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Kumho Ecsta HS51 vs Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2

Kumho Ecsta HS51 Finished ahead
Head to head 2-1 wins in 3 shared tests

In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta HS51 finished ahead 2 times and the Cinturato P7 C2 once. The Ecsta HS51 was stronger in comfort and value, the Cinturato P7 C2 in dry.

Performance profile

8 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.

Dry BrakingDry HandlingWet BrakingWet HandlingStraight AquaNoiseWearRolling Resistance

Where each is furthest ahead

Ecsta HS51

Cinturato P7 C2

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 97%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.

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. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.

Measurement Ecsta HS51 Gap Cinturato P7 C2 Wins
Dry Cinturato P7 C2 ahead
Dry Braking ft 114 0.9% 113 0-2
Dry Handling mph 59.7 0.5% 59.3 1-0
Wet Level
Wet Braking ft 128 2.3% 125 0-2
Wet Handling mph 49 0.5% 48.7 1-0
Straight Aqua mph 53.1 3% 51.6 1-0
Comfort Ecsta HS51 ahead
Noise dB 68.7 0.5 dB 69.2 1-0
Value Ecsta HS51 ahead
Wear miles 25,712 46.2% 17,662 2-0
Rolling Resistance kg / t 9.31 0.6% 9.25 0-1

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.

Head to head in 3 tests in 2021

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 HS51 Field Cinturato P7 C2
2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tire Test Auto Bild · 2021 · 205/55 R16 P1 of 20 P7 of 20
2021 ADAC Summer Tire Test - 205/55 R16 ADAC · 2021 · 205/55 R16 P5 of 15 P12 of 15
2021 53 Summer Tire Braking Test Auto Bild · 2021 · 205/55 R16 P3 of 53 P2 of 53

Ecsta HS51 vs Cinturato P7 C2: your questions

Is the Kumho Ecsta HS51 or the Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 the better tire?

In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta HS51 finished ahead 2 times and the Cinturato P7 C2 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta HS51 scores 8 and the Cinturato P7 C2 8.9 out of 10.

Which is better in the wet, the Ecsta HS51 or the Cinturato P7 C2?

Across the shared tests the wet measurements are split 2-2 between the Ecsta HS51 and the Cinturato P7 C2.

Which is better in the dry?

The Cinturato P7 C2 led 2 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.9% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.

Which lasts longer and costs less to run?

The Ecsta HS51 lasted 46.2% longer in the wear tests (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.7/10 for the Ecsta HS51 and 8.1/10 for the Cinturato P7 C2.

Which is quieter and more comfortable?

Owners rate comfort 8.3/10 for the Ecsta HS51 and 8.6/10 for the Cinturato P7 C2.

What do owners say?

Owners rate the Ecsta HS51 79% from 40 reviews and the Cinturato P7 C2 83% from 39. 65% of Ecsta HS51 owners would buy it again, against 82% for the Cinturato P7 C2.

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.

Review the Ecsta HS51 Review the Cinturato P7 C2

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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