Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Michelin Primacy 5
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 41
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 62
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 finished ahead 2 times and the Primacy 5 not once. The Ecsta Sport PS72 stopped 4.6% shorter in the wet; the Primacy 5 had 12.7% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 if you want the best blend of dry/wet grip, sharper steering and shorter braking distances for enthusiastic driving. Choose the Michelin Primacy 5 if your priority is quiet, comfortable, efficient everyday touring-and especially if you regularly drive at speed in heavy rain where aquaplaning resistance is the deciding safety factor.
Where the Ecsta Sport PS72 is stronger
- Stronger dry grip performance: shorter braking and faster handling in both tests (e.g., 37.1 m vs 38.4 m dry braking; ~1-1.4 s quicker dry handling)
- Stronger wet grip performance: better wet braking and wet handling in both tests (e.g., 44.3 m vs 46.5 m wet braking in Motor)
- Higher lateral grip/feedback in the wet: clear advantage in wet circle and subjective wet confidence
Where the Primacy 5 is stronger
- Better aquaplaning resistance in both straight and curved tests (+~7.8% straight, +~12% curved), aiding high-speed motorway rain safety
- More comfortable ride quality (subjective comfort 6.9 vs 6.1 in both tests)
- Quieter on the road (lower measured noise in both tests)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Primacy 5 at a glance
| Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Gap | Primacy 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won2 shared tests | 2 | 0 | |
| Dry6 measurements | 6 | The Ecsta Sport PS72 stopped 3.4% shorter in the dry (2 tests) | 0 |
| Wet11 measurements | 7 | The Ecsta Sport PS72 stopped 4.6% shorter in the wet (2 tests) | 4 |
| Comfort4 measurements | 0 | The Primacy 5 was 1 dB quieter (2 tests) | 4 |
| Value2 measurements | 0 | The Primacy 5 had 12.7% lower rolling resistance (2 tests) | 2 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.2/10 | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 0.4 | 8.8/10 |
| Owner rating41 and 62 reviews | 84% | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 2 points | 82% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 82% | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 4 points | 78% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 86 | 40 sizes made in both | 88 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 2 tests in 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Field | Primacy 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Motor Summer Tyre Test | P4 of 9 | P5 of 9 | |
| The BEST Summer Tyres for 2026 Tested and Rated | P4 of 12 | P6 of 12 |
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Ecsta Sport PS72
Primacy 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Ecsta Sport PS72
Primacy 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Ecsta Sport PS72
Primacy 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Primacy 5 82% from 62. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Gap | Primacy 5 | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.11 | 3.4% | 38.4 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 73.68 | 1.6% | 74.88 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 7.3% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 36.34 | 4.6% | 38.12 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 70.73 | 2.7% | 72.68 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 5.1% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 0.76 | 10% | 0.69 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 12.22 | 5.3% | 12.91 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 71.42 | 7.8% | 76.99 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 3.32 | 12% | 3.72 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| scored | 13.1% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 68.75 | 1 dB | 67.75 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 4.47 | 12.7% | 3.91 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 9.2 and the Primacy 5 8.8 out of 10.
| Ecsta Sport PS72 | Category | Primacy 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | Dry | 62 | ||
| 88 | Wet | 77 | ||
| 35 | Comfort | 76 | ||
| 49 | Value | 92 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Ecsta Sport PS72 | Category | Primacy 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 8.5 | ||
| 8.8 | Wet Grip | 8.7 | ||
| 8.6 | Road Feedback | 7.6 | ||
| 8.6 | Handling | 7.8 | ||
| 8.3 | Wear | 9.1 | ||
| 7.7 | Comfort | 8.4 | ||
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Primacy 5 82% from 62. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
- 84%from 41 reviews
- 82%would buy again
- 160,312 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 highly overall (average 81.6%), most often praising its strong value for money and genuinely impressive dry performance, with confident handling and high-speed stability. Wet grip also comes through as a notable strength for around a third of reviewers, helping it feel safe and predictable in poor weather. Comfort and road noise are generally seen as good for a performance tyre, though a smaller but meaningful group find it noisier or less refined than expected. The main recurring downside is vibration or balancing/out-of-round issues mentioned by around one in six owners, with tread life only getting mixed, limited commentary so far.
- Excellent value for money versus premium rivals
- Strong dry grip with lots of confidence
- Sharp, capable dry handling through corners
- Stable and planted at motorway/high speeds
- Vibration/balancing or out-of-round issues at speed
- Can be noisy on some surfaces or at higher speeds
- Tread life concerns from a minority (seems to wear quickly for some)
Summarised by AI from 38 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 41 Ecsta Sport PS72 reviewsBought them to replace Hankook ventus prime 4 (Touring type of tyres), did a bunch of research before buying, they were really cheap ! So i bought them, you notice the difference in handling and cornering immediately, yes they are UHP and they deliver on that, not that the hankook's were inferior but the Kumhos are a different experience during fast cornering. I drive mainly on mountain passes, they stick like glue on the tarmac they hold well on the wet, haven't drove hard yet on really heavy rain but they seem to do great, no aquaplaning as of now. Sidewalls are not hard as a rock but they aren't soft, they don't deform during cornering, riding on them is nice and comfortable. The only negative as a first impression is this, went from a 68db tyre to a 71db on the highway noise is significant worse with those Kumho, you can feel and hear every imperfection of the road, if you care about the noise buy the version with the foam inside I think they call it K version or something.
Michelin Primacy 5
- 82%from 62 reviews
- 78%would buy again
- 378,963 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Michelin Primacy 5 highly (82% average), most often praising its notably comfortable, refined ride and strong wet-weather confidence. Around three quarters of reviewers mention noise, and while many find it very quiet, a sizeable minority report intrusive droning on certain road surfaces. Grip and efficiency are commonly highlighted as strengths (especially in the wet and for rolling resistance), but around one in five owners feel it sacrifices dry handling and steering precision compared with sportier alternatives.
- Very comfortable, smooth ride quality
- Low road noise for a touring tyre (especially at speed)
- Strong wet grip and reassuring wet traction
- Low rolling resistance / good efficiency
- Can be noisy or drone on rougher road surfaces
- Soft, less confident dry handling in corners
- Less direct steering feel / reduced precision
Summarised by AI from 62 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 62 Primacy 5 reviewsThe tires are very silent and comfortable. Despite this they are very grippy in the dry and wet and give a good feedback. Driven in 40+ degrees in summer until now in rainy 5 degrees autumn and they make the drive 100% secure.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 86 sizes of the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 88 of the Primacy 5, 40 of them made in both.
| Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Primacy 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 86 sizes, 17 to 21 inch | 88 sizes, 16 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 40 sizes 205/45 R17205/50 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17235/45 R17235/55 R17235/65 R17245/45 R17and 28 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A95%B5% | A100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C77%B10%A8%D5% | B88%C12% |
| EU label noise | 70-74 dB B100% | 70-72 dB B95%A5% |
| On the market since | - | 2025 |
| Replaced | Kumho Ecsta PS91 | Michelin Primacy 4+ (2022) |
| Awards | Winner: Summer Value Performer (17in and above) (WhatTyre, 2026/27) | Highly Recommended: Best Tyres for Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Best Tyres for Large Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This is an interesting head-to-head because the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 and Michelin Primacy 5 are designed with different priorities: the Kumho is a max-performance summer tyre chasing grip and steering response, while the Michelin is a premium-touring summer tyre tuned for comfort, refinement and efficiency. Both were tested back-to-back in the same 225/45 R17 summer tyre group tests for 2026, which makes the trade-offs especially clear.
Across both shared tests, the pattern repeats: the Kumho is the more “driver's” tyre with stronger wet and dry grip-based results (braking, handling, lateral grip), while the Michelin plays the long-game with better aquaplaning security, quieter/softer road manners, and meaningfully lower rolling resistance. The result is that Kumho beats Michelin on pace and stopping power, but Michelin counters with day-to-day comfort and motorway rain stability.
Conclusion
If you care most about grip and control at normal road speeds (and especially on damp/wet roads that aren't deeply flooded), the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 is the stronger performer in the shared data. It consistently out-brakes and out-handles the Primacy 5 in both conditions: dry braking improves by about 1.3 m (37.1 m vs 38.4 m) and wet braking by about 2.2 m (44.3 m vs 46.5 m) in the Motor test, while wet circle/lateral grip advantages are large (e.g., 0.761 vs 0.692 in Motor). Subjective feedback also aligns with the numbers: the Kumho is repeatedly described as more predictable and confidence-inspiring.
The Michelin Primacy 5, however, makes a very rational case for touring-focused drivers. It is clearly better in aquaplaning resistance (about +7.8% in straight-line and +12% in curved aquaplaning in both tests), and it's notably more comfortable and efficient: subjective comfort is +13% in Michelin's favour (6.9 vs 6.1), and rolling resistance is ~12-13% better for Michelin in both tests. In practice, that means the Primacy 5 is the calmer, quieter, lower-consumption choice-and the safer-feeling option when standing water is the main concern. The memorable takeaway: Kumho wins the “grip and steering” argument; Michelin wins the “rain-at-speed, quiet and efficient commuting” argument.
Ecsta Sport PS72 vs Primacy 5: your questions
Is the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 or the Michelin Primacy 5 the better tyre?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 finished ahead 2 times and the Primacy 5 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ecsta Sport PS72 scores 9.2 and the Primacy 5 8.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ecsta Sport PS72 or the Primacy 5?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 led 7 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.6% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 led 6 of the 6 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.4% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Primacy 5 had 12.7% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.3/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 9.1/10 for the Primacy 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Primacy 5 was 1 dB quieter (2 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72 and 8.4/10 for the Primacy 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41 reviews and the Primacy 5 82% from 62. 82% of Ecsta Sport PS72 owners would buy it again, against 78% for the Primacy 5.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 is made in 86 sizes (17 to 21 inch) and the Primacy 5 in 88 (16 to 22 inch). 40 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Ecsta Sport PS72 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Primacy 5 A and B.
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Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.
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