Kumho Ecsta ASX - Subaru Outback

Mudge · 12-28-2006, 05:27 PM

For those of you considering an alternative to the Potenza's, I'm afraid that I cannot recommend the Kumho Ecsta ASX. Mine have served me well enough as far as road performance is concerned (though my gas mileage suffered with a 10-15% reduction vis a vis Potenza). However, they have only 11,000 miles on them, and when I had them rotated recently (I had rotated them at 4500 too), I discovered significant tread wear, to the point where, if I'm lucky, I MIGHT have 5,000 miles more tread life.

16,000 miles, plus or minus. Not what I was hoping for and certainly not what I read in the reviews. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....odel=ECSTA+ASX

Any one else had a similar experience?

Shank · 12-30-2006, 04:30 AM

man, that's no good....

i'm running with the same set of shoes and i've got around 14K miles on 'em... i haven't seen any unusual wear on mine, but then i haven't looked critically at them - i'll give the treads a measure tomorrow...

like you, i liked the write-ups on tire rack's site and picked a set up... i'd considered the falken ziex 512's but opted for the kumho's...

FastSly · 12-30-2006, 08:25 AM

I ad a similar experience with both my Michelin Pilot Sport A/S and my Michelin X-Ice. Both sets are 75% worn after only two years and a grand total of 27,000 miles.

I think the OBXT is very hard on tires.

Mudge · 12-30-2006, 08:28 AM

Are you saying that after @13,500 miles each, the sets are 75% worn? (I assume you switch them winter/summer) If so, that makes your experience about like mine.

YIKES! What is it about the XT that would do that?

Now that I look at it, I took the Potenzas off at 14,000 miles, and I have just gone down to the garage to look at them. They have lots of tread left. Maybe 50%. Hmm....score one for the Crapenzas!

**bheinz57** · 12-30-2006, 10:44 AM

Wow, Mudge. Now where do people turn? Those were a great catch for Subaru guys.

My Falken Ziex are still doing great, but I think I broke something in one of them when my tire came off my rim during a Rallycross...

Brian

VVG · 12-30-2006, 12:26 PM

A co-worker has them on his Legacy GT and complains they are so noisy on the highway he wants to ditch them before they're worn out.

Shank · 12-30-2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by VVG
A co-worker has them on his Legacy GT and complains they are so noisy on the highway he wants to ditch them before they're worn out.

the falken's are noisy? i had a set of yokohama avs db's on a bimmer i owned several years ago that were pretty darn quiet... wonder if they've got something good for a suby....hmmmm....

Mudge · 12-30-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by VVG
A co-worker has them on his Legacy GT and complains they are so noisy on the highway he wants to ditch them before they're worn out.

Which do you mean: Falkens, Kumhos, Michelins, Potenzas?

DAC17 · 12-30-2006, 08:21 PM

Interesting thread. I've had the ASX's on my 2005 OBXT for about 7,000 miles, just took them off to put on the snows (what a joke; maybe there'll be none this year!), and there is very little tread wear noticeable. I don't beat the crap out of the tires, but I'm not what you'd call easy on them either.

YMMV.

Boxxerace · 02-24-2007, 03:43 AM

Any updates on these tires guys?

12-28-2006, 05:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mudge OBXT Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Great State of Maine Car: 2005 Outback XT Limited MT Posts: 2,408 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Kumho Ecsta ASX For those of you considering an alternative to the Potenza's, I'm afraid that I cannot recommend the Kumho Ecsta ASX. Mine have served me well enough as far as road performance is concerned (though my gas mileage suffered with a 10-15% reduction vis a vis Potenza). However, they have only 11,000 miles on them, and when I had them rotated recently (I had rotated them at 4500 too), I discovered significant tread wear, to the point where, if I'm lucky, I MIGHT have 5,000 miles more tread life. 16,000 miles, plus or minus. Not what I was hoping for and certainly not what I read in the reviews. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....odel=ECSTA+ASX Any one else had a similar experience? __________________ 2005 Outback XT Limited aka "The Turdboss" Manual Transmission, STS p.s. A Smith and Wesson beats four aces.

12-30-2006, 04:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Shank Flying Cavalry Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Newbury Park, CA Car: 2006 OBXT Limited / Rota Torques / TDC Stage 1 / IPD Sways / Cobb STS Posts: 149 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	man, that's no good.... i'm running with the same set of shoes and i've got around 14K miles on 'em... i haven't seen any unusual wear on mine, but then i haven't looked critically at them - i'll give the treads a measure tomorrow... like you, i liked the write-ups on tire rack's site and picked a set up... i'd considered the falken ziex 512's but opted for the kumho's... __________________ "...tracers work both ways..."

12-30-2006, 08:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
FastSly Mengde's Brigadier Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canada Car: 2005 OBXT Ltd 5MT Champagne Posts: 2,734 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I ad a similar experience with both my Michelin Pilot Sport A/S and my Michelin X-Ice. Both sets are 75% worn after only two years and a grand total of 27,000 miles. I think the OBXT is very hard on tires. __________________ Fast Sly “Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today.” - James Dean www.duford.com * www.digitalfotographer.com * TragicPlanet.org * VW Tiguan * Audi Q5

12-30-2006, 08:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mudge OBXT Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Great State of Maine Car: 2005 Outback XT Limited MT Posts: 2,408 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Are you saying that after @13,500 miles each, the sets are 75% worn? (I assume you switch them winter/summer) If so, that makes your experience about like mine. YIKES! What is it about the XT that would do that? Now that I look at it, I took the Potenzas off at 14,000 miles, and I have just gone down to the garage to look at them. They have lots of tread left. Maybe 50%. Hmm....score one for the Crapenzas! __________________ 2005 Outback XT Limited aka "The Turdboss" Manual Transmission, STS p.s. A Smith and Wesson beats four aces.

12-30-2006, 10:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
bheinz57 Superb Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Neenah, WI Car: MY12 WRX, MY07 FXT Posts: 6,182 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Wow, Mudge. Now where do people turn? Those were a great catch for Subaru guys. My Falken Ziex are still doing great, but I think I broke something in one of them when my tire came off my rim during a Rallycross... Brian __________________ If you can't see into the future, you aren't driving fast enough

12-30-2006, 12:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
VVG . Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA Car: 06 3.0R wagon, 09 WRX Posts: 1,007 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	A co-worker has them on his Legacy GT and complains they are so noisy on the highway he wants to ditch them before they're worn out.

12-30-2006, 08:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
DAC17 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Car: 2011 Outback 2.5i Premium, satin white pearl Posts: 95 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Interesting thread. I've had the ASX's on my 2005 OBXT for about 7,000 miles, just took them off to put on the snows (what a joke; maybe there'll be none this year!), and there is very little tread wear noticeable. I don't beat the crap out of the tires, but I'm not what you'd call easy on them either. YMMV. __________________ 2013 Chevrolet Volt 2013 Ford Focus ST

02-24-2007, 03:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
Boxxerace Gallery Ninja Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Whistler, British Columbia Car: 2004 Outback "Bluebaru" & 2005 Outback XT Posts: 5,181 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Any updates on these tires guys? __________________ Ancient moderator of color and bokeh. Boxxerace Outback Gallery: Click Here

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