Tires - Kumho
#21
Instructor
Member Since: Sep 2010
Location: Olathe KS
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St. Jude Donor '10-'11
We're all biased, but I replaced Firestone run flats with the Hankook Ventus and was amazed at the ride improvement and have been thrilled at how much quieter they are. I would repeat my decision without hesitation.
#22
Melting Slicks
...couldn''t give a rat's arzzz what 'tests' bear out. The OEM GY's are crap tires, noisy, and almost scary on cool wet concrete. I've got about 35-40 % remaining on OEM's and over the last couple of days it's been cool, and rainy, foggy, drizzle. It borders dangerous IMO what lousy traction and how so very easy they are to break loose with just the slightest blip of the throttle. Thank God for tracton control and active handling.... I now take corners a lot more seriously!
Can't wait for a dry day, so I can lock the front and smoke those to the belts and get some real tires. The Kumho's are in contention. Also the Toyo T1R's are at the top of the list too.
2 C5's and a C6, and my first set of OEM's on the C6 acquired about 6 weeks ago. If there were a worse tire, I'd like to know what it is... Tire Rack rates them at the very bottom....#29 I think, last time I looked.
Can't wait for a dry day, so I can lock the front and smoke those to the belts and get some real tires. The Kumho's are in contention. Also the Toyo T1R's are at the top of the list too.
2 C5's and a C6, and my first set of OEM's on the C6 acquired about 6 weeks ago. If there were a worse tire, I'd like to know what it is... Tire Rack rates them at the very bottom....#29 I think, last time I looked.
#24
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: Ma
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i drove on kumho esta xs on few auto x events, and it is the best tire i ever had, just good for summer
i am selling them, because i have nitto invo for every day,
i am selling them, because i have nitto invo for every day,
#25
Drifting
I used Kumho Ecsta SPT's on my C5 and C6. They are great tires, I did not find them noisy at all. They will give you very decent mileage from the SPT tires.
I tried the Kumho Ecsta XS tires and they are a very grippy tire. They are a softer compound than the SPT's. I got 18k miles on them with my C6. I like the XS's for the great cornering lateral grip they give.
I also autocross and the Kumho Ecsta V710 tires are simply the best autocross/road race tires around!
Kent
I tried the Kumho Ecsta XS tires and they are a very grippy tire. They are a softer compound than the SPT's. I got 18k miles on them with my C6. I like the XS's for the great cornering lateral grip they give.
I also autocross and the Kumho Ecsta V710 tires are simply the best autocross/road race tires around!
Kent
#26
Burning Brakes
#27
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Dec 2006
Location: Van Buren Arkansas
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Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I too have Kumho Ecsta on my '07 and they work surprisingly well for regular driving. I've got 67K miles on them now and the rears will be due in the next couple of months so I'm starting to shop. I'm no longer cranking out the miles as a DD since I retired so they'll last. I have noticed that the Kumhos easily break lose as the temps fell for winter out here but that should be true for most all tires. Before moving here, testing them in the S. Calif. mountains, they held grip very well and certainly quieter than the GY's.
#28
Burning Brakes
#29
Burning Brakes
#30
Racer
I've got 5,000 miles on my Kumho Ecsta SPT's. Replaced the stock GYs. Compared to the GYs the SPTs are MUCH quieter. The comment about the stock GY sidewalls being stiffer is true, and you will feel some flex going into corners with the SPTs. However IMO the SPTs are far better all-around tires for daily driving. They grip, and under HARD throttle slide predictibly (I used to race and know how to push a tire to its limits).
The secret to getting the best performance out of the Kumho Ecsta SPT's is to run them at 31.5 lbs (at least here in Scottsdale AZ... tire performance will vary according to temp, elevation, and many other factors). At 31.5 lbs the tires are extremely stable at all speeds but give a remarkably nimble feel to the steering... super quick but never twitchy. So responsive is the handling that I can tell when the pressure is off by 1 lb.
When I was racing I learned that high performance tires were a waste of money unless you were using them to the maximum, and I learned to run cheap tires to their very edge - enough to beat guys running the high dollar shoes. The SPTs are plenty good for the street if you know what you're doing. I run them hard and won't mind buying a fresh set when I reach 40-50 wear so take my comments with a grain of salt.
The secret to getting the best performance out of the Kumho Ecsta SPT's is to run them at 31.5 lbs (at least here in Scottsdale AZ... tire performance will vary according to temp, elevation, and many other factors). At 31.5 lbs the tires are extremely stable at all speeds but give a remarkably nimble feel to the steering... super quick but never twitchy. So responsive is the handling that I can tell when the pressure is off by 1 lb.
When I was racing I learned that high performance tires were a waste of money unless you were using them to the maximum, and I learned to run cheap tires to their very edge - enough to beat guys running the high dollar shoes. The SPTs are plenty good for the street if you know what you're doing. I run them hard and won't mind buying a fresh set when I reach 40-50 wear so take my comments with a grain of salt.
Last edited by Dave_C6; 12-30-2010 at 09:55 AM.
#31
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jun 2003
Location: Acton MA
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I'm a big fan of Kumho, I think they turn out some fantastic products for a great price.
I run the SPTs on the street, I've gone through two sets. the first one lasted me just over 21k miles. They wear very well, but dont drive like they're made of stone.
I used the XS as a street class autocross tire. They are very good in the dry and warm, but loose a lot of grip in the wet. And have very little grip below 50 degs F. I would say do not run these in the a cold rain.
I now run the V710s for autocross. these tires are great. they have a grip that is slightly better then a Hoosier R6.Hand they last forever, they grip right up until the cords, where as the R6s get heat cycled out long before the rubber runs out.
I run the SPTs on the street, I've gone through two sets. the first one lasted me just over 21k miles. They wear very well, but dont drive like they're made of stone.
I used the XS as a street class autocross tire. They are very good in the dry and warm, but loose a lot of grip in the wet. And have very little grip below 50 degs F. I would say do not run these in the a cold rain.
I now run the V710s for autocross. these tires are great. they have a grip that is slightly better then a Hoosier R6.Hand they last forever, they grip right up until the cords, where as the R6s get heat cycled out long before the rubber runs out.
#32
MONARTOR
been thru the OEM runflats, Kuhmo SPT's, Hankook Ventu v12's and am now on Conti Extremes... Like the Conti's so far. THe Hankook's lasted pretty well, the Kuhmos gave my installer hell trying to balance them.
got em all from www.tirerack.com
got em all from www.tirerack.com
#33
Safety Car
...couldn''t give a rat's arzzz what 'tests' bear out. The OEM GY's are crap tires, noisy, and almost scary on cool wet concrete. I've got about 35-40 % remaining on OEM's and over the last couple of days it's been cool, and rainy, foggy, drizzle. It borders dangerous IMO what lousy traction and how so very easy they are to break loose with just the slightest blip of the throttle. Thank God for tracton control and active handling.... I now take corners a lot more seriously!
Last edited by goatts; 12-30-2010 at 11:22 AM.
#35
Safety Car