The Kumho Ecsta KU39 receives substantially more praise than criticism for dry and wet grip, quiet running, comfort and value. Handling and steering feedback are also generally liked, although they attract fewer comments than grip. Tread life draws more favorable than unfavorable reports, with some mid-life and end-of-life accounts supporting good service, but around one in ten reviews raise wear concerns. Most accounts do not identify a stage of use, so they cannot establish a typical lifespan or consistent grip retention. Repeat reviews give varied experiences, and changes in scores alone do not show a common deterioration pattern.
What owners mention most counted across 114 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 125 ratings
Owner score79%
Dry Grip86%
Comfort81%
Road Feedback80%
Wet Grip78%
Handling76%
Wear73%
Kumho Ecsta KU39 Reviews - Page 10
Score spread across 112 written reviews
miles
Review stage
86%
Member
SEAT
225/40 R18
2,000 miles
Mostly Motorways
Spirited
Previously used Kumho KU31 which I found great for the money - and quiet!
The new KU39's are better! Only had on for 1000miles so can't comment on wear but the best bit about them are the noise. This is tire is very comfortable and quiet! Hands great in both wet and dry. No complaints and I will continue to use Kumho tires. Only cost £90 fitted p/corner.
I replaced second hand well worn Toyo T1Rs and the comfort is the biggest difference. Yes there will be tires that grip better, last longer, but none will do the job better that these for the price.... or comfort.
I drive a Volvo V70 2.4T 200bhp very hard and have previously had a set of Goodyear F1's then Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta's on the car. It's a big but powerful estate and demands a lot from the tires.
The Goodyears were good but wore out very quickly (10k on the fronts) and became very noisy. Then came the Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta's and WOW what a difference. Grip was fantastic in wet and dry but again wore out very quickly (8k on the fronts)and became very noisy.
So time to replace them and I wanted a change in tread pattern from the wave patterns to a nice standard 5 cirecumfrential block tire. Then.......I chose Kumho Ecsta Le Sport KU39 tires extra loan and all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW!
Absolutelt class. They are quiet, comfortable, responsive and grip it fantastic in wet and dry. I also pull a caravan that is 1200kg and have just encountered a 1 in 4 hill start in the rain with the caravan on, so total laden weight of car & caravan was in excess of 3 tonnes and it pulled away fine and traction control didn't even kick in as they was so much grip.
Basically, you can see that I know my tires having done the Goodyears then Vredesteins and what a difference the Kumho's make. It's like a different car!
Wear seems ok but only done 1200 miles so far, so will keep you posted and a £100 fitted per corner on 235/40/18 extra load on a Y rating, then you can't grumble at that.
I would give 100% all round but can't comment on the brealaway point of the tire yet as I haven't pushed them but don''t think there will be much point as the grip is too good.
Go on...treat yourself and buy a set!!!!
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
I have to admit I wasn't expecting the maximum performance of these tires because I came from the (briljant) Michelin Pilot sports,
but I'm just baffled of these tires
first note has to go to the extremly well balanced and quite factor,
they are silent and absolutley perfeclty manufactured.
Grip is heaps better then expected and must say they are a definte re-buy,
to be honest I'm thinking of ditching the semi-worn bridgestone potenza's on the rear and get new kuhmo's on the rear also, just completely amazed by these tires.
Car type - Nissan Skyline R33 (338HP)
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Got the tires on a 150 Saab Diesel. Replaced Michelin Primacy, the Kumho are almost exactly half the price. In wet and ,noticeably in the damp, these provide more grip. There are certain roundabouts where the front would enter into a slide with the michelin at speed. The Kumhos grip more, haven't had the courage to force the issue because the speeds are getting higher. In the dry my traction control kicks in the same as michelin.
Tires are not noticably different in terms of noise or feedback. Cannot comment on wear as only had on for 10 days. Have ordered again for the rear, very impressed.
Crap especially in wet , make the car very tail happy / scary, cant be compared to the michelin pilot sport or goodyear asymmetrics i had before , on the upside they are a quiet tire and comfortable on the road, buti cant live with the lack of grip , i will be changeing these soon, even though i have only had them for a few months
91%
Member
Vauxhall
205/55 R16 W
1,780 miles
A Combination of Roads
Average
After the first bout of snow and ice in November 2010 i found that my previous tires (Bridgestone Potenza's had been damaged on the front nearside. In truth i was looking to change them (2.2mm tread)as they were performing extremely badly on my Vauxhall Astra. I looked around to try and identify a tire that would give me a good balance between grip in the wet and the dry and my biggest bugbear tire noise. I eventually settled on a pair of Kumho Ecsta KU 39 (Y rated) at the unbelievable price of £68.00 a corner. I did not have to wait long to test them out as two days later the bad weather returned and i was not disappointed.
The grip in the dry was exceptional a clear case of point and shoot; point the car into the corner and it would hold on without the slightest suggestion that the front end was going to step out. With my previous selections the Bridgestone Potenzas and prior to them the NCT 5's, when reaching the limits both tires seemed nervy, edgy and your heart was at times in your mouth. Likewise in the wet the Kumhos give the driver a sense of assurance that nothing will occur without them letting the driver now in advance. The Potenzas in particular had a propensity to break awy in the wet without warning and most disconcertingly in quite innocuous situations. Probably the biggest compliment i can pay the Kumhos is i feel totally connected with both the car and the road since they have been fitted an experience i have had with any of our cars (mine and the wifes) for perhaps 5 years or so.
Some of my colleagues suggested when i first got the Kumhos that i had taken a backward step from the Kumhos well 1780 miles in i would beg to differ. Tire wear seems at this stage to be better than both the potenzas and the NCT's (time will only tell for sure) but the comfort and tire noise running the Kumhos blow the others out of the water.
How the tires have performed to date has made me a massive fan of this tire to the extent that on this car i will stick with this combination in the future. Add to this the unbelievable price for such a high quality tire i'm a true convert.
Got two of these fitted to the front of my car for just over £160 fully fitted. Previously had Pirelli P Zero Nero's and WOW what an improvement over the Pirelli's the Kumho's are! Grip is excellent in the wet and I've never had any feedback from the traction control when accelerating hard. Cornering feels secure and the tires seems to just grip and grip no matter how hard you throw the car into the bend.
Started to wear after 15,000 which is just under the 18,000 I got from the Pirelli's but the Kumho's are £30 cheaper per tire so balance out. The rim protection is also a bonus and very welcome protection for the Cupra alloys. The Pirelli's offered no such protection and minor contact with the curb resulted in a damaged wheel.
I'm planning to replace the rears to Kumho's as soon as they begin to wear. Highly recommended.
