 2011), my last set and my soon to be new full set are fantastic Kumho KU31's.
Firstly a quick checklist:
Value for money - Check
Widely available - Check
Rubber compound not too soft - Check
Decent wear rate - Check
Good grip in the wet - Check
Not made by a cheapo, dodgy Chinese budget tyre manufacturer - Check
Are they going to keep your family safe - Check
Can they be bought for less than £270 for a set of 4 - Check (Actually got it down to £235 including fitting, disposal etc at Pellon Lane Auto Centre Halifax, thanks chaps)
Will I be putting them on the Caterham R500 - CHECK!!!!!
These tyres are excellent - do not buy anything else, hopefully the star score will say it all!! If anything the wear rate is only average but considering the way they perform elsewhere an average rating for them would just not be fair. P.S. They are also now fitted to the Zafira 07, 1.9 Diesel, Design.
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Given 51% (breakdown) while driving a Honda 1.8 VTi (195-50-15-V)
Driving on a combination of roads for 55,000 spirited miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 55,000 spirited miles
Fitted these to my Civic VTi all round when the Proxes wore out and were unavailable great as a driving tyre with good feedback and control in both wet and dry, but and it's a big but. They wear very unevenly on the rear (of both this Civic and my Mitsubishi Grandis that was also fitted with them) with the inside feathering and causing excessive noise (droning like a shot wheel bearing) after about 7k, with baldness on the inside edge after 20k and the rest of the tyre being 3-4mm, one also deformed on the Civic as well. So it's a big must try harder for these.
Given 94% (breakdown) while driving a Volkswagen Passat B5 1.9 TDi (215-55-16-W)
Driving on a combination of roads for 93,000 average miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 93,000 average miles
Outstanding tyre.
I truly believe it outperformed the Bridgestone and
Michelin faithfully used to buy.
Also at £ 71 supplied and fitted less than half what
Previously used to pay.
Much better wear just replaced my front two after 27000 miles!
2mm wear left. Rear still have 4mm
Don't get robbed at big national order them through small independent tyre fitters
I truly believe it outperformed the Bridgestone and
Michelin faithfully used to buy.
Also at £ 71 supplied and fitted less than half what
Previously used to pay.
Much better wear just replaced my front two after 27000 miles!
2mm wear left. Rear still have 4mm
Don't get robbed at big national order them through small independent tyre fitters
Given 77% (breakdown) while driving a Volkswagen golf plus 1.9tdi se (215-55-16-W)
Driving on a combination of roads for 15,000 average miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 15,000 average miles
I'm not a fan of budget tyres but these definitely buck the trend. I wouldn't rate them as budget now I've had them for 15,000 miles. On the front of a quite heavy car they still have 3.5mm left without sacrificing grip and feedback. They are going on the rear next week...to make way for a new pair on the front. Brilliant value for money.
Given 90% (breakdown) while driving a Audi ALLROAD 2.5 TDI (225-45-17-)
Driving on mostly motorways for 70,000 easy going miles
Driving on mostly motorways for 70,000 easy going miles
There were fitted new when I brought my Audi A6 Allroad from a dealer. I had not heard of the brand before then. I changed the tryes early at 18000 miles and they were still not down to the tread wear marks. I put on a set of Pirelli Allroad tyres which were specially designed for the car. These lasted around 16000 miles and were replaced with another set which lasted about the same. I replaced them with a set of Kumho KU31's and after about 20000 miles I sold the car and the tread was still not down to the tread wear marks.
My new car now needs some new tyres and the Kumho's are now on order.
My new car now needs some new tyres and the Kumho's are now on order.
Given 89% (breakdown) while driving a Volkswagen Scirocco R 265 PS DSG (235-40-18-)
Driving on a combination of roads for 7,500 spirited miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 7,500 spirited miles
I consider these tires as one of the best budget range tires, it handle wet and dry road condition without sweat. had it on for 10,000km. still early to say anything about its wear rate. I can say it is definitely better than Falken range.
Given 81% (breakdown) while driving a Peugeot 5008 1.6THP Exclusive (215-50-17-W)
Driving on a combination of roads for 0 spirited miles
Driving on a combination of roads for 0 spirited miles
I've only had these tyres for about a thousand miles but already they are proving to be better than the Michelin Primacy that were on the car from new. Very impressed so far especially in the wet and also in icy conditions.
I did my research with these tyres as finances are tight these days and for the price I don't thnk I could have done any better, saying that though there's no real need to spend the earth on premium brands anymore if these continme to perform the way they have.
I did my research with these tyres as finances are tight these days and for the price I don't thnk I could have done any better, saying that though there's no real need to spend the earth on premium brands anymore if these continme to perform the way they have.
Given 79% (breakdown) while driving a Toyota Wish (225-40-18-W)
Driving on mostly motorways for 18,000 average miles
Driving on mostly motorways for 18,000 average miles
My first impression on korean's tyre was.. budget, cheap and not much of a playable (taking hard corners) tyres.
But i was deeply wrong...
Despite of having a Y rating on the tyres.. it made me wanna try it out..
Test is conducted west of singapore at night where traffic is near to none.
It amaze me.. taking sharp corners at 90-120km/h with no sweat... times that i've try pushing my self to the limits but the tyres take it no sweat..
Dry gripping is awesome
Wet gripping is good
tyre compound is soft therefore tyre wearing is high.. clocked about 30,000km and tyre thread is finishing.
and yes i'm driving a turbo charged MPV.
But i was deeply wrong...
Despite of having a Y rating on the tyres.. it made me wanna try it out..
Test is conducted west of singapore at night where traffic is near to none.
It amaze me.. taking sharp corners at 90-120km/h with no sweat... times that i've try pushing my self to the limits but the tyres take it no sweat..
Dry gripping is awesome
Wet gripping is good
tyre compound is soft therefore tyre wearing is high.. clocked about 30,000km and tyre thread is finishing.
and yes i'm driving a turbo charged MPV.
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Driving on a combination of roads for 700 spirited miles
Currently fitted on the front my '97 Mercedes C180, outstanding grip on wet roads, even better on dry roads.
Only done 1000kms' on them but already they are worthy of a review, there has been not too much wear considering they are of such a soft compound but suit a heavier car such as my Mercedes perfectly, smooth and quiet on the freeway and grippy and responsive on the quiet backroads where you can really test them out.
Certainly won't be buying Continental or Pirelli again, there is no need, these Kumhos' do a much better a job at half the price.