Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 71
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 41
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 2 times and the Ecsta Sport PS72 once, with one level. The PremiumContact 7 held 10.9% more grip in curved aquaplaning; the Ecsta Sport PS72 had 1% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pick the Continental PremiumContact 7 if you want the most dependable all-rounder with the strongest wet-limit safety (especially aquaplaning) plus consistently excellent braking and solid longevity. Pick the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 if you want a sportier-feeling summer tyre and strong performance-per-euro, and you're willing to trade away some aquaplaning headroom and (in some tests) comfort refinement.
Where the PremiumContact 7 is stronger
- Consistently shortest dry braking across all shared tests (4/4 wins), delivering a small but repeatable stopping-distance advantage
- Stronger wet security at higher water depths: clear, repeatable lead in straight and curved aquaplaning (3/3 wins in each metric where compared), including ~+4.8 to +4.9% in straight aquaplaning and ~+16% in curved aquaplaning in 225/45 R17
- Well-rounded wet performance with frequent wins in wet handling/wet circle (notably best-in-test wet pace in the 225/45 R17 'best summer tyres' test)
Where the Ecsta Sport PS72 is stronger
- Sportier, more confidence-inspiring subjective driving feel in multiple reports (e.g., higher subjective dry handling 8.0 vs 6.7 in Autobild; strong steering/predictability notes)
- Competitive outright grip/pace on handling-style tests, with occasional wins in dry and wet handling (e.g., Autobild dry and wet handling; near-ties elsewhere)
- Often better value at purchase, highlighted by a much lower price-per-performance metric in Autobild (12.44 vs 17.39 price/1000)
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.
PremiumContact 7 vs Ecsta Sport PS72 at a glance
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | Gap | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won4 shared tests | 2 | 1 level | 1 |
| Dry10 measurements | 5 | The PremiumContact 7 stopped 1.6% shorter in the dry (4 tests) | 4 |
| Wet18 measurements | 13 | The PremiumContact 7 held 10.9% more grip in curved aquaplaning (3 tests) | 5 |
| Comfort6 measurements | 3 | 2 | |
| Value5 measurements | 3 | 2 | |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The PremiumContact 7 by 0.3 | 9.2/10 |
| Owner rating71 and 41 reviews | 82% | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 2 points | 84% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 74% | The Ecsta Sport PS72 by 8 points | 82% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | +46.1% | The PremiumContact 7 was dearer in 2 of 2 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 56 | 38 sizes made in both | 86 |
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 4 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 | PremiumContact 7 | Field | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Motor Summer Tyre Test | P1 of 9 | P4 of 9 | |
| 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test | P6 of 20 | P6 of 20 | |
| The BEST Summer Tyres for 2026 Tested and Rated | P1 of 12 | P4 of 12 | |
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P6 of 50 | P4 of 50 |
Performance profile
12 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
PremiumContact 7
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. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
PremiumContact 7
Ecsta Sport PS72
Not ahead in any category
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
PremiumContact 7
Ecsta Sport PS72
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | PremiumContact 7 | Gap | Ecsta Sport PS72 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.16 | 1.6% | 35.75 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 73.35 | 0.4% | 73.68 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 99.5 | 0.5% | 100 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 7.3% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 35.26 | 0.8% | 35.55 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 68.55 | 3.1% | 70.73 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 82.3 | 0.4% | 82.6 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.6% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 0.8 | 5.3% | 0.76 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 13.28 | 1.1% | 13.41 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 80.43 | 3.4% | 77.94 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 3.72 | 10.9% | 3.36 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.7% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 70.63 | 0.1 dB | 70.53 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 56,350 | 16.8% | 48,230 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | 1% | 5.7 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 1,302 | 18.9% | 1,605 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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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 PremiumContact 7 scores 9.5 and the Ecsta Sport PS72 9.2 out of 10.
| PremiumContact 7 | Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94 | Dry | 92 | ||
| 97 | Wet | 88 | ||
| 36 | Comfort | 35 | ||
| 67 | Value | 49 | ||
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
| PremiumContact 7 | Category | Ecsta Sport PS72 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.2 | Dry Grip | 9 | ||
| 9.2 | Wet Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 8.3 | Road Feedback | 8.6 | ||
| 8.4 | Handling | 8.6 | ||
| 7.3 | Wear | 8.3 | ||
| 7.5 | Comfort | 7.7 | ||
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental PremiumContact 7
- 82%from 71 reviews
- 74%would buy again
- 704,882 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners are largely impressed with the Continental PremiumContact 7, rating it 82.9% on average with no outright negative reviews, and the standout theme is strong, confidence-inspiring grip in both dry and wet conditions. Nearly half of owners mention excellent dry and wet grip, often backed up by praise for secure handling and stability. The main drawback is refinement: around a quarter to a third of owners report notable road noise, and a similar share are disappointed by tread life, with wear sometimes described as quicker than expected. Comfort is generally viewed positively overall, though opinions vary, and steering feel is more mixed than the outright grip levels suggest.
- Strong dry grip and traction
- Very confident wet grip
- Secure, planted handling in the dry
- Comfortable ride over bumps and on longer runs
- Noticeable road noise, especially on coarse surfaces
- Tread life can be disappointing for a premium tyre
- Steering feel/precision can be inconsistent (some find it vague)
Summarised by AI from 58 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 71 PremiumContact 7 reviewsThe PremiumContact 7 offers a great balance of touring longevity, comfort, and sufficiently precise handling to keep you safe at higher speeds and in unexpected situations. These tires provide near-perfect grip across various conditions, performing exceptionally well on both dry and wet roads. On the other hand, they can get a bit noisy on rough surfaces.
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.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 56 sizes of the PremiumContact 7 and 86 of the Ecsta Sport PS72, 38 of them made in both.
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | Ecsta Sport PS72 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 56 sizes, 16 to 21 inch | 86 sizes, 17 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 38 sizes 205/45 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17235/45 R17205/40 R18215/40 R18215/55 R18225/40 R18and 26 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A100% | A95%B5% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C74%B26% | C77%B10%A8%D5% |
| EU label noise | 71-73 dB B100% | 70-74 dB B100% |
| On the market since | 2022 | - |
| Replaced | Continental Premium Contact 6 | Kumho Ecsta PS91 |
| Awards | Recommended: Best Tyres for Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Summer Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2024) | Winner: Summer Value Performer (17in and above) (WhatTyre, 2026/27) |
| Price in the shared tests | The PremiumContact 7 was the dearer tyre in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 46.1% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
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 these two summer tyres aim at slightly different buyers: the Continental PremiumContact 7 is a premium-touring tyre built around safety, refinement and breadth of ability, while the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 is a max-performance option that leans more toward a sporty, confidence-inspiring driving feel and strong value.
Across four shared 2026 tests in two popular sizes (225/45 R17 and 245/45 R19), the pattern is clear: the Continental more consistently wins the “safety-critical” objective metrics-especially wet grip at the limit and aquaplaning-whereas the Kumho repeatedly shows it can run close on lap-time-style handling measures, often with higher subjective sportiness scores, and typically at a much lower purchase price.
Conclusion
If you want the most complete, lowest-drama summer tyre for real-world roads, the Continental PremiumContact 7 is the safer bet. It dominates dry braking in every shared test (e.g., 36.0 m vs 37.1 m in 225/45 R17, and 34.3 m vs 34.4 m in 245/45 R19) and, more importantly, it repeatedly outclasses the Kumho in aquaplaning resistance-one of the most meaningful wet-safety separators here (e.g., straight aquaplaning 74.9 vs 71.4 km/h and curved aquaplaning +15.96% advantage in the 225/45 R17 tests). It also brings a comfort edge in subjective scoring and, where measured, better wear/lower abrasion (e.g., 56,350 km vs 48,230 km and 1302 g vs 1605 g in the Autobild 245/45 R19 test).
The Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 earns its place because it's genuinely quick and enjoyable, not just “good for the money.” It matches or slightly beats the Continental in several handling-focused results (e.g., Autobild dry handling 100 vs 99.5 km/h; wet handling 82.6 vs 82.3 km/h) and often scores higher subjectively for steering/sportiness (8.0 vs 6.7 in Autobild subjective dry handling). The trade-off is that its wet-limit safety margin is more size- and test-sensitive-especially in aquaplaning-and comfort can lag. The memorable takeaway: choose the Continental if you drive in heavy rain or want the widest safety buffer; choose the Kumho if you prioritize sporty feel and value and can accept reduced aquaplaning headroom.
PremiumContact 7 vs Ecsta Sport PS72: your questions
Is the Continental PremiumContact 7 or the Kumho Ecsta Sport PS72 the better tyre?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 2 times and the Ecsta Sport PS72 once, with one level. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the PremiumContact 7 scores 9.5 and the Ecsta Sport PS72 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the PremiumContact 7 or the Ecsta Sport PS72?
The PremiumContact 7 led 13 of the 18 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 10.9% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The PremiumContact 7 led 5 of the 10 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.6% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Ecsta Sport PS72 had 1% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 7.3/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 8.3/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 7.7/10 for the Ecsta Sport PS72.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the Ecsta Sport PS72 84% from 41. 74% of PremiumContact 7 owners would buy it again, against 82% for the Ecsta Sport PS72.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the PremiumContact 7 was the dearer tyre in 2 of them, by 46.1% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The PremiumContact 7 is made in 56 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the Ecsta Sport PS72 in 86 (17 to 21 inch). 38 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the PremiumContact 7 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.
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