Kumho designed the Ecsta V720 for drivers who like to push their cars’ performance to the absolute limit on the street or for autocross. While the Ecsta V720 isn’t designed for the racetrack, it definitely is race-inspired with much of the same materials and designs. Along with tenacious grip on dry pavement, the Ecsta V720 is designed for cool, confident traction on wet days as well.

Extreme Summer Performance tires like the Kumho Ecsta V720 are really the top of the food chain when it comes to tire performance. Tires like this are designed for sharp, responsive handling and cornering ability, sticky braking that cuts braking distances significantly, and high-speed stability. So does the tire really deliver on all that? Let’s take a closer look with this Kumho Ecsta V720 review.

Features and Benefits

Here are just a few of the features of the Kumho Ecsta V720 that show its connection to autosports heritage:

• Tread formulation incorporates high levels of carbon black and super high-grip synthetic resin for a flexible, sticky tread surface that adheres to pavement for phenomenal handling and cornering ability
• Asymmetric tread with wide outboard shoulders and continuous notched center rib for responsiveness and high-speed stability
• Crossed lateral grooves help channel water away from the tire’s footprint for resistance to hydroplaning on wet pavement
• Dual high-tensile steel belts and spiral-wound nylon layer for high-speed stability and uniform ride quality
• Sidewalls are designed for minimal flex and lateral deflection while cornering
• Contact patch is optimized to put the most rubber in contact with the pavement
• Features Kumho’s ESCOT Tension Control Technology in the casing design means less flex and tread squirm with improved heat dispersal

Pros and Cons

So, is this the right tire for your ride and budget? Before you decide, let’s take a look at the Ecsta V720’s strengths:

PROS:

• Cornering and braking performance are second to none
• Superb, advanced tread formulation enhances performance
• Quicker acceleration
• Shorter braking distances
• Built with Kumho’s ESCOT Tension Casing Technology that lessens irregular wear

Unfortunately, no tire is perfect and that’s true of this Kumho tires as well:

CONS:

• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently below 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Not suitable for driving through standing water or heavy rains
• Not suitable for use on the racetrack
• Is not covered by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty

SimpleTire’s view on Kumho Ecsta V720 tires

If you’re in the market for an extreme summer performance tire to start with, you already know what your expectations are and probably know what to expect out of a tire. The Ecsta V720 is a tire that lives up to all those expectations for drivers who need that kind of performance. The advanced tread compound is an industry leader, and the Ecsta V720’s braking and cornering performance are second to none.

Now, that having been said, the Ecsta V720 has a shallow tread depth from the factory and will soon become almost a slick tire for autocross, meaning that while it can get good traction on wet pavement it’s not suitable for heavy rain and drivers should use caution and slow down. To address the other quibbles listed under Cons, most high-performance tires aren’t covered by tread life warranty, Kumho states that this tire isn’t intended for the track, and tire manufacturers advise against using summer or UHP tires if temperatures are below 45 degrees Fahrenheit since the softer, stickier rubber formulation will stiffen up and lose traction on cold days.

Vehicles the Kumho Ecsta V720 is a good replacement tire for

The Kumho Ecsta V720 is an all-out performance tire, making it a good fit for vehicles such as:

• Audi A8
• Porsche 911
• BMW M1
• Subaru WRX
• Dodge Challenger
• Chevrolet Corvette
• Ford Mustang
• Toyota Supra
• Mazda MX-5
• Nissan GT-R
• Honda NSX