Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Maxxis Premitra HP6
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 41
- TR Score
- 8.2/10
- Owners say
- 65% · 3
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 finished ahead 2 times and the Premitra HP6 not once. The Ecsta Sport PS72 stopped 3.9% shorter in the wet; the Premitra HP6 had 5.6% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pick the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 for drivers who prioritize shorter stopping distances and higher-confidence wet/dry handling (spirited road driving, twisty routes, performance-biased daily use). Pick the Maxxis Premitra HP6 if your priority is hydroplaning safety in heavy rain plus comfort and efficiency-especially as a value buy-accepting that ultimate braking and wet-limit feel are not as strong as the Kumho.
Where the Ecsta Sport PS72 is stronger
- Stronger braking performance in both dry and wet (around 4% shorter stops than Maxxis in both tests)
- Quicker and more confidence-inspiring wet handling (wins wet handling and wet circle in both tests; strong subjective wet score 8.3 vs 6.3)
- Sportier, predictable steering feel backed by higher subjective dry handling in Motor (7.4 vs 6.4) and strong notes on predictability
Where the Premitra HP6 is stronger
- Better aquaplaning resistance in both straight and curved tests (74.6 vs 71.4 km/h straight; 3.68 vs 3.32 m/s² curved)
- Better comfort ratings in both tests (6.6 vs 6.1), aligning with its touring intent
- Lower rolling resistance by roughly 5.5-5.7%, supporting efficiency and potentially fuel economy/EV range
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 Premitra HP6 at a glance
| Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Gap | Premitra HP6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won2 shared tests | 2 | 0 | |
| Dry6 measurements | 4 | The Ecsta Sport PS72 stopped 4.1% shorter in the dry (2 tests) | 1 |
| Wet11 measurements | 7 | The Ecsta Sport PS72 stopped 3.9% shorter in the wet (2 tests) | 4 |
| Comfort4 measurements | 1 | 3 | |
| Value2 measurements | 0 | The Premitra HP6 had 5.6% lower rolling resistance (2 tests) | 2 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.2/10 | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 1.0 | 8.2/10 |
| Owner rating41 and 3 reviews | 84% | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 19 points | 65% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 86 | 24 sizes made in both | 56 |
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 2 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 | Premitra HP6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Motor Summer Tire Test | P4 of 9 | P6 of 9 | |
| The BEST Summer Tires for 2026 Tested and Rated | P4 of 12 | P8 of 12 |
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Ecsta Sport PS72
Premitra HP6
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. 3 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
Premitra HP6
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
Premitra HP6
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Premitra HP6 65% from 3. 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 | Premitra HP6 | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 122 | 4.1% | 127 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 73.68 | 0.1% | 73.77 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 7.8% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 119 | 3.9% | 124 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 70.73 | 1.9% | 72.1 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 31.7% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 1.7 | 3.8% | 1.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 12.22 | 2.2% | 12.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 44.4 | 4.5% | 46.4 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 10.9 | 10.8% | 12.1 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| scored | 8.2% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 68.75 | 0.7 dB | 69.45 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 4.47 | 5.6% | 4.22 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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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 Premitra HP6 8.2 out of 10.
| Ecsta Sport PS72 | Category | Premitra HP6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | Dry | 76 | ||
| 88 | Wet | 68 | ||
| 35 | Comfort | 18 | ||
| 49 | Value | 62 | ||
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 | Premitra HP6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 7 | ||
| 8.8 | Wet Grip | 7 | ||
| 8.6 | Road Feedback | 6 | ||
| 8.6 | Handling | 6.7 | ||
| 8.3 | Wear | 6 | ||
| 7.7 | Comfort | 7.3 | ||
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Premitra HP6 65% from 3. 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.
Maxxis Premitra HP6
- 65%from 3 reviews
- 31,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Premitra HP6 reviewsTires are spongy, imprecise, indirect, and very unsporty on dry roads. They are quiet and save fuel. In wet conditions, they are average and completely okay. Despite AAA and BMW * approval, they do not fit a sporty front-wheel drive car like a Fiesta MH 155 HP. Very affordable and completely fine for everyday use. Sportiness compared to Continental PremiumContact 6 or Bridgestone Potenza Sport is non-existent.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 86 sizes of the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 56 of the Premitra HP6, 24 of them made in both.
| Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Premitra HP6 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 86 sizes, 17 to 21 inch | 56 sizes, 15 to 18 inch |
| Made in both | 24 sizes 205/40 R17205/45 R17205/50 R17215/40 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17235/45 R17235/55 R17and 12 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A95%B5% | A100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C77%B10%A8%D5% | C89%B11% |
| EU label noise | 70-74 dB B100% | 70-72 dB B100% |
| On the market since | - | 2024 |
| Replaced | Kumho Ecsta PS91 | - |
| Awards | Winner: Summer Value Performer (17in and above) (WhatTire, 2026/27) | - |
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 Maxxis Premitra HP6 aim at slightly different buyers even though they were tested in the same popular hot-hatch/saloon size (225/45 R17). The Kumho is positioned as a max-performance summer tire, prioritising grip and steering precision, while the Maxxis is more touring-leaning on paper, with an emphasis on all-round usability and efficiency.
Across two independent 2026 summer tire tests, the pattern is clear: the Kumho repeatedly delivers stronger wet and dry stopping power and more confidence-building handling, while the Maxxis counters with noticeably better aquaplaning resistance, better comfort scores, and lower rolling resistance. If your driving includes a lot of standing water or you value refinement and efficiency over outright grip, the balance can tilt quickly-despite the Kumho's higher overall rankings.
Conclusion
In pure grip and control, the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 is the more convincing tire in this pairing. It beat the Maxxis in dry braking in both tests (37.1 m vs 38.7 m; 37.11 m vs 38.66 m) and also won wet braking twice (44.3 m vs 46.1 m; 28.38 m vs 29.53 m). It then backs that up with quicker wet handling (71.0 s vs 73.1 s; 70.46 s vs 71.1 s) and stronger wet cornering metrics, plus markedly better subjective wet confidence in one test (8.3 vs 6.3). The outcome matches the overall placings: Kumho 4th/9 and 4th/13 with a “Recommended” award, versus Maxxis 6th/9 and 8th/13.
The Maxxis Premitra HP6's strongest rebuttal is aquaplaning and day-to-day livability. It won straight aquaplaning twice (74.6 km/h vs 71.4 km/h) and curved aquaplaning twice (3.68 vs 3.32 m/s²), which is a meaningful real-world advantage in heavy rain and motorway spray. It also scored better on subjective comfort (6.6 vs 6.1 in both tests) and consistently returned lower rolling resistance (about a 5.5-5.7% advantage), supporting the testers' view of it as a very consistent, non-spiky tire-especially compelling given its “cheapest in the test” positioning.
Practical takeaway: choose the Kumho if you want stronger stopping distances and more trustworthy wet/dry handling at typical road speeds and spirited driving; choose the Maxxis if you routinely face standing water, prioritize comfort/efficiency, or want a predictable budget-friendly option that is less likely to catch you out with aquaplaning.
Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Premitra HP6: your questions
Is the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 or the Maxxis Premitra HP6 the better tire?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 finished ahead 2 times and the Premitra HP6 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 9.2 and the Premitra HP6 8.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ecsta Sport PS72 or the Premitra HP6?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 led 7 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.9% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 led 4 of the 6 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.1% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Premitra HP6 had 5.6% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.3/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 6/10 for the Premitra HP6.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 7.3/10 for the Premitra HP6.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Premitra HP6 65% from 3.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 is made in 86 sizes (17 to 21 inch) and the Premitra HP6 in 56 (15 to 18 inch). 24 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 Premitra HP6 A and C.
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Run either of these?
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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