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Imperial Ecosport 2

The Imperial Ecosport 2 is a Touring Summer tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

4.9
Tire Reviews Score Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews
High Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
76%
Wet Grip
62%
Road Feedback
63%
Handling
61%
Wear
81%
Comfort
73%
Buy again
61%
10 Reviews
68% Average
145,522 miles driven
7 Tests (avg: 33rd)
Imperial Ecosport 2

Imperial Ecosport 2

Summer Budget
BETA
4.9 / 10
Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews · High Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tire Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tire scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Comfort
60.3
0.32x / 3 tests
Wet
57.3
2x / 12 tests
Dry
51.6
1.8x / 10 tests
Value
45.2
0.42x / 2 tests

Cross-category scores are derived metrics that combine data from multiple test disciplines to evaluate real-world performance characteristics.

Braking
54.4
14 tests
Handling
45.1
5 tests
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 7
Publications: 3
Period: 2019 - 2026
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 10
Avg Rating: 68.1%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.13
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tire tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
Data Sources
TestPublicationDateSizePositionMetrics
2026 Summer Braking Super Tire Test - How do 52 Tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? Auto Bild 2026 245/45 R19 38/50 2 metrics
2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tire Test Die Reifentester 2025 205/55 R17 7/7 7 metrics
2023 Summer Tire Market Overview Auto Bild 2023 225/45 R18 43/48 2 metrics
2022 Summer Tire Market Overview Auto Bild 2022 215/55 R17 47/44 2 metrics
2021 Motor Summer Tire Test Motor 2021 225/55 R17 10/10 10 metrics
2020 Tire Market Overview Braking Test Auto Bild 2020 245/45 R18 48/49 2 metrics
2019 Summer 53 Tire Braking Shootout Auto Bild 2019 225/45 R17 41/45 2 metrics
7
Tests
33rd
Average
7th
Best
48th
Worst
Latest Tire Test Results
The Imperial represented the budget end of the test and struggled against stronger rivals. Testers found its behaviour unsettling, with pronounced load‑change reactions and poor wet grip forcing ESP to work hard. The tire’s tetchy nature in both wet and dry conditions led to only a "Sufficient" overall verdict; the low price cannot compensate for the lack of safety.
43rd/48

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Review Summary

Based on 8 user reviews

Drivers report mixed results with the Imperial Ecosport 2. High-scoring reviews praise strong tread life and good value, noting satisfactory performance for calm, highway-focused driving. However, several users criticize its wet grip and braking, along with weak handling feedback and stability-especially when cornering or at higher speeds. Overall, it suits budget-minded drivers who don't push the limits, but is not recommended for aggressive or wet-weather driving.

Strengths
  • Tread life/durability
  • Value for money
  • Adequate performance for moderate driving/highway cruising
Areas for Improvement
  • Poor wet grip and braking
  • Weak handling/feedback and cornering grip
  • High-speed stability issues

Top 3 Imperial Ecosport 2 Reviews

Given 81% while driving a BMW 330 Ci Sport (225/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 25,000 spirited miles
I've been using many other budget tires in the past. Normally others would last for about a year on my BMW as we drive more than the average. The EcoSport 2 might not be the best in the rain or in fuel economy but it's definitely a compound that last longer than similar budget rubber. In my case I managed to get around 5k miles out of these which makes this the best budget tire to me.
February 16, 2025
Given 40% while driving a Volkswagen golf 2.0 gt tdi (215/35 R18) on mostly country roads for 18,000 spirited miles
Very dangerous tires when cornering at speed.
Sloppy feedback in dry conditions (even with the tires being low profile) and gets a lot worse in wet, bad aquaplaning also.

Tires are always looking to understeer and if you try compensate they begin oversteering(on a fwd car with 140hp)

Lasted 30k kms.

Do not recommend was not worth the money saved over regular tires.
Have not experienced other tires as bad as these.
March 20, 2024
Given 97% while driving a Volkswagen Transporter (235/55 R17) on mostly motorways for 15,500 easy going miles
I wanted to try cheap tires once and find out the difference between the previous ones that belong to a higher price class (Bridgestone Turanza ER300). I drive a passenger van VW Transporter T6, mostly three people ride in the vehicle. The van is driven mostly on the highway at a speed of 100-120km/h (60-75mph). A few times I drove a little faster in the rain through corners and the car held the road as it should. I bought the tires in May and have done 25,000km (15,500miles) to date. The tire still has a 5mm profile, consumption compared to the Bridgestone Turanza is 0.3 liters per 100km higher. After these kilometers, the tire still behaves well. To summarize: definitely a good purchase for people who don't go wild on the roads and I recommend it myself.
November 14, 2023

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Latest Imperial Ecosport 2 Reviews

Given 30% while driving a Suzuki Vitara 1.6 VVT 2018 (215/55 R17) on a combination of roads for 6,000 spirited miles
These are toy car tires, zero progressiveness, and on wet roads they grip the pavement about as well as a pair of roller skates with plastic wheels. It had been a long time since I'd spun out in the middle of a roundabout. They're not even good for drifting. Buying wooden cartwheels would be cheaper and just as safe. In the summer, after the heatwave, when the rains stir up the road grime, the tires would lose traction in corners at speeds as low as 50 km/h. Even a bad radio-controlled car does better. Avoid these tires.
November 21, 2025
Given 43% while driving a BMW 645 (275/35 R19) on a combination of roads for 15,000 spirited miles
Not a good tire in the dry. Wett breaking ist really Bad. Not really feetback feels unstabel at high speeds even in the straight driving 265 km/h with this tire feels Like you lose the car every sec. Came with the BMW e64 645ci when i bougt IT. Even thow they are new i changed them after 600km. Also had them at the rear wheels of my e46 320d Automatic and the fact that you could Drift in 2end Gear in a dry roundabout with 255 tires and 136 HP and a Automatic that feels Like steeling 40 HP should say all.
November 20, 2025
Given 98% while driving a Audi 3,0 tdi quattro sport (245/40 R18) on mostly country roads for 30,000 average miles
I’ve 30 K miles on last set putting new set on again this week on my Audi A5 coupe Quattro 2008 model probably the car is as good as the tires
November 27, 2023
Given 43% while driving a Vauxhall Insignia CDTI SRI 160 (235/35 R20) on a combination of roads for 3,000 average miles
My tires are now at 5mm and I find the grip on corners very poor. I can feel the tires trying so hard to grip the road. A few times my traction control was coming on. These tires are good for the first 2,000/3,000 but then not. Also heavy breaking the tires don't grip. I will not be buying these tires again.
February 1, 2023
Given 69% while driving a Ford Kuga (235/55 R17) on a combination of roads for 18,000 average miles
Had no overall problems with the tires while fitted the the car. Not the best but certainly not the worst. Wear was good at first but wore very quickly towards end of life. Tires went from partially worn at 15k to having to nearly bald tires at 18k. Overall good budget tire.
January 22, 2021
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