Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 vs Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 finished ahead 2 times and the SportMaxx RT 2 not once. The SportMaxx RT 2 was stronger in comfort, the Ecsta Sport PS72 in dry, wet and value.
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
SportMaxx RT 2
Ecsta Sport PS72
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. The scale stops at 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
SportMaxx RT 2
Not ahead in any category
Ecsta Sport PS72
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
SportMaxx RT 2
Ecsta Sport PS72
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the SportMaxx RT 2 77% from 94 reviews and the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41. 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. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | SportMaxx RT 2 | Gap | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Ecsta Sport PS72 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 35.3 | 2.5% | 34.4 | 0-2 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 99.7 | 0.3% | 100 | 0-1 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 19.4% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet Ecsta Sport PS72 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 37.3 | 6.8% | 34.75 | 0-2 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 82.2 | 0.5% | 82.6 | 0-1 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 19.2% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet Circle s | 14.97 | 2.5% | 14.6 | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 93.2 | 2.4% | 91 | 1-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning m/sec2 | 3.48 | 1.5% | 3.43 | 1-0 |
| Comfort SportMaxx RT 2 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 9.6% | scored | 1-0 |
| Noise dB | 72.4 | 1.7 dB | 74.1 | 1-0 |
| Value Ecsta Sport PS72 ahead | ||||
| Wear km | 44,820 | 7.6% | 48,230 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.74 | 6.8% | 8.15 | 0-1 |
| Abrasion g | 1,656 | 3.1% | 1,605 | 0-1 |
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.
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 | SportMaxx RT 2 | Field | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | P13 of 20 | P6 of 20 | |
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P17 of 50 | P4 of 50 |
SportMaxx RT 2 vs Ecsta Sport PS72: your questions
Is the Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 or the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 the better tyre?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 finished ahead 2 times and the SportMaxx RT 2 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the SportMaxx RT 2 scores 8.4 and the Ecsta Sport PS72 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the SportMaxx RT 2 or the Ecsta Sport PS72?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 led 5 of the 7 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.8% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 led 4 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.5% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.9/10 for the SportMaxx RT 2 and 7.7/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the SportMaxx RT 2 77% from 94 reviews and the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41. 63% of SportMaxx RT 2 owners would buy it again, against 82% for the Ecsta Sport PS72.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The SportMaxx RT 2 is made in 61 sizes (17 to 21 inch) and the Ecsta Sport PS72 in 86 (17 to 21 inch). 42 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the SportMaxx RT 2 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ecsta Sport PS72 A and C.
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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.