Kumho Ecsta PA31 Tire Review

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What are the Features Offered?

Aside from having a powerful tread pattern, the Kumho Ecsta PA31 is also made from an advanced construction method. Apart from that, the company decided to use the best all-season compound for their tread with the aim to manufacture high-performance tires that would provide a high level of mileage capabilities for their future customers.

On top of that, they also chose to use Kumho's ESCOT technology to increase the quality level of their tires. How this technology works are by using a tension cord that has been fully-optimized beforehand in the sidewall to amplify the level of steering response, handling, and cornering while at the same time extending the tread life of the tires.

Next, these tires also come with variable pitch shoulder blocks that have already been built-in with the tires, and this is done to make sure that the tires would provide a completely silent and smooth driving experience. What these pitch shoulder blocks do is that they will ensure that you would have a silent driving experience even if all of your tires have worn out.

However, one of the most interesting features of the Kumho Ecsta PA31 remains to be the thick density of sipes and huge cross grooves. The former allows the tire to preserve a constant level of grip on wintry and wet road conditions. The latter also provides the essential biting edges so that the tire may have a solid grip on snow and ice. Overall, this tire is suitable to be used in light snow conditions, and if you need a tire that can perform well in extreme winter conditions, then it's highly recommended for you to buy winter tires instead.

What are the Tire's Specifications?

Please note that the specifications of the tires may vary according to their respective sizes

• UTQG - 500 A A
• Maximum load - 1102 lbs
• Maximum inflation pressure - 51 psi
• Tread depth - 11/32 "
• Tire weight - 18 lbs
• Rim width range - 5 to 6 "
• Measured rim width - 5 "
• Section width - 7 "
• Tread width - 4.9 "
• Overall diameter - 24 "
• Revolutions per mile - 866

Are There Any Warranties Included?

Yes, this tire also comes with six years or 50,000 mileage warranty, but please keep in mind that the mileage warranty will be reduced to half just in case the size of your rear and front tires are not the same. Next, you will also get the uniformity warranty for the first 2/32 inches of wear along with the six years of workmanship and materials warranty. On top of that, you are entitled to free replacements for the first 2/32 inches of wear which will then be prorated to the last 2/32 inches of the remaining depth. Unfortunately, this tire does not come with the manufacturer's road hazard warranty nor the manufacturer's special warranty, so bear that in mind.

What are the Pros and Cons of This Tire?

Pros

• Produces an extremely low level of noise when it is driven on the highway
• Spectacular dry and wet traction
• Highly sensitive steering response
• Provides an overall comfortable driving experience
• Excellent braking distance and performance

Cons

• The cornering grip could have been improved.

What Type of Vehicles is Applicable to This Tire?

The Kumho Ecsta PA 31 can be used on a wide variety of vehicles, and it is typically available for sale between 15 to 18 inches in diameter. This tire is a perfect choice for vehicles like the Scion FR-S, Toyota 86, Hyundai Veloster, Subaru BRZ, and Mini Cooper. Apart from that, you may also use this tire for any of your compact cars like the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Chevy Cruze, and Mazda3. Next, I would also highly recommend you to use this tire on your bigger sporting sedans such as Mazda 6, Ford Fusion, and Chevrolet Malibu.

What About Its Performance in Wintry Conditions?

You might not know this, but the Kumho Ecsta PA 31 actually performs very well in wintry conditions, especially on icy roads covered in snow. As a matter of fact, I have to admit that I'm quite surprised to see that an ultra-high performing tire such as this one would show some positive results in light and average wintry conditions.

One of the things that makes this tire perform well in these conditions is the heavy density of the sipes and the big cross grooves that function as teeth that are literally used to claw or bite over the road. This tire has been designed in this way so that it would have a high level of grip on the ground even in wet and icy road conditions.

The wide groove of this tire will make sure that any ice, slush, and water would be effectively removed from the surface of the tread. This would enable the tire to consistently stabilize its level of directional control and grip on the ground even if you drive your vehicle in extreme road conditions. The Kumho Ecsta PA 31 is an example of an ultra-high-performing tire that performs well in wintry conditions.

Keep in mind that not every high-performing tire can show some good results on snowy and icy roads, and Kumho Ecsta PA 31 managed to prove that it is indeed an exception to this case. The reason for this is mainly due to the fact that it has been specifically engineered by experts in the industry to consistently maintain its traction even if the tarmac gets completely covered in slush.

How Does It Feel to Use It On Dry Roads?

The Kumho Ecsta PA 31 might not be the ideal tire that you can use on dry roads as it just doesn't deliver the same performance as the other proper summer tire. However, it is capable of providing relentless grip and traction, especially in an extreme driving style. Apart from that, this tire will also amplify the steering and handling of your vehicle to provide you with a thrilling driving experience.

However, you also need to keep in mind that there are some limits as to what this tire can deliver. Just in case you are thinking of using this tire to race in your vehicle with your friends around the entire track, then you will soon realize that the level of grip that this tire offers is higher than usual, but it's still not sufficient to give you a competitive time.

You may find that it's very easy for you to attack the winding and fast corners without putting too much effort in place, but at the same time, you will also realize that the tires can be easily overwhelmed by an engine with a heavier body and higher level of power. The Kumho Ecsta PA 31 remains to be the best high-performing tires without any doubt, but it might not be the best choice for you if you have an exotic sports sedan or a tuned vehicle. As for decently fast cars, these tires, in most cases, would be more than enough to satisfy your regular day-to-day driving needs.

How Noisy and Comfortable This Tire Is?

Two of the most admirable things about the Kumho Ecsta PA 31 are the level of comfort that it provides and how silent it is on the road. This tire will not only help you to enhance the steering, handling, and overall all-season performance of your vehicle, but it will also provide a high level of comfort while operating silently on the road at the same time throughout your entire journey of travel on those long highways.

However, if you put the level of comfort above all else, then it's highly recommended for you to search for other types of tires. This also applies to the level of noise that this tire produced. The reason for this is that this tire might produce some noise when you're driving at high speed, which is a good thing to have if you exceed the speed limit.

I don't mean that the Kumho Ecsta PA 31 is a stiff-riding and noisy tire to have, but if you're the type of person that insists on some refinements, then you would most likely be disappointed with the overall level of noise that it produces at high speed. Otherwise, this tire might just be for you as it provides a minimal level of noise and a high level of comfort.

What is the Price Range of This Tire?

The average price of this tire ranges from as low as $67.97 to $135.99.