Kumho Ecsta PS71 vs Royal Black Explorer II
Ahead in each discipline
The Kumho Ecsta PS71 and the Royal Black Explorer II have met in one independent test so far, and the Ecsta PS71 finished ahead. The Ecsta PS71 was stronger in dry and wet.
Performance profile
Their shared test recorded too few of the same measurements to chart, so the chart shows what owners rate each tire on every question.
Where owners rate each higher
Ecsta PS71
Explorer II
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Ecsta PS71 77% from 94 reviews and the Explorer II 93% from 5. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tires' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tire that did better.
| Measurement | Ecsta PS71 | Gap | Explorer II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Ecsta PS71 ahead | |||
| Dry Braking ft | 112 | 10.9% | 126 |
| Wet Ecsta PS71 ahead | |||
| Wet Braking ft | 90 | 29% | 127 |
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 1 test in 2025
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 PS71 | Field | Explorer II |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Summer Tire Test Shootout | P4 of 52 | P51 of 52 |
Ecsta PS71 vs Explorer II: your questions
Is the Kumho Ecsta PS71 or the Royal Black Explorer II the better tire?
The Kumho Ecsta PS71 and the Royal Black Explorer II have met in one independent test so far, and the Ecsta PS71 finished ahead. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta PS71 scores 8.5 and the Explorer II 5.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ecsta PS71 or the Explorer II?
The Ecsta PS71 led 1 of the 1 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ecsta PS71 led 1 of the 1 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.4/10 for the Ecsta PS71 and 9/10 for the Explorer II.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ecsta PS71 77% from 94 reviews and the Explorer II 93% from 5. 63% of Ecsta PS71 owners would buy it again, against 100% for the Explorer II.
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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.