Kumho Ecsta HS51 vs Continental Premium Contact 6
In the 6 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental Premium Contact 6 finished ahead 4 times and the Ecsta HS51 twice. The Premium Contact 6 was stronger in dry, wet and value.
Performance profile
8 measurements from the 6 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Ecsta HS51
Premium Contact 6
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 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 2 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Ecsta HS51
Premium Contact 6
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 HS51
Premium Contact 6
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Ecsta HS51 79% from 40 reviews and the Premium Contact 6 81% from 139. 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. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.
| Measurement | Ecsta HS51 | Gap | Premium Contact 6 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Premium Contact 6 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 120 | 1.1% | 118 | 2-2 |
| Dry Handling (s) | 60.7 | 2.3% | 59.3 | 0-1 |
| Dry Handling (mph) | 65.2 | 1.2% | 66.1 | 1-1 |
| Wet Premium Contact 6 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 155 | 8.5% | 138 | 0-4 |
| Wet Handling (s) | 98 | 8.2% | 90 | 0-1 |
| Wet Handling (mph) | 48.4 | 0.2% | 48.5 | 1-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 49.9 | 4.4% | 47.8 | 2-0 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Noise dB | 69.35 | 0.5 dB | 69.8 | 1-1 |
| Value Premium Contact 6 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 22,039 | 16.4% | 23,980 | 2-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.9 | 3% | 8.63 | 0-2 |
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 6 tests, 2017 to 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 | Premium Contact 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tire Test | P1 of 20 | P2 of 20 | |
| 2021 ADAC Summer Tire Test - 205/55 R16 | P5 of 15 | P1 of 15 | |
| 2021 53 Summer Tire Braking Test | P3 of 53 | P4 of 53 | |
| 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tire Test | P9 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tire Test | P20 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tire Shootout | P13 of 51 | P1 of 51 |
Ecsta HS51 vs Premium Contact 6: your questions
Is the Kumho Ecsta HS51 or the Continental Premium Contact 6 the better tire?
In the 6 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental Premium Contact 6 finished ahead 4 times and the Ecsta HS51 twice. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta HS51 scores 8 and the Premium Contact 6 9.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ecsta HS51 or the Premium Contact 6?
The Premium Contact 6 led 6 of the 9 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.5% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Premium Contact 6 led 4 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Ecsta HS51 lasted 16.4% longer in the wear tests (3 tests); the Premium Contact 6 had 3% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.7/10 for the Ecsta HS51 and 7.5/10 for the Premium Contact 6.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.3/10 for the Ecsta HS51 and 7.8/10 for the Premium Contact 6.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ecsta HS51 79% from 40 reviews and the Premium Contact 6 81% from 139. 65% of Ecsta HS51 owners would buy it again, against 73% for the Premium Contact 6.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Premium Contact 6 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 31.2% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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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.