Kumho Ecsta HS52 vs Continental PremiumContact 7
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 5 times and the Ecsta HS52 not once. The PremiumContact 7 was stronger in dry, wet and value.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Ecsta HS52
PremiumContact 7
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. 9 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Ecsta HS52
Not ahead in any category
PremiumContact 7
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 HS52
PremiumContact 7
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Ecsta HS52 82% from 30 reviews and the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71. 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 HS52 | Gap | PremiumContact 7 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry PremiumContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 118 | 2.2% | 116 | 0-3 |
| Dry Handling (s) | 51.58 | 0.3% | 51.73 | 1-0 |
| Dry Handling (mph) | 72.1 | 0.4% | 71.8 | 1-0 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 5.3% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet PremiumContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 108 | 5.4% | 103 | 0-5 |
| Wet Braking - Concrete ft | 118 | 6.7% | 110 | 0-2 |
| Wet Handling (s) | 87 | 2.5% | 84.85 | 0-1 |
| Wet Handling (mph) | 47 | 0.3% | 46.9 | 1-0 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 11.1% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet Circle (mph) | 14 | 4.1% | 14.6 | 0-1 |
| Wet Circle (s) | 11.68 | 1.5% | 11.5 | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 48.1 | 0.5% | 48.3 | 1-3 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 11.1 | 5% | 11.7 | 1-3 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 2.2% | scored | 0-1 |
| Noise dB | 72.33 | 0.2 dB | 72.53 | 2-1 |
| Value PremiumContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 28,925 | 0.6% | 28,117 | 1-2 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.47 | 2.8% | 8.23 | 0-2 |
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 5.85 | 3.4% | 5.65 | 0-1 |
| Abrasion mg/km/t | 73 | 7.8% | 64.55 | 1-1 |
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 5 tests, 2023 to 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 HS52 | Field | PremiumContact 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P9 of 16 | P1 of 16 | |
| 2024 AutoBild Summer Tire Test | P4 of 20 | P2 of 20 | |
| 2024 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P3 of 16 | P1 of 16 | |
| 2024 Summer Tire Market Overview | P2 of 55 | P1 of 55 | |
| Tire Reviews Best Summer Touring Tires | P8 of 13 | P1 of 13 |
Ecsta HS52 vs PremiumContact 7: your questions
Is the Kumho Ecsta HS52 or the Continental PremiumContact 7 the better tire?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 5 times and the Ecsta HS52 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta HS52 scores 9 and the PremiumContact 7 9.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ecsta HS52 or the PremiumContact 7?
The PremiumContact 7 led 17 of the 20 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.4% shorter in the wet across 5 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The PremiumContact 7 led 4 of the 8 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.2% shorter in the dry across 5 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The PremiumContact 7 lasted 0.6% longer in the wear tests (3 tests), had 2.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests) and used 3.4% less fuel (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.8/10 for the Ecsta HS52 and 7.3/10 for the PremiumContact 7.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.1/10 for the Ecsta HS52 and 7.5/10 for the PremiumContact 7.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ecsta HS52 82% from 30 reviews and the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71. 75% of Ecsta HS52 owners would buy it again, against 74% for the PremiumContact 7.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the PremiumContact 7 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 29.6% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Ecsta HS52 is made in 54 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the PremiumContact 7 in 56 (16 to 21 inch). 24 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Ecsta HS52 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the PremiumContact 7 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.