Kumho Ecsta PS71 vs GT Radial SportActive 2
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta PS71 finished ahead 2 times and the SportActive 2 once. The Ecsta PS71 was stronger in dry, wet and value, the SportActive 2 in comfort.
Performance profile
9 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 PS71
SportActive 2
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 PS71
SportActive 2
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 PS71
Not ahead in any category
SportActive 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Ecsta PS71 77% from 94 reviews and the SportActive 2 87% from 8. 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 PS71 | Gap | SportActive 2 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Ecsta PS71 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 114 | 3.2% | 118 | 3-0 |
| Dry Handling mph | 73.6 | = | 73.6 | 0-0 |
| Wet Ecsta PS71 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 105 | 6.3% | 111 | 3-0 |
| Wet Handling mph | 46.4 | 0.4% | 46.2 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 64.4 | 3.4% | 66.6 | 0-1 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 11.9 | 6.9% | 12.7 | 0-1 |
| Comfort SportActive 2 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 75.3 | 2.4 dB | 72.9 | 0-1 |
| Value Ecsta PS71 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 24,109 | = | 24,109 | 0-0 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.06 | 3.1% | 8.32 | 1-0 |
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, 2023 to 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 | SportActive 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Summer Tire Test Shootout | P4 of 52 | P21 of 52 | |
| 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test | P5 of 20 | P4 of 20 | |
| 2023 Summer Tire Market Overview | P12 of 50 | P15 of 50 |
Ecsta PS71 vs SportActive 2: your questions
Is the Kumho Ecsta PS71 or the GT Radial SportActive 2 the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta PS71 finished ahead 2 times and the SportActive 2 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta PS71 scores 8.5 and the SportActive 2 8.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ecsta PS71 or the SportActive 2?
The Ecsta PS71 led 4 of the 6 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.3% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ecsta PS71 led 3 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.2% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.4/10 for the Ecsta PS71 and 8.9/10 for the SportActive 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ecsta PS71 77% from 94 reviews and the SportActive 2 87% from 8. 63% of Ecsta PS71 owners would buy it again, against 88% for the SportActive 2.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Ecsta PS71 is made in 133 sizes (16 to 22 inch) and the SportActive 2 in 57 (16 to 22 inch). 52 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Ecsta PS71 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the SportActive 2 A and D.
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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.