Kumho Ecsta ASX Tire Review & Rating
As an ultra-high performance all-season tire, the Kumho Ecsta ASX is designed to provide both performance and value for drivers of all types of sports cars and sedans.
ASX stands for All-Season Xtreme, and Kumho uses the latest in tire technology, which includes a silica and carbon tread compound, to give this model better overall handling and response on both wet and dry surfaces. Cornering is also enhanced through the tires’ larger outside shoulder blocks.
The asymmetrical tread design sports slanted grooves and higher volume circumferential grooves to make it safer to drive on rain soaked road surfaces, and greatly reduce the possibility of hydroplaning as well.
Lower road noise and increased comfort is accomplished on the Kumho ASX through a more optimized tread block shape and better tension control in the casing. Another benefit to this casing technology is that pressure is more evenly distributed, which gives the tire longer and more even treadwear.
Inside the tread you will find two belts made of high tensile steel that are spirally wrapped. This gives the tire increased strength and handling at higher speeds. It also improves the overall ride quality on the tires. Kumho offers 16-22 inch sizes in the ASX, and it comes backed with a 30K mile tread warranty.
Pros
- Very good dry pavement cornering and handling
- Steering response is good
- Tire rides well and there’s not a lot of road noise
- Excellent value for the money
Cons
- Tread life could be better
- Wet traction
Overall Thoughts
The Kumho ASX offers reliable performance and control on dry surfaces. The steering is quick and responsive, and stability is quite good at higher speeds. Perhaps best of all it features a lower price point for those on a tighter budget who still want a very high level of performance in a tire.
Naturally, this tire is not without its faults. The biggest drawback with this model is its shorter treadlife. We’ve heard from drivers speaking of getting 25K miles out of the tread. Sure, if you’re hard on the tires you can expect to see a shorter lifespan, but we feel that treadwear is a bit short. The other issue is traction on wet pavement. We’d like to see a bump in wet grip, especially when cornering.
Overall, despite its negatives we still like this tire for its solid dry road performance and handling. It fills a much needed niche market in lower costing high-performance tires.
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What Vehicles Will The Ecsta ASX Fit?
(This is not a complete list of ALL vehicles this tire will fit)
- Acura CL, TSX, Integra, RL
- Audi A4, S6
- BMW 535i, Z3, M3, 740i, 540i, 330i
- Chevrolet Malibu, Impala, Cobalt, Corvette, Monte Carlo SS, Aveo5
- Ford Crown Victoria, Mustang GT, Probe, Taurus, Focus
- Honda Civic, Prelude, Fit, Accord, S2000, Odyssey
- Hyundai Sonata
- Infiniti Q45, G35
- Mazda3, Mazda6, Protege
- Mercedes Benz CLK320, E500
- Mitsubishi Lancer
- Nissan 350Z, 370Z, Sentra, 200SX
- Pontiac Grand Prix, Trans Am
- Subaru Impreza WRX, Outback, Legacy
- Suzuki Forenza
- Toyota MR2, Celica, Supra, Camry, Matrix
- Volkswagen Jetta, GTi, Beetle
Tire Sizes
16″
215/50R16 90W BSW
17″
215/50R17 95W XL BSW
215/55R17 94V BSW
225/55R17 97W BSW
255/45R17 98W BSW
255/50R17 101W BSW
18″
235/50R18 97W BSW
245/45R18 100W XL BSW
22″
245/30R22 92W XL/RF BSW
255/30R22 95W XL/RF BSW
Price Range
Prices on the Kumho ASX range from approximately $80 and up. You may also find occasional rebates, discounts, coupons and special offers on this tire.
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Warranty
Kumho stands behind the ASX with a 6-year or 30,000 mile treadlife warranty. There is also a one-year or first 2/32 inch of wear guarantee on the tire’s uniformity.
Materials and workmanship are backed for 6-years and include a free replacement during the first year or first 2/32 inch of wear. That is followed by a prorated amount for the remaining time period or until the last 2/32 inch of tread depth.
A road hazard warranty is provided for the first 2/32 inch of wear.
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