P1 of 20
Beat 100% of the field
2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test
Exemplary.
Kumho Ecsta HS51 Test Results
Tested 2016 to 2021
4 publications
Tested 10 times by independent publications, the Kumho Ecsta HS51 has taken 1 test wins with an average finish of 9th.
- 10Independent tests
- 1Test wins
- 2Podium finishes
- 9thAverage finish
- 56%Field beaten on average
- 4Publications
10 tests, 2016 to 2021
- Test win
- Second
- Third
- Average 56%
Record by discipline
Where the Kumho Ecsta HS51 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 | 4 | P8.3 of 25.8 | 53% | - |
| Dry Handling | 3 | P10.7 of 16.7 | 35% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 4 | P7.3 of 25.8 | 59% | - |
| Wet Handling | 3 | P10 of 16.7 | 37% | 1 |
| Straight Aqua | 2 | P1.5 of 15 | 97% | 1 |
| Comfort | ||||
| Noise | 2 | P8.5 of 15 | 55% | - |
| Value | ||||
| Wear | 4 | P9.8 of 16.8 | 42% | - |
| Value | 1 | P3 of 20 | 89% | - |
| Rolling Resistance | 2 | P14.5 of 15 | 6% | - |
Head-to-head record
Overall finishing position against the tyres that have most often shared a test with the Kumho Ecsta HS51. Only tyres tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
9 shared: 3 ahead, 6 behind
|
9 | 3 | 6 | - | 33% |
 Maxxis Premitra HP5
7 shared: 4 ahead, 3 behind
|
7 | 4 | 3 | - | 57% |
 Continental Premium Contact 6
6 shared: 2 ahead, 4 behind
|
6 | 2 | 4 | - | 33% |
 Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
5 shared: 2 ahead, 3 behind
|
5 | 2 | 3 | - | 40% |
 Bridgestone Turanza T005
5 shared: 2 ahead, 3 behind
|
5 | 2 | 3 | - | 40% |
 Nexen N Blue HD+
4 shared: 3 ahead, 1 behind
|
4 | 3 | 1 | - | 75% |
 Cooper Zeon CS8
4 shared: 3 ahead, 1 behind
|
4 | 3 | 1 | - | 75% |
 Michelin Primacy 4
4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind
|
4 | 2 | 2 | - | 50% |
 Dunlop Sport BluResponse
4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind
|
4 | 2 | 2 | - | 50% |
 Michelin Primacy 3
4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind
|
4 | 0 | 4 | - | 0% |
 Bridgestone Turanza T001 Evo
4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind
|
4 | 0 | 4 | - | 0% |
 BFGoodrich Advantage
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Apollo Alnac 4g
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Kleber Dynaxer HP 3
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Fulda EcoControl HP2
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Uniroyal RainSport 5
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Nokian WetProof
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Pirelli Cinturato P7 C2
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
 Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
 Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
Against its own line
The same record for the tyre it replaced and the tyre that replaced it.
| Tyre | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumho Ecsta HS51 This tyre | 10 | 1 | 9th | 56% |
| Kumho Ecsta HS52 Successor | 8 | 0 | 5th | 76% |
Performance Analysis
Drawn from 10 tests. Updated September 15, 2025.
Kumho Ecsta HS51 shows a mixed profile with notable improvements around 2021. It achieved a test win (1/20) in Auto Bild 2021 and a podium in the 53-tyre braking shootout (3/53), driven by strong wet handling, solid wet/dry braking, good aquaplaning resistance, and competitive wear and value. Earlier tests (2017-2019) were weak in dynamic handling and rolling resistance, including a last place in Auto Bild 2017 (20/20). Overall consistency remains mid-pack due to variability by size and generation, and persistent efficiency/noise drawbacks.
Performance Strengths
-
Wet Weather Performance
Strong
Details
- 1st place wet handling in 2021 Auto Bild 16" test
- 5th/53 wet braking (+2.7% from best) in 2021 53-tyre braking test
-
Aquaplaning Resistance
Strong
in 3 of 6 tests
Details
- 2nd/20 straight aquaplaning (+0.7% from best) in 2021 Auto Bild 16" test
- 1st/10 straight aquaplaning in 2019 Auto Zeitung
high aquaplaning resistance
- 2021 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 (2021)Good aquaplaning resistance
- 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test (2019)Good resistance to aquaplaning
- 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (2017)
-
Braking Performance (Dry and Wet)
Moderate
Details
- 3rd/53 dry braking (+2.1%) and 5th/53 wet braking (+2.7%) in 2021 braking test
- 3rd/20 dry braking (+2.1%) in 2021 Auto Bild 16" test
-
Wear and Value
Moderate
Details
- 3rd/20 wear (+12.1% from best) and 3rd/20 value in 2021 Auto Bild 16" test
- 4th/15 wear (+26.6% from best) in 2021 ADAC 205/55 R16
-
Wet grip
Strong
in 3 of 6 tests
Details
It's better in the wet
- 2021 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 (2021)Very good in the wet
- 2020 ADAC SUV Summer Tyre Test (2020)Good in the wet
- 2018 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 (2018)
Performance Weaknesses
-
Rolling Resistance / Efficiency
Strong
Details
- 20th/20 rolling resistance (+32.8% from best) in 2021 Auto Bild 16" test
- 9th/10 rolling resistance (+17.9% from best) in 2019 Auto Zeitung
-
Dry and Wet Handling (legacy/size-dependent)
Moderate
Details
- 20th/20 dry and wet handling in 2017 Auto Bild 225/50 R17
- 8th/10 dry handling (+2.4%) and 9th/10 wet handling (+8.9%) in 2019 Auto Zeitung
-
Noise/Comfort
Minor
Details
- 14th/20 noise (+3.2% from best) in 2021 Auto Bild 16" test
- 70 dB (3rd/10 but still +2.9% from best) in 2019 Auto Zeitung
-
Dry grip
Strong
in 3 of 6 tests
Details
Relatively weak in the dry
- 2020 ADAC SUV Summer Tyre Test (2020)Slightly weak in the dry when compared to the best on test
- 2018 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 (2018)reduced grip on dry and wet roads
- 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (2017)
-
Steering feel
Moderate
in 2 of 6 tests
Details
feels less precise in the dry compared to its peers
- 2021 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 (2021)Slow response to steering
- 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (2017)
-
Rolling resistance
Moderate
in 2 of 6 tests
Details
High rolling resistance
- 2021 Auto Bild 16 Inch Summer Tyre Test (2021)Long braking distances in the dry and wet, high rolling resistance, low comfort
- 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test (2019)
-
Tread life
Moderate
in 2 of 6 tests
Details
high wear
- 2020 ADAC SUV Summer Tyre Test (2020)worst wear on test
- 2017 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (2017)
Do owners agree with the tests?
Every tester write-up on the Kumho Ecsta HS51 (6 tests) and 35 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.
Where owners and testers agree
- Wet grip strength in 3 of 6 tests 14 praise, 1 criticise of 35 reviews · Read those reviews
- Road noise strength in 1 of 6 tests 8 praise, 3 criticise of 35 reviews · Read those reviews
- Value for money strength in 1 of 6 tests 6 praise, 0 criticise of 35 reviews · Read those reviews
Where they disagree
- Dry grip weakness in 3 of 6 tests 15 praise, 1 criticise of 35 reviews · Read those reviews
- Aquaplaning resistance strength in 3 of 6 tests 0 praise, 3 criticise of 35 reviews · Read those reviews
- Ride comfort weakness in 1 of 6 tests 5 praise, 1 criticise of 35 reviews · Read those reviews
Every test, newest first 10
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
2021 3 tests
P5 of 15
Beat 71% of the field
2021 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 205/55 R16
The Kumho Ecsta HS51 feels less precise in the dry compared to its peers, and only has an average dry braking result. It's better in the wet, with high aquaplaning resistance, and has reasonable levels of noise.
P3 of 53
Beat 96% of the field
2020 1 test
P10 of 12
Beat 18% of the field
2020 ADAC SUV Summer Tyre Test
Recommended
2019 1 test
P9 of 10
Beat 11% of the field
2018 1 test
P8 of 16
Beat 53% of the field
2017 3 tests
P4 of 11
Beat 70% of the field
P20 of 20
Beat 0% of the field
P13 of 51
Beat 71% of the field
2016 1 test
P17 of 50
Beat 67% of the field
Back to the Kumho Ecsta HS51 overview
Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tyre Reviews score. All Kumho tyres