Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Pirelli Cinturato C3
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 41
- TR Score
- 9.4/10
- Owners say
- 91% · 19
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 finished ahead 3 times and the Ecsta Sport PS72 once. The Ecsta Sport PS72 was 1.2 dB quieter; the Cinturato C3 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 5.8% higher speed.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pick the Pirelli Cinturato C3 if you want the most complete summer tire with consistently shorter dry stops, stronger wet handling, and noticeably better aquaplaning safety margins-ideal for frequent motorway driving and variable summer rain. Choose the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 if you want a sporty feel and strong wet/dry performance for the money (and typically lower noise), and you're willing to trade away some standing-water security and some comfort polish for the savings.
Where the Ecsta Sport PS72 is stronger
- Strong value proposition in testing (e.g., Autobild value 12.44 vs 15.69 price/1000), often delivering near-premium grip per dollar
- Competitive wet braking with multiple wins (e.g., 27.1 m vs 27.6 m in the 245/45 R19 braking test; 42.4 m vs 43.0 m in Autobild)
- Sporty, confidence-building subjective feel: wins subjective dry handling in 2 tests (e.g., 8.0 vs 7.3 in Autobild)
Where the Cinturato C3 is stronger
- Best-in-comparison dry braking across all shared tests (4/4 wins; typically ~1.3-1.4 m shorter in 225/45 R17)
- Stronger wet handling pace and control (wins 3 wet handling comparisons; e.g., 68.09 s vs 70.46 s in 225/45 R17)
- Clearly better aquaplaning resistance (wins straight and curved aquaplaning in every shared occurrence; e.g., 76.9 vs 71.4 km/h straight aquaplaning in Motor)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Cinturato C3 at a glance
| Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Gap | Cinturato C3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won4 shared tests | 1 | 3 | |
| Dry10 measurements | 2 | The Cinturato C3 stopped 2% shorter in the dry (4 tests) | 6 |
| Wet18 measurements | 3 | The Cinturato C3 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 5.8% higher speed (3 tests) | 14 |
| Comfort6 measurements | 3 | The Ecsta Sport PS72 was 1.2 dB quieter (3 tests) | 2 |
| Value5 measurements | 2 | 3 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.2/10 | The Cinturato C3 by 0.2 | 9.4/10 |
| Owner rating41 and 19 reviews | 84% | The Cinturato C3 by 7 points | 91% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 82% | Too close to call | 83% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Cinturato C3 was dearer in 2 of 2 | +22.7% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 86 | 21 sizes made in both | 35 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 4 tests in 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Field | Cinturato C3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Motor Summer Tire Test | P4 of 9 | P1 of 9 | |
| 2026 Autobild Summer Tire Test | P6 of 20 | P4 of 20 | |
| The BEST Summer Tires for 2026 Tested and Rated | P4 of 12 | P1 of 12 | |
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tire Test - How do 52 Tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P4 of 50 | P7 of 50 |
Performance profile
12 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Ecsta Sport PS72
Cinturato C3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Ecsta Sport PS72
Cinturato C3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Ecsta Sport PS72
Not ahead in any category
Cinturato C3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Cinturato C3 91% from 19. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Gap | Cinturato C3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | 2% | 115 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 73.68 | 0.5% | 73.29 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 62.1 | = | 62.1 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 3.7% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 117 | 0.4% | 116 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 70.73 | 1.9% | 69.4 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 51.3 | 1% | 51.8 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 1.8% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 1.7 | 1.8% | 1.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 13.41 | 0.4% | 13.37 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 48.4 | 5.8% | 51.1 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 11 | 2.3% | 11.3 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 5.5% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 70.53 | 1.2 dB | 71.7 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 29,969 | 4.4% | 31,286 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | 0.7% | 5.6 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 1,605 | 17.8% | 1,320 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 9.2 and the Cinturato C3 9.4 out of 10.
| Ecsta Sport PS72 | Category | Cinturato C3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | Dry | 93 | ||
| 88 | Wet | 94 | ||
| 35 | Comfort | 28 | ||
| 49 | Value | 54 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Ecsta Sport PS72 | Category | Cinturato C3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 9.6 | ||
| 8.8 | Wet Grip | 9.6 | ||
| 8.6 | Road Feedback | 9.3 | ||
| 8.6 | Handling | 9.3 | ||
| 8.3 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 7.7 | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Cinturato C3 91% from 19. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
- 84%from 41 reviews
- 82%would buy again
- 160,312 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 highly overall (average 81.6%), most often praising its strong value for money and genuinely impressive dry performance, with confident handling and high-speed stability. Wet grip also comes through as a notable strength for around a third of reviewers, helping it feel safe and predictable in poor weather. Comfort and road noise are generally seen as good for a performance tire, though a smaller but meaningful group find it noisier or less refined than expected. The main recurring downside is vibration or balancing/out-of-round issues mentioned by around one in six owners, with tread life only getting mixed, limited commentary so far.
- Excellent value for money versus premium rivals
- Strong dry grip with lots of confidence
- Sharp, capable dry handling through corners
- Stable and planted at motorway/high speeds
- Vibration/balancing or out-of-round issues at speed
- Can be noisy on some surfaces or at higher speeds
- Tread life concerns from a minority (seems to wear quickly for some)
Summarised by AI from 38 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 41 Ecsta Sport PS72 reviewsBought them to replace Hankook ventus prime 4 (Touring type of tires), did a bunch of research before buying, they were really cheap ! So i bought them, you notice the difference in handling and cornering immediately, yes they are UHP and they deliver on that, not that the hankook's were inferior but the Kumhos are a different experience during fast cornering. I drive mainly on mountain passes, they stick like glue on the tarmac they hold well on the wet, haven't drove hard yet on really heavy rain but they seem to do great, no aquaplaning as of now. Sidewalls are not hard as a rock but they aren't soft, they don't deform during cornering, riding on them is nice and comfortable. The only negative as a first impression is this, went from a 68db tire to a 71db on the highway noise is significant worse with those Kumho, you can feel and hear every imperfection of the road, if you care about the noise buy the version with the foam inside I think they call it K version or something.
Pirelli Cinturato C3
- 91%from 19 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 76,500 milesdriven by reviewers
Across 19 reviews, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 is described as a highly confidence-inspiring tire with standout grip, strong wet and dry braking, and sharp, sporty steering that makes cars feel more responsive and secure. Many drivers also report good stability and a generally refined ride, with several praising low wear early on and solid durability impressions. The most repeated drawbacks are higher road noise for some users and a firmer/less plush ride over poor surfaces, with a smaller minority noting worsened fuel economy; one review also flags inconsistent manufacturing finish/quality control.
- Excellent dry and wet grip
- Strong braking and high safety/confidence
- Sharp steering response and sporty handling/turn-in
- Stable, predictable handling and good feedback
- Road noise can be higher than expected (especially on some roads/at low speeds)
- Ride can feel firmer/less forgiving over bumps and potholes
- Some reports of reduced fuel economy/rolling resistance increase
Summarised by AI from 19 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 19 Cinturato C3 reviewsI can say that these tires are the best I have ever had! My previous tires were Bridgestone T001 and Falken FK 510. I am extremely impressed with the comfort and stability of the new Pirelli tires. Their wear in 6000 miles is only 0.7mm! When new the tread is 7.3mm.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 86 sizes of the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 35 of the Cinturato C3, 21 of them made in both.
| Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Cinturato C3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 86 sizes, 17 to 21 inch | 35 sizes, 16 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 21 sizes 215/55 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17235/65 R17215/55 R18225/45 R18235/45 R18235/50 R18235/55 R18245/50 R18215/50 R19and 9 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A95%B5% | A100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C77%B10%A8%D5% | B40%A35%C25% |
| EU label noise | 70-74 dB B100% | 66-72 dB B80%A20% |
| Replaced | Kumho Ecsta PS91 | Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 (2026) |
| Awards | Winner: Summer Value Performer (17in and above) (WhatTire, 2026/27) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Cinturato C3 was the dearer tire in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 22.7% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This is an interesting head-to-head because the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 and Pirelli Cinturato C3 aim at different buyer priorities despite both being summer passenger-car tires. The Kumho is positioned as a max-performance option-more “sport tire for the money”-while the Pirelli is a premium-touring product tuned to deliver broad everyday competence with a premium-brand safety margin.
Across four shared 2026 tests in two popular sizes (225/45 R17 and 245/45 R19), the pattern is consistent: the Pirelli repeatedly lands at or near the top overall thanks to class-leading dry braking and very strong wet handling consistency, while the Kumho repeatedly looks like a high-value disruptor-often close on lap-time style metrics and subjective sportiness-but gives away meaningful safety headroom in standing-water aquaplaning and some comfort/refinement scoring.
Conclusion
On outright performance, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 is the more complete and consistently top-ranked tire. It wins all four dry-braking comparisons (for example 35.7 m vs 37.1 m in Motor; 35.75 m vs 37.11 m in the 225/45 R17 group) and is repeatedly ahead in wet handling (e.g., 68.09 s vs 70.46 s in the 225/45 R17 test). The biggest practical separator is wet-water security: in straight aquaplaning the C3 has a clear edge (e.g., 76.9 vs 71.4 km/h in Motor, a ~7.7% advantage), which is the kind of margin drivers actually feel on motorways in heavy rain.
The Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72, however, is not “far behind” in day-to-day grip; it often posts strong wet braking (it beats the Pirelli 27.1 m vs 27.6 m in the large braking shootout, and 42.4 m vs 43.0 m in Autobild) and it repeatedly scores better for noise in these datasets. It's also a standout on value (Autobild value index 12.44 vs 15.69 price/1000), which matters if you want near-premium braking/handling without premium pricing. The takeaway: choose the Pirelli if you want the safest, most confidence-inspiring all-rounder-especially in heavy rain and at speed-while the Kumho is the smart buy if budget/value and a sporty feel matter most, provided you accept weaker aquaplaning resilience.
Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Cinturato C3: your questions
Is the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 or the Pirelli Cinturato C3 the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 finished ahead 3 times and the Ecsta Sport PS72 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 9.2 and the Cinturato C3 9.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ecsta Sport PS72 or the Cinturato C3?
The Cinturato C3 led 14 of the 18 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 5.8% higher speed across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Cinturato C3 led 6 of the 10 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 had 0.7% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 8.3/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 9/10 for the Cinturato C3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 was 1.2 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 8.3/10 for the Cinturato C3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Cinturato C3 91% from 19. 82% of Ecsta Sport PS72 owners would buy it again, against 83% for the Cinturato C3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Cinturato C3 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 22.7% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 is made in 86 sizes (17 to 21 inch) and the Cinturato C3 in 35 (16 to 20 inch). 21 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Ecsta Sport PS72 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Cinturato C3 A and B.
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Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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