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Last updated 8/05/2025 - Originally published 8/05/2025
Written by SimpleTire, Expertly reviewed by Brett Antosh
Founded in 1960 and headquartered in South Korea, Kumho is known in the US region for its high-quality tires. The tire manufacturer is a fully-owned subsidiary of Chinese tire maker Doublestar and makes tires for use on sedans, coupes, CUVs, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, and commercial trucks. Kumho brings a variety of tires for the drivers in the form of all-season, all-weather, UHP summer, winter, all-terrain, mud-terrain, UHP all-season, and touring tires.
Coming from South Korea, Nexen is another popular tire manufacturer in the country and has been in the business for more than 80 years. Known for its value-offering and “Next-Generation” (the brand gets its name from this word) tires, Nexen is an OE supplier to many popular vehicle manufacturers in the world. It offers tires for use on passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, and EVs, and its range of offerings includes all-season, winter, all-terrain, all-weather, UHP summer, UHP all-season, mud-terrain, highway, touring, and more.
Coming from both manufacturers, the Ecsta V730 and the N’Fera RU1 are the two capable UHP summer tires. These tires are claimed to be responsive and exceptionally good at handling, and allow drivers to enjoy a commanding performance on dry and wet surfaces in warmer weather conditions.
While the N’Fera RU1 is suitable for use on high-performance SUVs, the Ecsta V730 brings more versatility because of its compatibility with performance-oriented coupes, sedans, sports cars, and supercars. Made for summer weather driving, these tires are used in temperatures above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
While both manufacturers claim that their tires are good on the performance front, let’s do a comparative analysis and find out their true potential in areas like traction, handling, and longevity based on our proprietary tire rating system SimpleScore. So, read on this Ecsta V730 vs N’Fera RU1 review and get ready to access the insights that you won’t find anywhere else other than SimpleTire!
Kumho Ecsta V730 tires
The Kumho Ecsta V730 made its debut in 2021 and comes with everything that a modern-day UHP summer tire must have. Kumho has optimized this tire for maximum performance and traction in warmer weather conditions, on dry and wet roads and tracks. It meets the expectations of passionate drivers by offering them both value and performance with a blend of advanced technologies that promote confident handling. It is also optimized for heat resistance and increased durability, and is made available in 15- to 19-inch rim sizes.
Overall, the Kumho Ecsta V730 scores a great 8.4 overall SimpleScore because of its responsive handling, strong traction, and long-lasting tread life.
Get Kumho Ecsta V730 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here
Nexen N'Fera RU1 tires
The Nexen N’Fera RU1, another competing UHP summer tire, made its debut in 2017 and sports a next-generation rubber compound and solid construction for improved steering response, performance, reduced noise levels, increased stability, and optimum hydroplaning resistance. The tire is also an OE choice for vehicles like Jeep Compass, Porsche Macan, and Skoda Kodiaq, and comes in 16- to 20-inch rim sizes.
Overall, the Nexen N’Fera RU1 scores a decent 7.8 SimpleScore, thanks to its outstanding handling, strong traction, and long-lasting tread life.
Get Nexen N Fera RU1 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here
Kumho Ecsta V730 vs Nexen N'Fera RU1 tires on traction
Let’s compare both tires on the traction front and find out which one is better when it comes to maintaining road grip and traction in dry and wet conditions, when the weather conditions are warmer.
The Kumho Ecsta V730 scores a great 8.5 SimpleScore in traction, assuring a commanding surefootedness in dry and wet conditions in summer weather. The tire features an optimized asymmetric tread design for enhanced traction, and its wide circumferential grooves help in improved water evacuation and traction in wet conditions. For additional grip and traction, the tread has zigzag-shaped center under-grooves, which further enhance water evacuation for hydroplaning resistance and grip in wet conditions.
On the contrary, the N’Fera RU1 scores an equally impressive 8.5 SimpleScore rating in traction. This means, with a set of these Nexen tires installed, you won’t feel the lag because of less grip or traction. The tread features 3+1 asymmetric grooves for enhanced drainage performance, improving hydroplaning resistance and wet grip. Likewise, its contact patch is wider, and there are sharper shoulder blocks and ribs to boost dry traction.
In traction, both tires achieve an equal SimpleScore, resulting in a tie.
ADVANTAGE: Tie
Kumho Ecsta V730 vs Nexen N'Fera RU1 tires on handling
Moving on to the handling part, which relates to steering response, stability, cornering performance, braking efficiency, and overall controllability, we found that one of the two tires was marginally better than the other. Here’s our detailed handling analysis:
Commencing with the Kumho Ecsta V730, the handling score stands at an impressive 8.7, which means you will enjoy a great response to your driving commands. There is an optimized asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response, while the rib-type center block design enhances straight-line stability and dry road responsiveness. The wave-shaped micro-groove application is another great attribute used in this performance-oriented tire, which helps in controlling tread heat. For stability in wet conditions, you can rely on the zigzag-shaped center under-groove, and the internal construction of the tire utilizes a high-strength carcass for increased durability and handling performance.
The N Fera RU1, on the other hand, is rated an 8.6 in handling. This UHP summer tire features a narrow groove on the outside for better handling performance and steering stability. The presence of in/out balanced rib offers increased stability at high speeds, while the silent sipes reduce tread noise for quieter and pleasant rides. Furthermore, the sidewalls are shorter to offer a balanced ride, whereas the wider footprint ensures confident cornering and sharper lane changes.
While both tires are competitive on the handling front too, the Kumho Ecsta V730 has the advantage of a marginally higher (additional 0.1) SimpleScore rating and comes out as a winner!
ADVANTAGE: Kumho Ecsta V730
Kumho Ecsta V730 vs Nexen N'Fera RU1 tires on longevity
Coming to the longevity part, we will understand which of the two tires has better wear resistance and can last longer. To give you a hint, the gap in the scores of both tires was maximum, and one of the two tires was a clear winner.
The Ecsta V730 is rated an 8.0 score for its exceptional longevity, and this means the tire won’t disappoint you with faster tread wear anytime soon. The inner construction of this tire utilizes a high-strength carcass for increased durability, which controls tire deformation for even and longer wear. The use of solid rubber compound additionally shields the tire from quicker wear, resulting in a long-lasting service.
Comparatively, the N’Fera RU1 is rated a 7.1 for its service life. Its optimized footprint prevents irregular wear, and the inner casing reinforcements, along with sturdy rubber compound, can control the wear rate very well. The tough shoulder blocks and sidewalls also resist driving pressures for better service life and long wear.
On the longevity front, it is the Ecsta V730 is better than the N’Fera RU1 and ensures a longer service life.
ADVANTAGE: Kumho Ecsta V730
When to use each
Both the Ecsta V730 and the N Fera RU1 are made for faster accelerations, sharper steering response, and confident driving in warmer weather conditions on dry and wet pavement. They should be used in temperatures above 45°F. It is recommended not to use them for driving in winter weather conditions on snow or ice, as they are not engineered for winter driving purposes. If you need a set of capable tires for year-round use, in dry, wet, and light snow conditions, consider a set of UHP all-season tires.
Which one should you choose?
Based on the overall SimpleScore, the Kumho Ecsta V730 is a better choice than the N’Fera RU1 (8.4 vs 7.8). However, they both are good in one or the other area, and therefore, your purchase consideration should rely on your driving style, needs, and budget.
Moving on to another important aspect during tire purchase – the price. The Ecsta V730 is available at a starting price of at least $155 per tire, while the N Fera RU1 is available at a starting price of at least $118 per tire. This means, a set of four Kumho tires will cost you at least $620, whereas a set of four Nexen tires will cost you at least $472.
Looking at SimpleScore, you should choose the Ecsta V730 if you:
- Drive a vehicle like the Ford Mustang, Mitsubishi Lancer, BMW 3 Series, Porsche Boxster, Mazda MX-5, or Dodge Challenger
- Want a tire that’s better in handling (8.7 vs 8.6)
- Want a tire that’s better in longevity (8.0 vs 7.1)
- Are comfortable paying more to buy an overall better tire
- Want a UHP summer tire that can be used on vehicles having rim sizes in the range of 15 to 19 inches
On the other hand, you should choose the N’Fera RU1 if you:
- Drive a vehicle like the Honda CR-V, Porsche Macan, Buick Envision, Audi Q5, Nissan Rogue, Volvo XC90, Subaru Forester, or Chevrolet Equinox
- Need a tire that’s equally good in traction
- Want a tire that’s more affordable and yet delivers reliable performance
- Need a tire that’s available in the rim size range of 16 to 20 inches
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.