KUMHO Achieves Outright Victory in 53-Strong Test of Summer Tyres

Kumho has outstripped 52 rival tyre manufacturers to take outright victory in Auto Bild magazine’s latest summer tyre test with its ECSTA HS51 high-performance pattern.

The annual test is among the most comprehensive of its type, the results of which are regarded as highly significant by both the European tyre trade and its consumers.

No less than 33 of the 53 entries were eliminated by the initial braking test. Conducted on both wet and dry surfaces, it left Kumho in a fighting third place overall. However, while the ensuing qualifications caused the two leaders to slide down the order, the Kumho’s highly competitive and consistent scores in almost every discipline ultimately left it as the undisputed test winner. Awarding the ECSTA HS51 their coveted ‘Exemplary’ badge, the Auto Bild testers commended it for its precise steering response, secure wet grip, well-balanced handling, short braking distance, low wear rate and affordable price. 

Unlike some tyre tests, where the products are supplied by the manufacturers, those for the Auto Bild ones are covertly purchased by the magazine from regular retail oulets. The chosen size was 205/55R16, ie that specified for the bulk of Volkswagen Golfs and Audi A3s etc, and therefore arguably the one most common within the European car parc. UK purchasers currently have the choice of 35 sizes of ECSTA HS51 for wheels of 15 to 18 inches in diameter. The qualification round of the test was carried out at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg in Germany and the balance of the disciplines performed at the IDIADA facility in Spain.

Contact Modern Tyres for more information on Kumho high-performance tyres and its many other products for passenger cars, SUVs, vans and trucks.