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Kumho Ecsta HS52 Test Results

Tire Reviews tests: 1 Tested 2022 to 2026 3 publications

Tested 8 times by independent publications, the Kumho Ecsta HS52 averages a finish of 5th. Its strongest discipline is Dry Braking, beating 81% of the field across 8 tests; its weakest is Curved Aquaplaning, at 21% across 6 tests.

  • 8Independent tests
  • 0Test wins
  • 3Podium finishes
  • 5thAverage finish
  • 76%Field beaten on average
  • 3Publications
Kumho Ecsta HS52

8 tests, 2022 to 2026

0%50%100%2022202320242026Average 76%2022 Summer Tire Market Overview (2022): P3 of 50, Beat 93% of the field2022 Auto Bild Summer Tire Test (2022): P6 of 21, Beat 75% of the fieldTire Reviews Best Summer Touring Tires (2023): P8 of 13, Beat 42% of the field2023 ADAC Summer Tire Test (2023): P8 of 50, Beat 86% of the field2024 Summer Tire Market Overview (2024): P2 of 55, Beat 98% of the field2024 ADAC Summer Tire Test (2024): P3 of 16, Beat 87% of the field2024 AutoBild Summer Tire Test (2024): P4 of 20, Beat 79% of the field2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test (2026): P9 of 16, Beat 47% of the field
Share of the field beaten in each test, oldest to newest. Hover or tap a point for the test.
  • Test win
  • Second
  • Third
  • Average 76%
The latest test

2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test P9 of 16

The updated Ecsta HS52 scores well on wet roads but only fair overall because of weak dry-road performance and increased weight. According to the summary, dry-road steering feedback and precision are merely adequate; wet grip and braking are good. Environmental performance is fair due to high abrasion and heavy weight, despite good predicted mileage and efficiency. ADAC lists short dry braking, good wet handling and good mileage as strengths, but notes deficits in dry handling, aquaplaning behavior and slightly elevated abrasion and weight.

Weak: Fuel Consumption Winner: Continental PremiumContact 7

Record by discipline

Where the Kumho Ecsta HS52 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.

Discipline Tests Avg finish Field beaten Firsts
Dry
Dry Braking Strong 8 P4 of 29.6 81% 4
Dry Handling 3 P5.3 of 18.7 79% 1
Subj. Dry Handling 1 P2 of 13 92% -
Wet
Wet Braking 8 P5.8 of 29.6 80% -
Wet Braking - Concrete 3 P4.7 of 27.3 88% -
Wet Handling 3 P9 of 18.7 51% -
Subj. Wet Handling 1 P10 of 13 25% -
Wet Circle 3 P9 of 18.7 57% -
Straight Aqua 6 P10.7 of 23 51% -
Curved Aquaplaning Weak 6 P17.8 of 23 21% -
Comfort
Subj. Comfort 1 P11 of 13 17% -
Noise 5 P11.8 of 24.4 51% -
Tire Weight 1 P41 of 50 18% -
Value
Wear 5 P7.6 of 24.6 71% 1
Value 4 P5.3 of 26.8 87% 1
Rolling Resistance 3 P13 of 18.7 32% -
Fuel Consumption 3 P21.7 of 27.3 27% -
Abrasion 3 P14.7 of 27.3 52% -

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Kumho Ecsta HS52. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 8 shared: 5 ahead, 3 behind Compare with Ventus Prime 4 8 5 3 - 63%
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 8 shared: 3 ahead, 4 behind 8 3 4 1 43%
Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun 7 shared: 4 ahead, 3 behind Compare with ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun 7 4 3 - 57%
BFGoodrich Advantage 6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind 6 6 0 - 100%
GT Radial FE2 6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind 6 6 0 - 100%
Nexen N Fera Primus 6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind 6 6 0 - 100%
Toyo Proxes Comfort 6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind 6 6 0 - 100%
Vredestein Ultrac 6 shared: 5 ahead, 0 behind 6 5 0 1 100%
Kleber Dynaxer HP4 5 shared: 5 ahead, 0 behind 5 5 0 - 100%
Michelin Primacy 4+ 5 shared: 1 ahead, 4 behind 5 1 4 - 20%
Continental PremiumContact 7 5 shared: 0 ahead, 5 behind 5 0 5 - 0%
Maxxis Premitra HP5 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%
Uniroyal RainSport 5 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%
Firestone RoadHawk 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%
Semperit Speed Life 3 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%
Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2 4 shared: 3 ahead, 1 behind 4 3 1 - 75%
Bridgestone Turanza 6 4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind 4 2 2 - 50%
Bridgestone Turanza T005 4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind 4 0 4 - 0%
Double Coin DC99 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Lassa DriveWays 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%

Against its own line

The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.

Tire Tests Wins Avg finish Field beaten
Kumho Ecsta HS51 Predecessor 10 1 9th 56%
Kumho Ecsta HS52 This tire 8 0 5th 76%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 8 tests. Updated February 26, 2026.

Across 8 summer tests, the Kumho Ecsta HS52 shows a clear pattern of strong dry braking and competitive wet braking/handling on standard wet grip metrics, regularly placing near the top of large AutoBild and ADAC fields. Overall rankings are usually upper-mid pack to strong (e.g., 2/55, 3/16, 4/21, 6/22), but results are dragged down by recurring weaknesses in aquaplaning (especially curved) and efficiency metrics like rolling resistance/fuel consumption, plus some variability in noise/comfort.

Its durability/value picture is mixed: it can be exceptional in wear and cost-per-km in ADAC's methodology (notably 1st in wear and 1st in value in 2024 ADAC), but other tests show only mid-pack mileage. Net-net, HS52 is a very capable touring summer tire for braking-focused safety, but buyers in heavy-rain/high-water conditions or prioritizing low energy consumption should be cautious.

Performance Strengths

  • Dry Braking & Dry Dynamics Strong
    Details
    • 1st place dry braking in 2024 AutoBild Summer Tire Test (35.4 m, 1/21)
    • 1st place dry braking in 2024 Summer Tire Market Overview (35.4 m, 1/55)
    • 1st place dry braking in 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tire Test (35.7 m, 1/22) and 2022 Market Overview (35.7 m, 1/44)
    • 1st place dry handling in 2023 Tire Reviews Best Summer Touring Tires (51.58 s, 1/13)
  • Wet Braking (incl. concrete) & General Wet Grip Strong
    Details
    • 2nd place wet braking in 2024 AutoBild Summer Tire Test (40.8 m, 2/21, +1.2% from best) and 2nd place wet handling (75.7 km/h, 2/21, +0.7%)
    • 3rd place wet braking in 2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test (31.1 m, 3/16, +3.3% from best)
    • 2nd place wet braking (concrete) in 2024 ADAC Summer Tire Test (35.8 m, 2/16, +11.9% from best)
  • Wear / Cost per km (Value) in ADAC testing Moderate
    Details
    • 1st place wear in 2024 ADAC Summer Tire Test (69,300 km, 1/16) and 1st place value (1.77 price/1000, 1/16)
    • Upper-mid wear noted elsewhere: 5th place wear in 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tire Test (39,440 km, 5/21, +23.2% from best)
    • Top-10 overall in large ADAC field with decent value context: 8/50 overall in 2023 ADAC with value 13/50
  • Dry braking Strong in 5 of 6 tests
    Details
  • Wet braking Strong in 4 of 6 tests
    Details
  • Wet handling Strong in 3 of 6 tests
    Details
  • Aquaplaning resistance Moderate in 2 of 6 tests
    Details

Performance Weaknesses

  • Aquaplaning Resistance (especially curved) & Standing Water Strong
    Details
    • Last place curved aquaplaning in 2024 AutoBild Summer Tire Test (4.18 m/s², 21/21, +18.4% from best)
    • Bottom-tier curved aquaplaning in 2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test (3.2 m/s², 13/16, +13.5% from best) and 2023 ADAC (3.3 m/s², 33/50, +17.5%)
    • Straight aquaplaning extremes include 16/16 in 2024 ADAC straight aqua (73.8 km/h, +6% from best) and 16/22 in 2022 Auto Bild (83.6 km/h, +5.2%)
  • Efficiency: Rolling Resistance / Fuel Consumption Strong
    Details
    • 15/16 fuel consumption in 2026 ADAC (5.8 l/100km, +7.4% from best) and 43/50 fuel consumption in 2023 ADAC (5.9 l/100km, +7.3%)
    • Rolling resistance consistently lower-tier: 16/21 in 2024 AutoBild (8.46 kg/t, +13.1%), 14/22 in 2022 Auto Bild (8.51 kg/t, +49.6%), 9/13 in 2023 Tire Reviews (+25.4%)
  • NVH/Comfort Variability Minor
    Details
    • Last place noise in 2024 ADAC (72.6 dB, 16/16, +3.7% from best)
    • Below-average subjective comfort in 2023 Tire Reviews (90 pts, 11/13, +10% from best)
  • Rolling resistance Strong in 3 of 6 tests
    Details
  • Steering feel Moderate in 2 of 6 tests
    Details

Do owners agree with the tests?

Every tester write-up on the Kumho Ecsta HS52 (6 tests) and 24 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.

Where owners and testers agree

  • Dry grip strength in 1 of 6 tests 13 praise, 1 criticise of 24 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Dry handling strength in 2 of 6 tests 10 praise, 0 criticise of 24 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Value for money strength in 1 of 6 tests 7 praise, 1 criticise of 24 reviews · Read those reviews

Raised by owners, not by any test of this tire

Every test, newest first 8

Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.

2026 1 test
P9 of 16 Beat 47% of the field

2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test

ADAC 225/50 R17

The updated Ecsta HS52 scores well on wet roads but only fair overall because of weak dry-road performance and increased weight. According to the summary, dry-road steering feedback and precision are merely adequate; wet grip and braking are good. Environmental performance is fair due to high abrasion and heavy weight, despite good predicted mileage and efficiency. ADAC lists short dry braking, good wet handling and good mileage as strengths, but notes deficits in dry handling, aquaplaning behavior and slightly elevated abrasion and weight.

WeakFuel Consumption WinnerContinental PremiumContact 7

2024 3 tests
P4 of 20 Beat 79% of the field

2024 AutoBild Summer Tire Test

Auto Bild 205/55 R16

Good.

StrongDry BrakingWet BrakingWet Handling WeakCurved Aquaplaning WinnerMichelin Primacy 4+

P3 of 16 Beat 87% of the field

2024 ADAC Summer Tire Test

ADAC 215/55 R17 gut (Good)

The Kumho Ecsta HS52 earns a solid rating in driving safety, providing good steering feedback and secure handling at the limit on dry roads, complemented by a short braking distance. On wet roads, it impresses with its braking performance and wet handling, offering good grip and easy, secure maneuverability. However, its aquaplaning performance is rated as average. Overall, the Kumho receives a good rating for wet performance. In terms of environmental impact, the Kumho achieves only an average outcome. While it scores well in projected mileage and wear, its higher tire weight results in only average efficiency. The sustainability of this tire, produced in China/Korea, is rated as sufficient.

StrongWet Braking - ConcreteWearValue WeakStraight AquaNoise WinnerContinental PremiumContact 7

2023 2 tests
P8 of 50 Beat 86% of the field

2023 ADAC Summer Tire Test

ADAC 205/55 R16

Driving safety: The Kumho Ecsta HS52 secures an overall good rating for driving safety. The HS52 offers the driver only satisfactory feedback on the steering wheel on dry roads, but is still safe at the limit. Its braking distance is classified as good compared to the test field. On wet roads, the Kumho Ecsta HS52 scores in the braking distance measurements, longitudinal aquaplaning and wet handling with good grip and safe drivability. However, its transverse aquaplaning behavior is only rated as satisfactory. Overall, the Kumho secured a good rating for wet performance. Environmental balance: When it comes to the environmental balance, the Kumho does not get more than a satisfactory result. Although it scores in terms of predicted mileage and abrasion, but offers only satisfactory efficiency due to the higher tire weight. In terms of sustainability, the tire produced in China is rated as sufficient.

WinnerGoodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2

P8 of 13 Beat 42% of the field

Tire Reviews Best Summer Touring Tires

Tire Reviews 205/55 R16 Tested by Tire Reviews Recommended

The Kumho Ecsta HS52 was the fastest tire of the group around dry handling, though the margins were so small in the dry it didn't really affect the overall result. It was also very good in dry braking, and had great aquaplaning resistance. A very impressive tire, and it would have finished higher if it wasn't for a high rolling resistance and average wet performance.

StrongDry HandlingSubj. Dry Handling WinnerContinental PremiumContact 7

2022 2 tests

Back to the Kumho Ecsta HS52 overview

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