Cooper Zeon CS8 vs Kumho Ecsta PS71
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta PS71 finished ahead 3 times and the Zeon CS8 not once. The Zeon CS8 was stronger in comfort, the Ecsta PS71 in dry and wet.
Performance profile
7 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Zeon CS8
Ecsta PS71
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
Zeon CS8
Ecsta PS71
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
Zeon CS8
Ecsta PS71
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Zeon CS8 77% from 17 reviews and the Ecsta PS71 77% from 94. 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 | Zeon CS8 | Gap | Ecsta PS71 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Ecsta PS71 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 119 | 2.8% | 115 | 0-3 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 16.7% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet Ecsta PS71 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 98 | 4.3% | 94 | 0-3 |
| Wet Handling s | 28.4 | 2.1% | 27.8 | 0-1 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 20% | scored | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 52.3 | 2.7% | 53.7 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Zeon CS8 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 61.8 | 0.4 dB | 62.2 | 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, 2018 to 2023
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 | Zeon CS8 | Field | Ecsta PS71 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Summer Tire Market Overview | P24 of 50 | P12 of 50 | |
| 2019 Summer 53 Tire Braking Shootout | P29 of 53 | P18 of 53 | |
| 2018 Test World Summer Tire Test | P12 of 16 | P8 of 16 |
Zeon CS8 vs Ecsta PS71: your questions
Is the Cooper Zeon CS8 or the Kumho Ecsta PS71 the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho Ecsta PS71 finished ahead 3 times and the Zeon CS8 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Zeon CS8 scores 7.2 and the Ecsta PS71 8.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Zeon CS8 or the Ecsta PS71?
The Ecsta PS71 led 6 of the 6 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.3% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ecsta PS71 led 4 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.8% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.2/10 for the Zeon CS8 and 7.4/10 for the Ecsta PS71.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Zeon CS8 77% from 17 reviews and the Ecsta PS71 77% from 94. 76% of Zeon CS8 owners would buy it again, against 63% for the Ecsta PS71.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Zeon CS8 is made in 48 sizes (15 to 19 inch) and the Ecsta PS71 in 133 (16 to 22 inch). 31 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Zeon CS8 is graded A for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ecsta PS71 A and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The Ecsta PS71 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2016, the Zeon CS8 in 2015.
More comparisons with these tires
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.

