Considering a set of these to replace my runflats, because they are cheap- $67 a tire on tirerack for the 17 inchers! Does anyone have these? How is the handling? I care more about the summer performance than snow because I usually buy snow tires, but at the same time the price of these is preventing me from going to a dedicated summer tire. I really want to spend as little as possible at the moment, and go for a nicer summer tire later on, but I want to make sure these aren't absolute junk.

 

The tires on my MCSa are Kumho Ecsta but I don't know if they are ASTs. I was more concerned about getting the right size and profile than the model. Although it was important to me at the time it has been so long I can't even remember their size, but I do recall they cost considerably more than $67 apiece.

I can report that they have not sprung a leak or gone flat in nearly 7000 miles. In the first 1000 miles or so of driving on Dunlop runflats I experienced 3 flats over the same roads. The Dunlops felt slightly wiggly over grooved highway pavement. The Kumhos have felt like normal tires. Nothing special, but not quirky either.

At a swell cocktail party in Andalusia a Mercedes salesman was incredulous that I had purchased such a cheap brand of tire. It was the only time that my mention of tires evoked such a response, or any response, and it remains the highlight of my possession of the Kumhos.

 

I just put these on a set of slites and love them. They really grip the road. I'll be buying a set in april for my summer wheels.

 

The reason im getting these is that one of my runflats has gone bad, and at over $200 a pop, it's better for me to get 4 new cheap tires for $300. I was planning on replacing the runflats anyway because of the ride.

 

You'll love the ride you get w/o runflats.
Hint: go to Harbor Freight and pick up a slime kit for around $12 which includes a bottole of slime and a small compressor.

 

That's a good idea, I've heard good things about harbor freight.

 

Kumho make the best tires for the money. I had ASX's on my old MINI and they were great. Great grip, great treadlife, much quieter than the runflats and very inexpensive. I run Kumho MX's on my M roadster and the handling is nearly identical to the $250 Michelin Pilot Sports. And the Kumho MX costs $100!

 

had a nail in my rear Khumo ecsta, runflat light came on...went out, looked all around and couldn't tell which tire was low...

next day i looked a little closer and one of my rear tires was baaarely lower than the others, put the tire gauge on it and it showed 0 pressure...
basically telling me that the sidewall of the ECSTA is as hard as it gets, 'course i'm running 35 profile on my 18" rims so there isn't much of a sidewall to begin with but obviously good enough to drive on it until you get to where you can fix it.