TAKE one country NSW race track and add in a Kia Stinger GT and Genesis G70 Ultimate Sport. Marry them to the new state of the art Kumho PA51 performance tyre and its PS71 sibling and you get a true test of the brand’s new ‘comfortable’ Ecsta rubber.
The star of the show is the PA51, aimed at brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus and Genesis, and specific models like the Kia Stinger, Mini Cooper and Ford Mustang, and offering incredible tyre life.
Featuring a tread design that delivers enhanced handling handling and traction, and a quiet, comfortable ride, the PA51 utilises a strengthened centre rib and outside shoulder block stiffness.
Four wide circumferential grooves and open shoulder lateral grooves also make it a wet weather star. Kumho’s variable pitch sequence technology helps to minimise noise to provide a quieter and more comfortable drive too.
It’s PS71 sibling offers slightly better wet and dry performance, superb handling and excellent stability. Its only downsides being a slightly noisier experience and less tyre life, although Kumho has worked hard to improve durability.
We put both tyres through some serious testing at the Pheasant Wood Circuit near Marulan in country NSW, including wet and dry braking and cornering scenarios and a slalom course.
In wet and dry braking, both tyres pulled their respective performance cars to a halt quickly, with the PS71 able to do it in a slightly shorter distance. Pushed through corners, in variable conditions, we saw amazing levels of grip, especially in the dry.
It was virtually impossible to split the two, but in the wet, it was again the PS71 that was ever so slightly better, thanks to its softer compound. Over a longer test though, we believe the longevity of the PA51 would shine through.
Sudden cornering at high speed is a true test of tyres capabilities in an emergency or real-world situation, and it was on the slalom course that we were able to best test the capabilities of both tyres.
Again, both tyres were remarkably good, with the PS71 offering greater turn in, while the PA51 also performed exceptionally well.
The duo of performance tyres from Kumho certainly set a new standard for the South Korean tyre maker, and are well worth a look when it’s time to buy new rubber for your performance car, or even if you want some decent rubber on your family car.
To find out more about the new Kumho Ecsta PA51 and the Kumho Ecsta PS71 tyres, contact your local Kumho dealer. We tested both tyres as part of a launch event, hosted by Kumho Tyres Australia.
