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Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 View Gallery (1)
195-225/55-60 R16 6 sizes 2014

Kumho Ecsta HM KH31

The Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 is a Touring Summer tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

6.0
Tire Reviews Score Based on User Reviews
Limited Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
81%
Wet Grip
73%
Road Feedback
76%
Handling
74%
Wear
72%
Comfort
78%
Buy again
74%
27 Reviews
75% Average
229,618 miles driven
2 Tests (avg: 13th)
Kumho Ecsta HM KH31

Kumho Ecsta HM KH31

Summer Mid-Range
BETA
6 / 10
Based on User Reviews · Limited 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
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 2
Publications: 2
Period: 2012
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 27
Avg Rating: 75.3%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.08
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
2012 European Summer Tire Test - 205/55 R16 ADAC 2012 205/55 R16 15/14 0 metrics
2012 ACE Touring Summer Tire Test ACE 2012 205/55 R16 10/14 0 metrics
2
Tests
13th
Average
10th
Best
15th
Worst
Latest Tire Test Results
10th/14
Somewhat weak in the wet, high wear.
Size Fuel Wet Noise
16 inch
195/55 R16 87 V C C 71
195/55R16 87 V C C 68
225/55R16 95 W D B 68
225/60R16 98 V D B 71
195/55R16 87 V C C 68
225/55R16 95 W D B 68
View All Sizes and EU Label Scores for the Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 >>

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Top 3 Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 Reviews

Given 57% while driving a Mercedes Benz E320 CDI (225/45 R17) on mostly town for 3,000 average miles
Fitted to E320 2004 saloon on the rear. The outside edges were bald within 3000 miles (5 months) of non heavy driving. The worst wear I have ever experienced.
September 27, 2018
Given 49% while driving a Fiat croma (215/55 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
Very bad tires. The pattern is still good and tires looks like 1 year old but sidewalls and geometry of the tire went off. Also, the looks to much like plastic tire and do not hold well on a wet surface. They were on the car when I bought it and I was very happy when I throw them away. Never again...
April 10, 2017
Given 77% while driving a Vauxhall (195/45 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 9,000 spirited miles
I bought 2 of this tire about 8-10000miles ago and I'm having to replace them both now
This has nothing to do with the tire at all I've never had 1 complaint about it yet!!
The way the tire sticks to the road is unbelievable it helps you know the condition of the road whilst driving and throwing it about
Now even thought they haven't lasted me ages this is purely down to my driving (I'm 18 and not long been past my test) the car gets thrown into corners hard and it never even budges
I've already ordered my 2nd set and don't intend on changing till I drive another car that sticks better!!
July 15, 2015

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Latest Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 Reviews

Given 69% while driving a Peugeot 306 (195/50 R15) on a combination of roads for 20,000 spirited miles
Great tires in the dry, and better than budgets in the wet. These lasted about 20,000 miles so not bad on the front of a peugeot 306 either. Much better than the Rikens I had before, and we shall see how they were compared to the Yokohama Paradas I have replaced them with!
January 9, 2014
Given 67% while driving a BMW E38 7 Series (235/60 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 20,000 spirited miles
Not a bad tire for the price, certainly better than the Avons they replaced. Good in snow when quite new and quiet on the motorway. Just about made 20000 miles, about 7000 of that towing a car trailer to meetings. They have been driven hard and I have no real complaints. That said however I am due to replace them and on recommendation I am opting for the Nokian Z G2.
December 2, 2013
Given 80% while driving a Chevrolet Malibu LTZ (225/55 R17 V) on mostly motorways for 40,000 average miles
My Ecsta HM KH31 are just shy of 40,000 miles, are good for another 8,000 - 10,000 miles. These are OEM tires on my Chevy Malibu LTZ, I do 80% highway and 20% city and do around 1,800 - 3,700 miles a month. These tires hold well in extremely hot Dubai weather and provide very good road handling and breaking feel even while panic breaking at 85mph. Can't comment on wet weather performance as it only rains here for a couple of weeks and the roads always dry up quickly due to the heat. The best thing about these tires are that they are reasonably quiet provided they are rotated regularly. My service center for some reason skipped the periodic rotation at 25,000 miles which resulted in uneven wear and an increase in noise, after I got them rotated there was a noticeable reduction in noise. Would recommend these tires as they provide surprisingly good handling in dry and low road noise for the price.
October 28, 2013
Given 91% while driving a Ford Focus mk2 (205/50 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 12,000 spirited miles
Put two of these on the rear of my Focus replacing 2 Continental Sport Contact 2s which were on from new. These were just a little more than half the cost of the Continentals. Around 1,000 miles later a pot hole ripped 2 tires to pieces on one side, so I replaced these, and the remaining Conti with KH31s.

These tires have been on a wide variety of roads from gravel to muddy country lanes along with the usual town and motorway runs. I'm very happy with them overall, I enjoy driving and I like to push the car. I've yet to make these tires break away in the corners, wet or dry. The grip is excellent in all conditions (even decent enough for a summer tire in snow!) and the car feels no different to how it did before on Continental. I've covered 13k since putting them on and there is plenty of tread left yet. Road noise hasn't been an issue either.

Overall I'm very happy with the tires and will fit them again. I really can't substantiate any of the comments in the negative reviews, these tires have been spot on for me.
September 30, 2013
Given 99% while driving a Peugeot 106 gti (185/55 R14) on mostly town for 2,000 spirited miles
I have a Peugeot 106 GTI and due to the awkward wheel size there are very few true performance options available. I carried out a lot of research before deciding on the KH31's. There was a lot of conflicting information on other sites and this one also, but I think those that have truly tried a new set on all 4 corners of a car will agree with how superb these tires are overall.

They were one of the cheaper options that I was considering but they certainly do not suffer as a result. Grip is excellent in both the wet and dry and is hard to unstick, especially compared to the previous set of non-name rubber on the wheels.

I can't comment too much on the wear as they have been on for approx 2k miles but they seem to be wearing very evenly and at a slow pace at the moment.

My car being so light at only 940kgs it might be more forgiving on the tires downfalls if it hasn't any and they may perform differently on a large heavy saloon for example, but they are perfect on my light car.

I would thoroughly recommend these tires and cannot understand the occasional bad review they get but I guess that's the case for any product.

I will most definitely be renewing with another set once these wear and I can't say higher praise than that.
August 14, 2013
Given 56% while driving a Nissan 200sx (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 0 average miles
These came with a used 200sx in the front in average condition, with similar tires from a competing manufacturer in the rear. Overall grip was below average in the dry and quite poor in the wet - I'd have sudden and severe understeer in cornering (despite the rears being totally worn out) and they locked under only moderate braking.

Road noise was also an issue, the roar was louder than my aftermarket exhaust.
May 12, 2013
Given 82% while driving a Peugeot (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 8 spirited miles
Better than the Goodyears and Accelera i've had and better than any budget tires i've ever used.
March 27, 2013
Given 100% while driving a Peugeot 307 (205/55 R16 H) on track for 0 spirited miles
Very good tires!
March 19, 2013
Given 79% while driving a Renault Megane (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 10 average miles
Great tires for the price. Awesome grip in the wet and dry! Definitely would buy again. I don't understand people's bad reviews on this tire because I have had no problems as yet!
January 26, 2013
Given 23% while driving a Ford Mondeo (205/55 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 6,000 average miles
These tires turned My Mondeo from a sure footed, safe car into a nightmare, there is poor grip in the dry and grip is so bad in the wet I only use the car if I cannot walk.
January 26, 2013
Given 81% while driving a Jaguar XJ6 (225/60 R16 W) on mostly country roads for 4,000 spirited miles
Fitted a set of 4 of these as the car was purchased with a rubbish selection of old, leaky and worn tires. Of course the car was transformed but like all Kumho tires, they are very well balanced. They roll smoothly and quietly, appropriate for this car! Being very heavy and soft, the handling of the car isnt brilliant anyway, but these stick to the road and the car feels very confident, it wont easily overcome the tires in normal or even spirited driving. ABS cuts in very late too which shows they can perform even on a large car. Off the line traction is great with no wheelspin. At speed there is no vibration and no tramlining, which these cars are prone too. I like Kumho tires and these are no exception, also great value in this expensive size, highly recommended. They are also very resistant to aquaplaning and they look great too. Another plus is that the sidewalls look great with tire shine on!
January 14, 2013
Given 61% while driving a Chevrolet Tacuma (195/60 R15 H) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
Very noisy tires. I'm very disappointed, next time will try KH17.
September 29, 2012
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