500-Mile Review! (Kumho ECSTA 712 255/50-16)

[MTMike]

As some know and others don't, I bought some Kumho ECSTA 712's in the 255/50-16ZR size/rating and here's my review after 500 miles with the tires:

Dry Traction: Very VERY good off the line, and the cornering stabilty is amazing! Between them and my posi, I can't get them to leave more than a 6" patch. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Wet Traction & Hydroplane Resistance: Impeccable! The best I've ever experienced! My old futuras would hydroplane without trying, and the Kumhos take standing water without thinking twice. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Snow Traction: Horrible. But they're not snow tires, nor did I buy them to be snow tires. But I still gotta give them [img]graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img]

Looks: Decent. The tread is very agressive looking, but other than that there's nothing extravagant about them. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img]

Overall: Amazing tires. The best I've ever owned. I will buy these for my car from now on. I recommend them to everyone as long as you never drive the car in snow. For the $92 price you cannot beat their performance. The only thing I don't like about them is they tend to like to wander around in the grooves in the highways. That seems to not be happening as bad now that the tires have "broken in" some - either that or I'm now used to it.

-Mike

[ March 11, 2002: Message edited by: MTMike ]</p>

[bu-bye]

SOLD!

[CARdiac]

I agree! Excellent tires! They do get a little slippery when the thermometer drops into the 30's (does happen here in SC).

[Liquid Silver]

I've been eyeing these tires since last winter... should I go with 245's in back or 255's?

[Everglades W68]

Thank you for the thoughtful analysis.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

I have some kumhos too, I have been recommending them the whole time, It's good to get some backup. For the money, you can't beat them. Everyone I work with that has custom wheels rolls on kumhos.

[Amped96]

Mike, i dont think the wandering goes away. Mine are near the end of their life span and still wander badly (275/40-17), but other than that great tires. You do get used to the wandering though.

[Dominic]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Liquid Silver:
I've been eyeing these tires since last winter... should I go with 245's in back or 255's?<hr></blockquote>

255/50R16s fit great, I'd get those if possible [img]smile.gif[/img]

[RiceyRS]

I was going to post a similar report on the Kumhos, I just got back from a 1500 mile road trip.

Dry Traction: Excellent, 2nd only to michillen pilots sport and almost a 3rd of the price. When the tires are cold and you floor

[TheV6Bird]

It seems like dry performance tires tend to wander more than all-seasons. Why is this? Are there any performance tires that DON'T wander?

[V6Bob]

I think it's probably stiff sidewalls. Probably an unavoidable tradeoff - performance and wandering.

[Everglades W68]

My original 235/55's are wearing out, so this was helpful and timely. Seeing that Cardinal and MTMike both recommend 255/50 pushes me to that size.

Does anyone have a review of Dunlop 255/50's?

[CamaroBill]

Thanks for the review!

I just ordered a set to mount on my Summer rims! (I run Michelin Arctic Alpins in the winter months. Great tires in the snow and wet and, surprisingly, half decent handling in the dry but way hard to launch hard without lots of tire spin).