Kumho ECSTA SPT KU31 - Tyre review.

[Goochie]

The Kumho tyres have been fitte dto my car for a coupkle of days now and they've centainally proved themselves to be quite interesting. Being a non-VRS driver, the tyres are 205/55/R16 which, may mean they have totally different effects on the car's handling on my car than they would on a VRS with bigger rims.

Previously my car was fitted with 2x Michelin Pilot Premacy's and 2x Dunlop SP Sport 01's.

Looks.
The Kumho's do look a lot "sexier" than either of the 2 brands that were fitte dbefore, althought I wouldnt say they're as nice to look at as Toyo proxes T1R's would have been. A nice touch is having "Kumho ECSTA" written in the tread. Its only a couple of mm deep but while it's there it looks quite nice

Noise.
Road noise was a big factor for me and the Kumho's really are very good The noise at 60mph is dramatically less than any tyres I've had on the Octavia before (Continentals or the brands mentioned above). the one time they are a little noiser is at around 30mph where there is a low rumbling noise - but you wouldnt notice it if you have the radio on, even at a low volume.

Straight line grip.
Grip under acceleration is good. One thing I found on all the tyres that have been used on the front since my Jabba remap is the car's willingness to spin it's wheels. The Kumho's do a good job of gripping in the dry with a little wheelspin in 1st gear but no wheel hopping as I have had before. Wheel spin on changing into second has gone too.

Part of my commute includes a fairly bumper straight that climbs up a hill away from a cross roads. Previously the ASR light would flash like mad going up there all the way to 60mph is pushed hard. Now the car grips very well and the ASR has nothing to do once I'm out of 1st gear.

In the wet they're good too. I dont tend to push the Octavia that hard because the power delivery of my remap isnt exactly subtle The Kumhos do a good job and I cant say they're any worse than any other tyre I've had. The only ones that were slightly better were Yokohama A520's but they wer eon a different car.

Cornering.
This is the one area where I'm not to sure about these tyres. I do wonder if they have simply exposed my car's weaknesses but heres what I've found.

When taking a high speed corner on a B-Road (say 60mph ) the car grips and holds the road very well, but the back end feels a lot lighter than it even has done before To the extent that you loose confidence in the car and take the same corner more slowly next time.

This could be a problem relating the the standard front ARB on my car not being designed to do what I'm asking of it.

It could also be because the Toyo's grip very well in the dry and the back end of the car is still trying to go forwards while the front is half way roudn the corner - thats what it feels like.

In the wet the car still understeers if pushed but no more so that I'd expect from the non- VRS chassis and a big heavy car.

Overall.
The levels of dry grip from these tyres is really very good, but that could be a trade off with wear rate - only time will tell. I saved a fair bit by going for these over the Toyo's and I have no regrets. Its all down to the wear rate really and only time will tell on that one.

Would I recommend them? yes, they're a cheaper tyre from the higher end of the "budget" brands but they're easily better than the Dunlop or Michelin offerings I've had on the Octavia before.

If you're considering Toyo Proxes T1R's take a look at these

[TaviaRS]

I had the Ecsta MX on mine nice tyres (more extreme than yours but not as extreme as the V70s ). Gripped well but not very hard wearing.

Why 195/55 16? All the others on 16s seem to be 205/55 16 as standard

[EddyH]

I also thought I read in your original thread that you were going for 205/55/16.

[Goochie]

d'oh - yes they are 205 - not sure why I keep writing 195

Corrected.

[devonutopia]

The chap fitting my track kuhmos appears to be a bit of a kuhmo nut and he couldn't recommend the KU-31 enough, saying they would "urinate" all over my Toyo T1-S tyres.... I couldn't comment obviosuly but he even went as far as to get one down off the shelf to show me the tread pattern and how it works. Might try a pair on the front next time around.

Looks like a worthy budget tyre to me.

[spinndrift]

I've had them on the fabia for over two months now and I do like them but they do get a bit interesting in the ****ing down rain.

[cheezemonkhai]

I have to say I'm still thrilled with Pilot Exaltos, much better grip than the MXM or Primacy and that grip stays even in the p**sing rain.

What sort of price are the Kumho retailing at, and when you say interesting how bad do you mean?

[Goochie]

Well, it was raining this morning and they seemed fine to me - you cant expect any tyre to perform as well in the wet as it does in the dry.

[spinndrift]

I didn't expect them to be fantastic in the wet as the main tread is basically three thick strips of rubber.

If its really heavy rain and you push them hard they do understeer but it's very predicatable.

Cost wise I think I paid around £220 for four fitted and balanced.

Before I used these I had two sets of P-Zero Neros and these are close to the Pirrellis.

[Goochie]

I paid £181 for 4 from www.mytyres.co.uk and then a further £5 per tyre fitting and balancing (though I believe, from comments on here that is a very cheap fitting price)

[faboka vrs]

Originally Posted by Goochie

I paid £181 for 4 from www.mytyres.co.uk and then a further £5 per tyre fitting and balancing (though I believe, from comments on here that is a very cheap fitting price)

I pay £8 a tyre. £6 fitting and balancing £2 to get rid of the old tyre.

[cheezemonkhai]

Hmm sounds interesting,

Might have to have a look into those. I was worried when you said interesting in wet to mean grippy in dry, nothing in wet.

I'm paying about £80-£90 a corner fitted at the moment.

[Goochie]

On a damp road this morning the TC light was flashing at 60mph on a country B-road. IMHO they'r eno worse than any othe rtyre in damp or wet conditions. Something I have no experience of is their ability to resist aquaplaning when you hit apuddle at speed - not something I set out to do so I hope to avoid testing them that way for a while.

[piv34uk]

I have the earlier 712`s now replaced by 31`s and they are very scary in the wet, defo; not putting them on again...Nero`s or F1`s for me

Phil

[musky]

I've noticed over the years that every time you get new tyres strangely enough they are quieter and grip better, even if they are the same make! Probably the extra tread. As soon as I can I will replace my P6000's (205/55/16) with anything else - probably Continental sports but 225/50/16's as recommended by my tyre man (£94 each inc.vat balance etc) to cope with the extra from recent Revoing. Went out last night though with old nasty P6000's in the wet and never saw any traction control lights at all (and I was in a hurry as well to get to the airport) so not sure even with more power, but presumably not that much more, why you would loose so much traction in the dry? The only Kumhos I've ever had were on a BMW2002 years ago - cr*p but predictable. Any thoughts on the Continentals?

[cheezemonkhai]

Traction control at 60 on a B Road!!!

Erm ok thats what i would consider bad.. Me thinks i'll stay with what i know after all

[walkie]

A little search bought this up.

Nice review, looks like I'll be ordering these

[Tom_vRS]

Originally Posted by walkie

A little search bought this up.

Nice review, looks like I'll be ordering these

I have them fitted to mine, and tbh I think they are the best value for money tyres you can get. Pretty awesome dry grip, progressive break away and a lot quieter than the Bridgestones and Pirellis I had before.

However, I'm yet to try wet grip... will have to report back as and when.

And Walkie - ffs get 215 this time

[walkie]

Originally Posted by Tom_vRS

I have them fitted to mine, and tbh I think they are the best value for money tyres you can get. Pretty awesome dry grip, progressive break away and a lot quieter than the Bridgestones and Pirellis I had before.

However, I'm yet to try wet grip... will have to report back as and when.

And Walkie - ffs get 215 this time

I was told to get 205's last time, but yeah I asked for 215's this time

Looks like the person who buys my car will have 4 brand new tyres fitted to

[Tom_vRS]

Originally Posted by walkie

I was told to get 205's last time, but yeah I asked for 215's this time

Looks like the person who buys my car will have 4 brand new tyres fitted to

Off topic - but I'm going to be telling everyone I know about your car. What a bargain mate.

[Goochie]

Back on topic .........

I've had the tyres on for nearly 1000 miles now and they have improved a lot

The light tail seems to have settled in a lot and the tyres are inspiring more confidence when cornering. I'm very pleased with these now