Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Linglong Sport Master
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 41
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 75% · 14
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 finished ahead 2 times and the Sport Master once. The Sport Master stopped 7.2% shorter in the wet.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Linglong Sport Master if your top priority is maximum braking performance-especially in frequent rain-and you're willing to accept shorter life and a potentially more uneven dry-handling feel depending on car and size. Choose the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 for the best all-round value: consistently higher overall test performance, markedly better wear and efficiency, and a more confidence-inspiring balance for daily fast-road driving and longer ownership.
Where the Ecsta Sport PS72 is stronger
- Stronger overall balance and higher placements in multi-discipline tests (e.g., 6/20 vs 16/20 in Autobild)
- Better durability and wear economics (48,230 km vs 35,570 km; lower abrasion 1605 g vs 2022 g)
- More efficient tire with lower rolling resistance (8.15 vs 9.15 kg/t), supporting fuel/EV range
Where the Sport Master is stronger
- Class-leading braking performance, especially in the wet (39.3 m vs 42.4 m in Autobild; 25.2 m vs 27.1 m in braking test)
- Competitive dry braking for a budget-leaning performance tire (33.9 m vs 34.4 m)
- Lower measured noise in Autobild (72.4 dB vs 74.1 dB)
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 Sport Master at a glance
| Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Gap | Sport Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 2 | 1 | |
| Dry4 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Wet7 measurements | 4 | 3 | |
| Comfort2 measurements | 0 | 1 | |
| Value3 measurements | 3 | 0 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.2/10 | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 0.3 | 8.9/10 |
| Owner rating41 and 14 reviews | 84% | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 9 points | 75% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 82% | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 3 points | 79% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 86 | 37 sizes made in both | 62 |
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 3 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 | Sport Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Autobild Summer Tire Test | P6 of 20 | P16 of 20 | |
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tire Test - How do 52 Tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P4 of 50 | P1 of 50 | |
| 2026 ACE Summer Tire Test | P7 of 10 | P8 of 10 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Ecsta Sport PS72
Sport Master
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.
Where each scores higher
Ecsta Sport PS72
Sport Master
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
Sport Master
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Sport Master 75% from 14. 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 | Sport Master | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113 | 1.5% | 111 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 62.1 | 0.7% | 61.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 33.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 114 | 7.2% | 106 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 51.3 | 0.2% | 51.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 8.7% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 14.6 | 0.9% | 14.74 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 56.5 | 2% | 57.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 11.3 | 1.5% | 11.1 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||
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| 74.1 | 1.7 dB | 72.4 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 29,969 | 35.6% | 22,102 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 8.15 | 10.9% | 9.15 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 1,605 | 20.6% | 2,022 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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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 Sport Master 8.9 out of 10.
| Ecsta Sport PS72 | Category | Sport Master | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | Dry | 86 | ||
| 88 | Wet | 94 | ||
| 35 | Comfort | 70 | ||
| 49 | Value | 3 | ||
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 | Sport Master | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 7.7 | ||
| 8.8 | Wet Grip | 7.9 | ||
| 8.6 | Road Feedback | 6.6 | ||
| 8.6 | Handling | 7.4 | ||
| 8.3 | Wear | 7.1 | ||
| 7.7 | Comfort | 8.1 | ||
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Sport Master 75% from 14. 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.
Linglong Sport Master
- 75%from 14 reviews
- 79%would buy again
- 130,544 milesdriven by reviewers
Most owners find the Linglong Sport Master offers strong dry and wet grip for the money, with several calling its braking particularly impressive for a budget tire. Value for money is a clear highlight, though overall sentiment is mixed-to-positive (7/10 positive reviews). The most common criticisms are a lack of progressive behavior at the limit and vague steering feel (raised by around one in three and around one in five owners respectively), with some also reporting higher road noise. Tread life feedback is split, with as many owners criticising wear as praising durability.
- Strong dry grip
- Good wet grip for a budget tire
- Very good dry braking
- Excellent value for money
- Not progressive at the limit; can understeer when pushed
- Vague or slow steering response
- Can be noisy
Summarised by AI from 10 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 14 Sport Master reviewsI literally dont have anything to complain about. For the price, I don't think you can get more value for your money.
Good grip, never had a slip, not in dry nor wet circumstances.
I've had tires that cost 3x more money that dont feel nowhere near as premium.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 86 sizes of the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 62 of the Sport Master, 37 of them made in both.
| Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Sport Master |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 86 sizes, 17 to 21 inch | 62 sizes, 16 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 37 sizes 205/40 R17205/45 R17205/50 R17215/40 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17235/45 R17245/40 R17and 25 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A95%B5% | A90%B4%C3%D3% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C77%B10%A8%D5% | C79%D13%B6%A3% |
| EU label noise | 70-74 dB B100% | 68-72 dB A91%B9% |
| On the market since | - | 2020 |
| 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.
Kumho's Ecsta Sport PS72 and Linglong's Sport Master sit in the same “affordable performance summer” space, but they go about it in very different ways. Across three shared 2026 tests (including Autobild's broad 245/45 R19 group and a 50-tire dedicated braking shootout), both show they can deliver genuine grip without premium-brand pricing-yet their strengths land in different places.
The headline is that Linglong repeatedly produces standout stopping distances-especially in the wet-while Kumho builds a more rounded performance envelope with stronger balance, efficiency and durability. If your priority is outright braking performance, one tire keeps popping to the top; if you want an everyday fast-road tire that won't punish you on running costs, the other looks like the safer bet over ownership.
Conclusion
On objective safety metrics, Linglong Sport Master's biggest advantage is braking-full stop. It wins dry braking in the shared 245/45 R19 data (33.9 m vs 34.4 m) and dominates wet braking in both major references: Autobild's wet stop (39.3 m vs 42.4 m, and the only sub-40 m in the full test) and the 50-tire braking test (25.2 m vs 27.1 m). Those are meaningful margins in real traffic, and they explain why Linglong can look like a bargain hero on paper.
But when you zoom out to “live with it” performance, Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 is the more complete package. It places far higher overall in Autobild (6th vs 16th) and brings stronger handling balance (dry handling 100 vs 99.3 km/h plus higher subjective dry score), very similar wet handling metrics (Kumho edges wet circle and curved aquaplaning), and a major running-cost win: markedly higher projected wear (48,230 km vs 35,570 km) plus lower rolling resistance (8.15 vs 9.15 kg/t). The practical takeaway: Linglong is the specialist that can stop extremely hard-especially in the wet-but Kumho is the better all-rounder with significantly better longevity and efficiency, making it the smarter purchase for most drivers over the life of the tire.
Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Sport Master: your questions
Is the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 or the Linglong Sport Master the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 finished ahead 2 times and the Sport Master once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 9.2 and the Sport Master 8.9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ecsta Sport PS72 or the Sport Master?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 led 4 of the 7 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Ecsta Sport PS72 and the Sport Master.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 8.1/10 for the Sport Master.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Sport Master 75% from 14. 82% of Ecsta Sport PS72 owners would buy it again, against 79% for the Sport Master.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 is made in 86 sizes (17 to 21 inch) and the Sport Master in 62 (16 to 22 inch). 37 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 Sport Master A and C.
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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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