Kumho Ecsta V730 vs Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate tires

Kumho is a renowned South Korean tire manufacturer that has been delivering high-quality tires since 1960. The tire brand is known for its ability to integrate racing-derived technology into street tires, offering enthusiasts a range of options that prioritize solid grip and precise handling at a competitive price point.

Goodyear, on the other hand, doesn’t need any formal introduction and is a pure giant in the tire industry. With its legacy of over 125 years, the tire brand offers highly innovative products. Goodyear consistently dominates the market with advanced rubber compounds and tread patterns and focuses on high-speed control, year-round reliability, and premium ride quality.

Coming from Kumho, the Ecsta V730 is an Ultra-High-Performance (UHP) summer tire that’s engineered to offer solid grip and cornering stability for track days and spirited street driving. On the other hand, the Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate is a premium ultra-high-performance all-season tire designed to deliver exceptional handling and high-speed traction in dry, wet, and light winter conditions. Both tires are interesting in their own ways: the Kumho is designed for summer conditions and is intended for performance enthusiasts. In contrast, the Goodyear is more versatile, delivering punchy performance year-round.

If you want to own a reliable set of performance tires, this Ecsta V730 vs Eagle Exhilarate tires comparison will help you choose the better tire based on your driving needs, preferences, and budget. Here, we will use our proprietary tire rating system, SimpleScore, to determine which tire is better overall, along with their capability in areas like traction, handling, and longevity on a scale of 0-10.

Kumho Ecsta V730 tires

The Kumho Ecsta V730 is an ultra-high-performance summer tire that’s suitable for driving in warmer weather conditions, in temperatures above 45 degrees Faheneheit. This tire is designed for drivers of sports cars, performance coupes, sedans, and supercars, and is specially optimized for those who demand track-level responses. It features an optimized compound and a specialized asymmetric tread pattern for extreme dry traction and has abilities to maintain stability during intense cornering maneuvers. Additionally, the Ecsta V730 is engineered for deformation resistance under high-speed stress.

Overall, the Ecsta V730 earns an 8.4 SimpleScore, thanks to its crisp handling, solid dry and wet traction, and a long-lasting tread life.

Get Kumho Ecsta V730 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate tires

The Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate is a top-tier UHP all-season tire designed for high-performance thrills year-round. The tire comes with many advanced features for outstanding handling, traction, and a decent tread life. It features ActiveBraking Technology reduced braking distance on both wet and dry roads. Its rubber compound and asymmetric tread pattern promote solid grip and traction in rain, and the heavy-duty construction assures precise steering and stability at high highway speeds. Additionally, it comes backed by a tread life warranty.

Overall, the Eagle Exhilarate is rated an impressive 8.9 SimpleScore for its exceptional steering response, year-round grip, and lasting service.

Get Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Kumho Ecsta V730 vs Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate tires on traction

Let’s get into more details of these tires, commencing with traction analysis, as this will help us decide which of the two tires is better in maintaining surefootedness.

Commencing with the Ecsta V730, the tire earns an 8.5 SimpleScore in traction and offers solid grip on dry and wet roads, in summer conditions. It features a specialized racing compound that provides increased grip on dry roads for faster lap times and confident high-speed driving. Likewise, its wave-like sipes assure good traction in wet conditions, maximizing contact with dry surfaces.

On the contrary, the Eagle Exhilarate earns a 9.5 SimpleScore in traction, ensuring excellent year-round traction and grip. Goodyear uses a high-silica compound to make this tire more flexible and grippy across a wide range of temperatures. Its sweeping grooves and multiple biting edges provide superior traction in wet and light snow conditions.

No doubt, the Kumho tire is a powerhouse on dry tracks; the Eagle Exhilarate takes a clear win in this section for its brilliant all-season surface grip.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate

Kumho Ecsta V730 vs Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate tires on handling

In handling analysis here, let us now find out which of the two tires is better in ride control, stability, steering response, braking, and cornering.

First, let’s talk about the Ecsta V730, which earns a high 8.7 SimpleScore in handling, assuring great response and controllability in warmer weather conditions. It features an asymmetric design and extended outer shoulder blocks to resist lateral forces during hard cornering. Similarly, its center ribs and overall wide footprint ensure a crisp and immediate steering response. Thanks to the reinforced internal structure, there is great command behind the wheel.

Contrarily, the Eagle Exhilarate is rated an excellent 9.5 SimpleScore in handling, offering superior performance and controllability in dry, wet, and mild snow conditions. Its reinforced sidewalls and ActiveBraking Technology ensure excellent controllability and shorter stopping distance. Likewise, the tire's ability to maintain its shape under high stress helps in high-speed stability and exceptional steering precision.

In handling, we see that the Eagle Exhilarate earns a higher score to lead the section and offers the confidence to maneuver in diverse conditions.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate

Kumho Ecsta V730 vs Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate tires on longevity

Now, let’s discuss the long-lasting ability of these tires in this section and find out which of the two covers more miles.

Commencing with the Ecsta V730, the tire scores an 8.0 in longevity. This means the Ecsta V730 can resist wear optimally and cover a good number of miles. It is built using a specialized rubber compound that can control the wear rate, despite the rubber compound being highly adaptive and soft. Like most UHP summer tires, the Kumho tire doesn’t carry a tread life mileage warranty, but its overall construction and wider base ensure even wear.

On the other hand, the Eagle Exhilarate earns a higher 8.6 SimpleScore in longevity, confirming its ability to cover a good number of miles and resist wear. This tire is also covered by a 45,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which assures its impressive lasting ability. Likewise, the optimized compound of this tire resists friction and heat of high-speed driving, alongside maintaining optimum durability for outstanding wear resistance.

In longevity, it is the Goodyear tire that again earns more points than the Kumho tire and stands as a winner.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate

When to use each

Both the Ecsta V730 and the Eagle Exhilarate tires are engineered for different performance needs. While the Ecsta V730 is a summer-only performance tire and has a rubber compound for use in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, the Eagle Exhilarate is optimized for superior performance year-round. The Ecsta tire should be used during warm months and for track specific vehicle that looks for solid dry grip. The Eagle Exhilarate tire performs exceptionally well in summer heat, but is also safe for use in cooler temperatures and even light snow. However, it is to be noted that neither tire is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certified, and therefore, they should not be used in moderate to severe winter conditions.

Talking about rim sizes, the Ecsta V730 is available in 17- to 19-inch rim options, and the Eagle Exhilarate is offered in a wider range of 17- to 22-inch rim choices.

Which one should you choose?

Based on the overall SimpleScore, the Eagle Exhilarate is a better choice than the Ecsta V730 (8.9 vs 8.4). However, it is to be noted that they both have their own unique abilities, and your selection of tires should be based on whether you need a dedicated track-capable summer tire or an all-season tire that offers better versatility with a punch of performance.

Coming to prices, the Ecsta tire is available at a starting price of at least $202 per tire, while the Eagle Exhilarate tire is offered at a starting price of at least $98 per tire. This means you get a set of four Ecsta V730 tires at a starting price of at least $608, while a set of four Eagle Exhilarate tires will cost you at least $392.

Looking at SimpleScore, you should consider the Ecsta V730 if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Honda Civic, or Subaru BRZ.
• Need a performance-worthy summer tire for solid dry grip.
• Want to experience great steering response at an affordable price.

On the other hand, you should prefer the Eagle Exhilarate if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Audi S4, BMW 3 Series, or Ford Mustang.
• Need a tire that’s better in traction (9.5 vs 8.5).
• Want a tire that’s better in handling (9.5 vs 8.7).
• Need a tire that’s better in longevity (8.6 vs 8.0).
• Prefer a tire that’s covered by a 45,000 mile tread life warranty.
• Need a tire that’s better for use in rain and mild snow conditions.

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.