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Imperial Ecosport 2 Test Results

Tested 2019 to 2026 3 publications

Tested 7 times by independent publications, the Imperial Ecosport 2 averages a finish of 33rd. Its strongest discipline is Wet Braking, beating 12% of the field across 7 tests; its weakest is Dry Braking, at 10% across 7 tests.

  • 7Independent tests
  • 0Test wins
  • 0Podium finishes
  • 33rdAverage finish
  • 9%Field beaten on average
  • 3Publications
Imperial Ecosport 2

7 tests, 2019 to 2026

0%50%100%2019202020212022202320252026Average 9%2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout (2019): P41 of 53, Beat 14% of the field2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test (2020): P48 of 50, Beat 4% of the field2021 Motor Summer Tyre Test (2021): P10 of 10, Beat 0% of the field2022 Summer Tyre Market Overview (2022): P47 of 50, Beat 7% of the field2023 Summer Tyre Market Overview (2023): P43 of 50, Beat 15% of the field2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tyre Test (2025): P7 of 7, Beat 0% of the field2026 Summer Braking Super Tyre Test - How do 52 Tyres Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? (2026): P38 of 50, Beat 24% of the field
Share of the field beaten in each test, oldest to newest. Hover or tap a point for the test.
  • Test win
  • Second
  • Third
  • Average 9%

Record by discipline

Where the Imperial Ecosport 2 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tyres. Field beaten is the share of the other tyres it outranked in that measurement.

Discipline Tests Avg finish Field beaten Firsts
Dry
Dry Braking Weak 7 P31.4 of 36.1 10% -
Dry Handling 1 P8 of 10 22% -
Subj. Dry Handling 2 P7.5 of 8.5 11% -
Wet
Wet Braking Strong 7 P30.7 of 36.1 12% -
Wet Handling 1 P9 of 10 11% -
Subj. Wet Handling 1 P7 of 7 0% -
Straight Aqua 2 P3.5 of 8.5 58% 1
Curved Aquaplaning 1 P3 of 10 78% -
Comfort
Subj. Comfort 1 P6 of 7 17% -
Subj. Noise 1 P4 of 7 50% -
Noise 1 P4 of 10 67% -
Value
Rolling Resistance 1 P9 of 10 11% -

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tyres that have most often shared a test with the Imperial Ecosport 2. Only tyres tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 6 shared: 0 ahead, 6 behind 6 0 6 - 0%
Sava Intensa UHP 2 5 shared: 0 ahead, 5 behind 5 0 5 - 0%
Fulda SportControl 2 5 shared: 0 ahead, 5 behind 5 0 5 - 0%
Rotalla RU01 S Pace 4 shared: 3 ahead, 1 behind 4 3 1 - 75%
Tracmax X Privilo TX3 4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind 4 2 2 - 50%
Firestone RoadHawk 4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind 4 0 4 - 0%
Laufenn S Fit EQ+ 4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind 4 0 4 - 0%
Zeetex HP2000 vfm 3 shared: 1 ahead, 2 behind 3 1 2 - 33%
Minerva Radial F 205 3 shared: 1 ahead, 2 behind 3 1 2 - 33%
Barum Bravuris 5HM 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Kleber Dynaxer UHP 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Infinity Ecomax 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Kumho Ecsta PS71 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Federal Evoluzion ST 1 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Matador MP 47 Hectorra 3 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Nokian PowerProof 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Maxxis Premitra HP5 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%
Continental Premium Contact 6 3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind 3 0 3 - 0%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 7 tests. Updated March 13, 2026.

Across 7 summer tests, the Imperial Ecosport 2 shows a consistent pattern of low overall competitiveness, frequently finishing in the bottom tier of large group tests and last in smaller comparative tests. The dominant limitation is safety-related grip performance-especially wet braking-where it repeatedly trails the best tyres by large margins, and dry braking is also regularly weak.

Its few standout positives are in value-oriented and specific niche metrics: it can perform very well in straight-line aquaplaning (including a test win) and can be competitively quiet/comfortable in some tests. However, these strengths do not offset the recurring deficits in wet and dry stopping distances and general wet handling confidence, making overall performance clearly below average versus the market.

Performance Strengths

  • Aquaplaning Resistance (Straight-line) Moderate
    Details
    • 1st place Straight Aquaplaning in 2021 Motor test (98.1 km/h, 1/10) with article noting a 'surprise win' for the Imperial EcoSport 2
    • Near-top straight aquaplaning result in 2025 Die ReifenTester test (6/7, only +7.4% from best)
  • Value/Cost Positioning Moderate
    Details
    • 1st place Price in 2021 Motor test (1/10), indicating strongest affordability in that comparison
    • Despite poor overall rankings, it is consistently positioned as a budget option (e.g., noted as 'budget tyre' in 2021 Motor coverage)
  • Noise / Comfort (Secondary refinement metrics) Minor
    Details
    • Noise close to class best in 2021 Motor test (70.9 dB, 4/10, only +0.4% from best)
    • Mid-pack subjective noise and comfort in 2025 Die ReifenTester test (Noise 4/7; Comfort 6/7, +6.2% from best)

Performance Weaknesses

  • Wet Braking (Primary safety deficit) Strong
    Details
    • Large wet braking gaps and low ranks in AutoBild braking screenings: 2020 wet braking 45/49 (+34.8% from best), 2026 wet braking 36/50 (+31%), 2023 wet braking 40/48 (+27.8%), 2019 wet braking 40/45 (+29.6%)
    • Last place wet braking in comparative tests: 2025 Die ReifenTester 7/7 (+15% from best) and 2021 Motor 10/10 (+19.5% from best)
  • Dry Braking (Consistently below market) Strong
    Details
    • Bottom-tier dry braking in multiple AutoBild mega/market tests: 2026 43/50 (+17.7%), 2023 44/48 (+16.9%), 2020 44/49 (+16.2%), 2022 44/44 (+12.9%)
    • Last place dry braking in smaller head-to-heads: 2025 Die ReifenTester 7/7 (+12.9%) and 2021 Motor 10/10 (+13.3%)
  • Wet Handling / Overall Wet Grip Moderate
    Details
    • Weak wet handling results where measured: 2025 Die ReifenTester subjective wet handling 7/7 (+21.4% from best)
    • Slow wet handling in 2021 Motor test (9/10, +8.5% from best), aligning with poor wet braking pattern
  • Efficiency (Rolling Resistance) Moderate
    Details
    • Poor rolling resistance in 2021 Motor test (8.85 kg/t, 9/10, +34.1% from best)
    • Combined with frequent low overall standings (e.g., 48/49 in 2020 and 43/48 in 2023), suggests no compensating efficiency advantage versus competitors
  • Wet grip Strong in 1 of 2 tests
    Details

Every test, newest first 7

Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.

2026 1 test
2025 1 test
P7 of 7 Beat 0% of the field

2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tyre Test

Die Reifentester 205/55 R17

The Imperial represented the budget end of the test and struggled against stronger rivals. Testers found its behaviour unsettling, with pronounced load‑change reactions and poor wet grip forcing ESP to work hard. The tyre’s tetchy nature in both wet and dry conditions led to only a "Sufficient" overall verdict; the low price cannot compensate for the lack of safety.

WeakDry BrakingSubj. Dry HandlingWet BrakingSubj. Wet HandlingStraight AquaSubj. Comfort WinnerFalken ZIEX ZE320

2023 1 test
2022 1 test
2021 1 test
P10 of 10 Beat 0% of the field

2021 Motor Summer Tyre Test

Motor 225/55 R17

StrongStraight Aqua WeakDry BrakingWet BrakingWet HandlingRolling Resistance WinnerContinental Premium Contact 6

2020 1 test
2019 1 test

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