Kumho Ecsta KU39 Reviews - Page 10

Given 91% while driving a Nissan R33 Skyline GtS25T (225/40 R18) on mostly country roads for 4,000 spirited miles
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)
Helpful 7 - tire reviewed on February 23, 2011
Given 87% while driving a Saab Automobile 93 Vector Sport 150 Tdi Saloon (225/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 400 spirited miles
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.
Helpful 7 - tire reviewed on February 11, 2011
Given 33% while driving a BMW E60 535d (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
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
Helpful 7 - tire reviewed on February 4, 2011
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Given 91% while driving a Vauxhall (205/55 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 1,780 average miles
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.
Helpful 9 - tire reviewed on January 25, 2011
Given 90% while driving a SEAT Ibiza Cupra TDi (205/40 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 15 spirited miles
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.
Helpful 7 - tire reviewed on December 7, 2010