73%
- BMW
- 225/40 R18
- 350,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Spirited
very soft tires. Exellent grip, but weak sides, even low impact forms side bubble.
Kumho Ecsta KU31 Owner Reviews
Review this tireWhat owners say summarised from 143 reviews
Dry grip and value are the clearest strengths of the Kumho Ecsta KU31 in generally positive owner feedback. Wet grip also attracts substantially more praise than criticism, though some drivers find it less reassuring in rain. Tread life and noise are usually viewed favorably, with later-use accounts including good mileage, but both also draw a sizeable minority of complaints. A smaller group reports increasing noise as the tread wears, sometimes alongside uneven wear. Most returning owners remain positive, while two are less satisfied in later accounts, so there is no uniform ageing pattern. Several replacement-mileage accounts support useful life without establishing one dependable lifespan.
What owners mention most counted across 141 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 165 ratings
- Owner score 76%
- Dry Grip 83%
- Road Feedback 77%
- Handling 76%
- Wet Grip 75%
- Comfort 74%
- Wear 72%
Kumho Ecsta KU31 Reviews - Page 7
Score spread across 143 written reviews
79%
- Saab Automobile 9 3 SE Turbo
- 205/50 R16 V
- 1,500 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
I was recommended these tires by the tire seller. I'm impressed with the handling and grip in the wet.
I had to stand on the brakes in an emergency 2 days ago and the tires held on really well.
I've about 1500 miles on them since new and no appreciable wear showing on them.
I'm about to but them on my wife's car as a result of the experience I've had with them!
I had to stand on the brakes in an emergency 2 days ago and the tires held on really well.
I've about 1500 miles on them since new and no appreciable wear showing on them.
I'm about to but them on my wife's car as a result of the experience I've had with them!
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
90%
- MG ZTT 135 diesel
- 225/45 R18 W
- 5,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
I bought a set of these tires after reading reviews on this site. I had a set of rainsport 2 fitted and really liked the tires, they just seemed to wear out quite quick, mainley the fronts, Up to yet i've only changed the front tires but I was very supprised at the amount of grip the front has both in the dry and the wet. It is quite easy to spin the wheels up but I find that if you use the the power right you get loads of grip, The grip in the wet is as good if not better than the Uniroyal's. I think the rear one's will need to be fitted soon so new ones will go on the front and the older one's on the rear, looking forward to see how they work when fitted all round. I would and will buy these tires again,
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86%
- Honda Prelude 2.2vtec
- 205/50 R16 W
- 22 miles
- Mostly Motorways
- Spirited
Up to 22,500 kms, approx, now with about another 6,000 - 8,000 k's of rubber left on these and have worn extremely evenly - rotated every 7K. Definitely shoeing my iron horse with KU31's again. They give great feedback enabling excellent driving predictability; stable and constant contact in wet or dry; cut through standing water without hesitation; have never aquaplaned. Brake in a true straight line. Are getting a bit noisy now though, but only noticed this after 15,000 kms. I drive long country distances interstate, (1,000's of kms per journey), regularly, on uneven Australian secondary back routes. With little to no traffic I can happily keep up a steady 130 - 150 kms/hour on these road surfaces without bouncing all over the shop. Honda gives a slightly hard sporty ride, but these tires are forgiving while instilling driver confidence with their firm footprint on the bitumen. Can cruise corners very comfortably 30 to 40 kms/hr above the sign-posted recommended speed, without any kick on the apex. Have never let me down. Admittedly, I have never driven them on ice or snow. My tire wear seems better than what some others have posted here, but I think is probably more due to car's ATTS suspension ( ), which saves tires. Obviously, wear will vary depending upon vehicle, maintenance and driving style. I agree with previous poster that these tires are under classified as they punch well above their weight in terms of price and classification - are up there with grand touring/medium performance tires. Well done Kumho.
84%
- Mercedes Benz C280 sport
- 245/40 R17 W
- 11,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
Had a set of these tires fitted to my mercedes c280 sport 12 months ago and I have covered 11000 miles during that period. The wear rate has been excellent and they will easily cover another 6/7000 miles. Grip has been good both in the dry and in the wet. However road noise is above average and this is the only thing that is a negative. Overall I am really pleased with them and would definitely buy again.
87%
- Audi A8
- 255/40 R19 W
- 1,000 miles
- Mostly Country Roads
- Average
Fitted these to my Audi A8 after reviewing the tires on this site.
I have had them on now for about 1000 miles and have to say I am really really happy with them so far. Grippy (wet+dry), low road noise and well priced.
I'll update or write another review to comment on wear when I've had the tires longer.
I had read another previous review where someone had put them onto the VW Phaeton (essentially the same car as the A8) and his review was mixed.
Given they are at least £50/tire less than the nearest competitor I thought I'd take a shot on these.
I understand that these tires were designed in the UK for UK roads (dry and wet) and so far I'm really happy - dry grip is up there with any tire I've had before and wet grip is excellent - never leaving me needing more.
For comparison I've had Dunlop 9000's, Pirelli 6000's, Bridgestone Potenza's & the Falken FK's before and these are in the same league as all of them so far with the exception of wear which I can't comment on yet.
I have had them on now for about 1000 miles and have to say I am really really happy with them so far. Grippy (wet+dry), low road noise and well priced.
I'll update or write another review to comment on wear when I've had the tires longer.
I had read another previous review where someone had put them onto the VW Phaeton (essentially the same car as the A8) and his review was mixed.
Given they are at least £50/tire less than the nearest competitor I thought I'd take a shot on these.
I understand that these tires were designed in the UK for UK roads (dry and wet) and so far I'm really happy - dry grip is up there with any tire I've had before and wet grip is excellent - never leaving me needing more.
For comparison I've had Dunlop 9000's, Pirelli 6000's, Bridgestone Potenza's & the Falken FK's before and these are in the same league as all of them so far with the exception of wear which I can't comment on yet.
80%
- Mazda Mx5 2008
- 215/40 R17 W
- 13,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
Value for money tires! Gives you more than you expect. Takes some time to warm them but then they grip very nice. I'd buy them again
74%
- Mercedes Benz c43
- 245/40 R17 W
- 19,000 miles
- Mostly Motorways
- Average
yesterday replaced as rear 245/40 and front n/side 225/45 at legal limit and getting lively in flood conditions. C43s are famous for eating tires despite esp (pity i don't have it as well)being always on.
bit disappointed not to have made 20000 but only 500 short, similar to conti's- real budgets probably last longer but may be from adjusted driving style.
I regard as premium and wanted to replace like for like but boy has the price gone up. Bit like Skoda, used to be an interesting alternative but now just another top product. For next 10 months (20k) back to cheapos, will I regret?
bit disappointed not to have made 20000 but only 500 short, similar to conti's- real budgets probably last longer but may be from adjusted driving style.
I regard as premium and wanted to replace like for like but boy has the price gone up. Bit like Skoda, used to be an interesting alternative but now just another top product. For next 10 months (20k) back to cheapos, will I regret?
87%
- Vauxhall Astra VXR
- 235/35 R19 W
- 6,500 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Spirited
Having bought a set of these after reading some good reviews. I am actually quite surprised at how well they last overall in all conditions. After only having them fitted for a few weeks, the heavy snow hit Scotland, and I was very surprised that they managed to get me about quite happilly and never got stuck at all.
Dry grip is very good and on par with the conti sport contact 2's I had on before hand easilly. Wet grip is very good too the car is able to comfortably put all the power down in 2nd and 3rd gear with no cutting in from the TC.
I have had these fitted for 8 months, all of which have been spirited/town driving, and the fronts still have around 5.5mm of tread left, and the rears are hardly broken in. Would def recommend these.
Dry grip is very good and on par with the conti sport contact 2's I had on before hand easilly. Wet grip is very good too the car is able to comfortably put all the power down in 2nd and 3rd gear with no cutting in from the TC.
I have had these fitted for 8 months, all of which have been spirited/town driving, and the fronts still have around 5.5mm of tread left, and the rears are hardly broken in. Would def recommend these.
79%
- Renault Clio 1.4
- 225/45 R17
- 1,000 miles
- Mostly Town
- Easy Going
Very good tire for the Clio 1.4, for the price you cannot go wrong only issue they are very noisy after about 50mph.
Had a set of pirelli 6000s on before and were rubbish compared to this - if you can get these at a good price there a no brainer
Had a set of pirelli 6000s on before and were rubbish compared to this - if you can get these at a good price there a no brainer
81%
- Volkswagen
- 225/45 R17 W
- 15,000 miles
- Mostly Country Roads
- Spirited
Some of the published results and comparisons on this tire are a bit harsh, in my experience of 3x sets and 15k miles.
These KU31's can be bought for c£65 a tire for 225/45/R17 and to say they would challenge a ContiSport or PilotSport toe-to-toe is unfair - they are half the price after all!
Pros: Cheap, quiet, last forever (my rears have done 12k miles, w/5+mm tread still left!), comfortable, excellent dry grip...
Cons: Grip can be a bit random when 'cold', wet grip not up there with the big boys*,
* again, these are half price, align your expectations accordingly, or spend twice the money! And a Porsche 911 [996] C4S couldn't shake me on a wet March run, so wet grip isn't 'bad', per se.
I'd buy them again and as long as you aren't pretending to be Colin McRae in the wet, you'll be fine.
These KU31's can be bought for c£65 a tire for 225/45/R17 and to say they would challenge a ContiSport or PilotSport toe-to-toe is unfair - they are half the price after all!
Pros: Cheap, quiet, last forever (my rears have done 12k miles, w/5+mm tread still left!), comfortable, excellent dry grip...
Cons: Grip can be a bit random when 'cold', wet grip not up there with the big boys*,
* again, these are half price, align your expectations accordingly, or spend twice the money! And a Porsche 911 [996] C4S couldn't shake me on a wet March run, so wet grip isn't 'bad', per se.
I'd buy them again and as long as you aren't pretending to be Colin McRae in the wet, you'll be fine.
87%
- Skoda Octavia vRS
- 225/45 R17 W
- 25,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Spirited
The tires have great dry grip and wet grip is fine. They have lasted 25000 miles so far (now on 3mm marker) which I see as great for fairly powerful FWD car.
They are as good if not better that the Conti Sport Contact OE tires the car came with.
Road noise is low, but as with all tires it gets a little louder as they wear, however even at 3mm it is good.
I am now looking to replace the fronts for the same tire again.
A very sound choice if your budget cannot reach premium tires prices.
They are as good if not better that the Conti Sport Contact OE tires the car came with.
Road noise is low, but as with all tires it gets a little louder as they wear, however even at 3mm it is good.
I am now looking to replace the fronts for the same tire again.
A very sound choice if your budget cannot reach premium tires prices.
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