Need tire help, anyone use Kumho Ecsta 4X II?

"AM3R shamefully returns " (am3rshamefullyreturns)
07/24/2016 at 22:11 • Filed to: Tires

Looking for a UHP all season tire, was set on BF Goodrich g-force comp 2's (best performing) but the rears are on backorder everywhere and I’m tired of waiting.. I want my wheels on! Anyone use those kumhos, or have any other UHP all season recommendations?

DISCUSSION (28)

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 22:19

I have Toyo Extenza HP’s (215/55r17). Toyo calls them a high performance all season, but I call them border line/maybe a UHP. I just finished breaking them in, and holy shit do they ever grip. Before I bought them I looked at lots of reviews and they all checked out. They cost me $200/tire installed & balanced +tax, they cost a bit more due to the low Canadian dollar right now.

Kinja'd!!!

AM3R shamefully returns > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
07/24/2016 at 22:27

How's the turn-in feel? I got Conti DWS on my other car and they're great, but the sidewalls are a little soft.

MountainRoadPhysicist > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 22:28

Wish I knew more about all seasons to help, sorry. I just stick with a set for summer and a set for winter.

dogisbadob > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 22:33

What size? I don’t want to recommend something that isn’t available in your tire size :p

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 22:35

It is hard to judge since there not much steering feel in my car (2011 Nissan Juke), but it is better my previous tires (Goodyear Eagle RS-A’s). The turn in does feel fast, not Pilot SS fast but good for a high performance AS. The sidewalls on them are soft. I don’t mind that, I prefer a more smooth ride.

AM3R shamefully returns > dogisbadob
07/24/2016 at 22:36

225/40/18 and 255/35/18. Thanks!

AM3R shamefully returns > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
07/24/2016 at 22:37

Thanks, I'll check those out and see if they offer them in my size.

Sweet Trav > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 22:39

Conti-extreme contact DWS.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 22:41

You should, I’ve only had them on 1 week so I can’t report how they are in the long term.

AM3R shamefully returns > Sweet Trav
07/24/2016 at 22:43

Good tires, have them on my 328i, but the sidewalls are way too soft. Absolutely kills the turn-in feel and steering response. Great tread wear, great ride, good in snow, but definitely not the sportiest.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 22:47

Just had some put on my moms 2015 leased Volvo S60. For the price, they seemed to be the best tire I could get. They seem to handle better than the stock Continentals.

Sweet Trav > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 22:49

Well if you want the sportiest tires join the rest of people who actually want their car to handle good and ditch the all-seasons in favor of two sets of wheels and tires. Conti-Extreme Contact DWS are the best all around all season. Kuhmo tires generally suck, no matter how good they are marketed.

dogisbadob > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 22:51

ooo so you need two different sizes! And of course, the tire has to be available in both.

I’m not a fan of directional tires since they can’t be rotated without flipping the tires and remounting, which isn’t usually included in the free rotations, except for Walmart. This is doubly important since you have a staggered setup.

My top picks would be the Dunlop Signature HP and the Sumitomo HTR AS P02 (a Falken Ziex ZE950 with slightly different siping - curiously, the ZE950 isn’t available for the rears).

There’s a $70 rebate on the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric AS (which doubles if you have the Goodyear credit card), making it a good deal.

AM3R shamefully returns > Sweet Trav
07/24/2016 at 22:57

UHP all seasons do just fine for me, I don’t track or autox my cars. Winters are overkill, and what’s the fun in having soft, crappy tires on your car for 4 months out of the year? I have over 20k between the DWS on my 328i and C300. Like i said, great tire, but the handling performance is pretty slacking compared to other UHP all seasons (AS3's, comp 2's).

AM3R shamefully returns > dogisbadob
07/24/2016 at 22:59

The sumitomos are ridiculously cheap, definitely gonna have to look more into those.

Rico > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 23:02

I’ve had Kumho Ecta 4x (I guess version 1) on my 2014 C300 for 2 years and have been nothing but happy with them. Great in the dry and great in the wet. I’ve hit up mountain back roads and they handled really great. Average tire noise and pretty good ride, takes potholes like a champ here in NYC. Not great in snow above a couple of inches but the 4Matic tries to compensate and does it well.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 23:05

I have Kumho PA31's, they’re pretty good for the price but I have really yet to drive my car since putting the nee rubber on.

If you can find PA31's in your size, I’d suggest them over the 4x’s.

AM3R shamefully returns > Rico
07/24/2016 at 23:09

Thanks! Definitely gonna look more into them.

Rico > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 23:15

I got a killer deal locally on mine, $440 mounted and balanced and I got an $80 rebate from Kumho about a month later so $360 all in.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > dogisbadob
07/24/2016 at 23:15

Don’t bother with good years, I had similar to what you mentioned (Eagle RS-A). They where terrible. Did not last 30,000kms, super harsh ride, really loud, had awful grip in the wet.

dogisbadob > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 23:24

Also, vulcantire has them even cheaper than the tire rack! About $50 for the set of four

AM3R shamefully returns > Rico
07/24/2016 at 23:25

Wow, I'm seeing them for $480 for the set of 4 from tire rack, then a $75 rebate. I thought I was getting a good deal lol!

dogisbadob > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
07/24/2016 at 23:28

The F1 Asymmetric AS is NOT in any way similar to the RS-A. Very very different tires!

The RS-A is an OE tire, and OE tires aren’t as good as like you’d buy on tire rack.

AM3R shamefully returns > dogisbadob
07/24/2016 at 23:29

I’ll have to check out vulcantire, I’ve been finding lots of sites that are cheaper than good ol’ TR. thanks!

BayAreaMiataBoi > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 23:34

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Rico > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 23:35

I went locally to a flat fix tire shop, they can order tires at really low prices. Newer version likely has a higher MSRP too.

AM3R shamefully returns > BayAreaMiataBoi
07/24/2016 at 23:42

Thank you! How is the sidewall on the ecsta II’s?

BayAreaMiataBoi > AM3R shamefully returns
07/24/2016 at 23:54

Feels same as the I’s, just slightly better wet grip on the II’s than the I’s. My longest-lasting I went 46000 mostly-highway miles, so I was pretty happy. (Although about 1200 miles of that was learning how to drive a very technical road starting at 7/10 (~2:05 hours) and 9.5/10 (1:27). That is a record that I will not better, because too many deer.)