Kumho Tire U.S.A. recently hosted a ride-and-drive event at Atlanta Motorsports Park in Georgia to highlight the latest additions to its Ecsta Sport line.
Kumho first unveiled these tires at the 2024 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.
The new lineup includes the Ecsta Sport All-Season PA71, an ultra high-performance (UHP) all-season tire, along with two UHP summer options: the Ecsta Sport PS72 and the Ecsta Sport S PS72.
Designed to deliver outstanding performance across seasons and driving conditions, the Ecsta Sport A/S offers year-round capability, while the Ecsta Sport and Ecsta Sport S are built for maximum grip and handling in summer conditions, according to Kumho officials.
"With the evolving needs of high-performance vehicles and their drivers, over the past five years we've been laser focused on developing our new Ecsta series that not only meets but exceeds industry leading product performers," says Shawn Denlein president of sales and marketing, Kumho Tire USA.
Attendees had the opportunity to put the new tires to the test across three dynamic modules at Atlanta Motorsports Park.
First up was a wet skid pad, designed to showcase the tires’ grip, handling and braking performance in slick conditions. Next came the autocross course — a tight, technical track outlined by cones — where participants experienced the tires’ responsiveness, acceleration and cornering capabilities.
The final module was a high-speed lead-follow session on the full racetrack, allowing drivers to push the tires to their limits while following a professional driver, demonstrating the products' handling and stability at speed.
“We are introducing our most technologically advanced ultra-high performance tires that set a new standard for what a high-performance tire can and should be,” said Denlein at the 2024 SEMA Show.
“We are continuing to deliver superior tires with exceptional warranties at extremely competitive price points, which is what customers can and should expect from Kumho Tire.”
Ecsta Sport All-Season
According to Kumho Tire officials, the new all-season tire was designed to be “exceptional in the rain, comfortable and quiet all the time, with great grip.”
The tire comes in 56 sizes for wheels ranging from 16 inches to 21 inches in diameter and has a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. Another size, the 255/40ZR20, will be available in the second half of 2025.
The Ecsta Sport All-Season is an electric vehicle (EV)-compatible tire and features all-season capability even on snowy roads. It features either a W- or Y- speed rating, depending on tire size.
Features of the new all-season tire, according to Kumho officials, include next-generation polymers with high-grip resin and high-dispersible silica to enhance performance on wet and dry roads and improve tread life; wide and stiff outside corner blocks for optimal stability; 3D interlocking sipes for traction; and more.
The tire is also designed with Kumho's K-Noise Defender Technology, which uses a dimple design inside the grooves of the tire to help interrupt airflow through the tire grooves and minimize road noise.
Denlein says Kumho's mission this year is to become a "leading, high-performance tire brand."
"Launching our three new Ecsta products together allows us to meet growing customer demand simultaneously across the segment and make a big impact."
Ecsta Sport and Sport S
The Ecsta Sport and Ecsta Sport S are summer tires made for performance vehicles.
According to Kumho officials, the Ecsta Sport PS72 and Ecsta Sport S PS72 lines provide maximum traction with an enhanced compound to grip the road and deliver heightened levels of performance in handling, stability, cornering and steering response.
Both tires are EV-compatible and come with a 30,000-mile limited mileage warranty. The Ecsta Sport comes with a Y-speed rating and the Ecsta Sport S comes with a (Y) speed rating.
Kumho officials say the tires feature an “innovative compounding technology” that is “excellent for braking performance on dry and wet roads.” The tires also feature an inside groove to aid in water drainage; a strong outside block for cornering; dynamic inside and outside shoulders for strength; and high-speed stability and a new concept of cappy design to deliver stiffer cornering force.
The Ecsta Sport PS72 is available in 56 sizes and the Ecsta Sport S PS72 in 42 different sizes from 17-inch to 22-inch wheel diameters.
All three tires are available now.
Tariffs
Denlein also spoke about tariffs and the impact they could have on Kumho Tire's business.
"We believe that the tariff imposed by the Trump administration will affect not only Kumho but also many tiremakers," he says. "Kumho will focus on how to secure the continuity and consistency of our business in this changing situation and minimize the business impact of the tariff in the future."
He continues by saying he believes the tariffs will affect not only the tire industry, but the entire automotive industry in the first half of the year.
"While this may be very challenging, we believe it will also change the market paradigm and open up opportunities that appeal to more customers," he says.
