Kumho Ecsta PS31 Review: Does this tire fit your vehicle?

Summer tires are great and all, but they also have their quirks. The tread compound on a large majority of summer tires are engineered to deliver tons of grip. On the downside, this leads to faster tire wear. Also inherent to summer tires is lesser road comfort and a bit more tire roar.

However, the Kumho Ecsta PS31 wants to change all that. Kumho managed to create an ultra-high performance summer tire with the inherent attributes of a touring tire. With the Kumho Ecsta PS31, you get tons of grip on both wet and dry roads along with higher levels of comfort and longer tire wear.

Sounds too good to be true, right? Well you better believe it. Of course, all of this comes at a price. The Kumho Ecsta PS31 is not exactly a cheap option for a performance tire, but it does come with a barrage of clever features. 

What are the attributes of the Kumho Ecsta PS31?

The Kumho Ecsta PS31 is engineered with a directional tread design. In some cases, this means a rather conservative and boring tread design, but the Kumho Ecsta PS31 begs to differ. There’s no denying this tire means business based on the tread design alone. And while selecting a tire based on looks is similar to crowning a beauty pageant winner with the highest IQ, it’s good to know the Kumho Ecsta PS31 will give your ride aggressive styling and a meaner stance.

The tire is constructed with aggressive lateral grooves and a solid center rib. This alone means a reinforced block stiffness for better high speed stability, faster cornering, and stronger braking. The tire also comes with wider lateral grooves to accelerate water dissipation in the wet. This feature is further enhanced with those four wide circumferential grooves to resist hydroplaning and aquaplaning.

What makes the Kumho Ecsta PS31 stand out is the racing-inspired sidewall design. It further adds to the sporting character of the tire. It even comes with a 3D dimple design to minimize heat build-up in the treads on those high speed runs. Without a hint of doubt, the Kumho Ecsta PS31 is engineered to be a winner. 

What vehicles are applicable for this tire?

Kumho is selling the Ecsta PS31 in an array of sizes and configurations. This tire is available in 15” to 18” diameters and is a good choice for the Nissan 370Z, Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86, BMW 3-Series and 5-Series, Audi A4 and A5, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and any other type of sports car or fast sedan. This tire is also applicable to small and sporty crossovers such as the Acura MDX, Lincoln MKX, Ford Escape, and Subaru Forester.

This basically means the Kumho Ecsta PS31 is a solid and reliable choice for any type of fast car or tuned vehicle. Looking for the perfect tire for racing on the track? There are better alternatives that deliver more grip. But for moderate track sessions in a tuned Mazda MX-5 or BMW 3-Series, the Kumho Ecsta PS31 is more than willing to oblige.

Is this tire good on snow or ice?

Absolutely not. The Kumho Ecsta PS31 is a summer tire. It is not designed to be used on mild snowy or icy roads. If you want a tire that can hack it in cold weather, get your vehicle a proper set of all-season or winter tires.

But is it great on wet roads?

Yes! The Kumho Ecsta PS31 is created to deliver tones of grip on both dry and wet roads. This tire will allow you to travel at speed even on rain-drenched tarmac. The wide lateral grooves will ensure the treads are always in direct contact with the road surface. It doesn’t skip a beat and provides relentless grip for better handling. The steering feel and response will also improve given the wider center rib of the tire.

Is the Kumho Ecsta PS3 quiet and comfortable?

Fast cars demand a tire that can harness larger amounts of horsepower and torque. It wouldn’t hurt if the tires are silent and comfortable despite being able to stick on the ground like glue. And while it may be ludicrous to call the Kumho Ecsta PS3 a hybrid between a performance summer tire and touring tire, it does roll with dollops of comfort and road silence.

I know that comfort and refinement is not a priority when you’re behind the wheel of a muscle car such as the Mustang or the Camaro. But there are drivers who prefer to relax on the highway despite the high-speed attributes of the vehicle. In this regard, the Kumho Ecsta PS3 is a clear winner. It delivers aggressive performance when you want it, but it can cradle you in silent comfort on the way home.

How about tire wear?

This is another great attribute of the Kumho Ecsta PS31. And while Kumho is not offering a mileage warranty with this tire, the tread compound enables the rubber to have lower than average tire wear. Of course, this is all relative to your driving behavior. But with a tire such as this, it is hard to resist the need for speed. The added traction will urge you to go harder and drive faster at every bend. That’s how good this tire is in terms of sporty driving.

You can see more Kumho Ecsta PS31 Review here: videos created by Kumho Tire Canada

Should I buy the Kumho Ecsta PS31?

If your vehicle deserves a proper summer tire, the Kumho Ecsta PS31 is a brilliant choice. And while it may be more expensive than a set of all-season tires, it delivers so much more in terms of wet handling, dry grip, inspiring handling, and driving comfort.

And for those who are willing to sacrifice less dry grip for adequate snow performance, there’s the Kumho Ecsta PA31. Unlike the Ecsta PS31, the PA31 is an all-season ultra-high performance tire. It comes equipped with a multitude of sipes to provide better traction on snowy or slippery pavement.