Hankook Ventus Prime 4 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 4 and Kumho Ecsta HS51 appear in 21 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. 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 4 performs. It takes the win in dry, snow. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, based on 15 tests.
How the Kumho Ecsta HS51 performs. It takes the win in wet, noise / comfort, 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 4 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in dry and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho Ecsta HS51 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Hankook Ventus Prime 4 if
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise mileage
Test profile
| Metric | Hankook Ventus Prime 4 | Kumho Ecsta HS51 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Touring | Touring |
| Type | Summer | Summer |
| Tests used | 15 | 6 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 8.3 | 8.8 |
| Latest test | 2026 | 2021 |
| Tire Lab Score | 87.5 | 87.2 |
Tire Lab Score
Hankook Ventus Prime 4
Kumho Ecsta HS51
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Hankook Ventus Prime 4 | Kumho Ecsta HS51 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 8.0 172 | Avg rank 7.4 11 | Kumho Ecsta HS51 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 5.5 224 | Avg rank 8.7 3 | Hankook Ventus Prime 4 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 7.0 2 | No data | Hankook Ventus Prime 4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 8.2 311 | Avg rank 8.0 | Kumho Ecsta HS51 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 13.8 | Avg rank 9.8 1 | Kumho Ecsta HS51 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 10.1 1 | Avg rank 1.5 11 | Kumho Ecsta HS51 |
💧 Wet: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51
The Kumho Ecsta HS51 wins this category with an average rank of 7.4, compared to 8.0 for the Hankook Ventus Prime 4.
☀️ Dry: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51
The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 8.7 for the Kumho Ecsta HS51.
❄️ Snow: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51
The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to no data for the Kumho Ecsta HS51.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51
The Kumho Ecsta HS51 wins this category with an average rank of 8.0, compared to 8.2 for the Hankook Ventus Prime 4.
📏 Mileage: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51
The Kumho Ecsta HS51 wins this category with an average rank of 9.8, compared to 13.8 for the Hankook Ventus Prime 4.
🔋 Efficiency: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS51
The Kumho Ecsta HS51 wins this category with an average rank of 1.5, compared to 10.1 for the Hankook Ventus Prime 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Hankook Ventus Prime 4 or Kumho Ecsta HS51?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho Ecsta HS51 ranks higher on average than the Hankook Ventus Prime 4.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 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 Kumho Ecsta HS51 ranks better than the Hankook Ventus Prime 4.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Kumho Ecsta HS51 shows better mileage performance than the Hankook Ventus Prime 4.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 appears in 15 independent tests, Kumho Ecsta HS51 in 6.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →
