TopTire Review

    Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51

    2026 test data · 22 independent tests · 5 head-to-head

    → See full Hankook vs Kumho brand comparison

    Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51: the full picture

    This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 and Kumho Ecsta HS51 appear in 22 tests, 5 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.

    How the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, based on 16 tests.

    How the Kumho Ecsta HS51 performs. It takes the win in mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 87/100, based on 6 tests.

    What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.

    Verdict

    The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho Ecsta HS51 still wins on mileage, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.

    Which one should you buy?

    Choose Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 if

    Overall winner
    • You prioritise wet
    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise noise / comfort

    Choose Kumho Ecsta HS51 if

    • You prioritise mileage
    • You prioritise efficiency

    Test profile

    MetricHankook Ventus Prime 3 K125Kumho Ecsta HS51
    SegmentTouringTouring
    TypeSummerSummer
    Tests used166
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank6.48.8
    Latest test20212021
    Tire Lab Score87.987.2

    Tire Lab Score

    87.9
    Very Good · Summer
    87.2
    Very Good · Summer

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryHankook Ventus Prime 3 K125Kumho Ecsta HS51Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 5.6
    336
    Avg rank 7.4
    11
    Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 4.2
    924
    Avg rank 8.7
    3
    Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 6.6
    132
    Avg rank 8.0
    Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
    📏Mileage
    Avg rank 11.0
    Avg rank 9.8
    1
    Kumho Ecsta HS51
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 6.4
    111
    Avg rank 1.5
    11
    Kumho Ecsta HS51

    Tests used in this comparison

    Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 5 independent tests:

    💧 Wet: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51

    The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 wins this category with an average rank of 5.6, compared to 7.4 for the Kumho Ecsta HS51.

    ☀️ Dry: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51

    The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 wins this category with an average rank of 4.2, compared to 8.7 for the Kumho Ecsta HS51.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51

    The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 wins this category with an average rank of 6.6, compared to 8.0 for the Kumho Ecsta HS51.

    📏 Mileage: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51

    The Kumho Ecsta HS51 wins this category with an average rank of 9.8, compared to 11.0 for the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125.

    🔋 Efficiency: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51

    The Kumho Ecsta HS51 wins this category with an average rank of 1.5, compared to 6.4 for the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 or Kumho Ecsta HS51?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 ranks higher on average than the Kumho Ecsta HS51.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho Ecsta HS51 across the tests where both appeared.

    Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?

    On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 ranks better than the Kumho Ecsta HS51.

    Which tire lasts longer?

    Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Kumho Ecsta HS51 shows better mileage performance than the Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 appears in 16 independent tests, Kumho Ecsta HS51 in 6, with 5 head-to-head tests where both were measured.

    Also compare

    Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →