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Last updated 1/22/2025 - Originally published 1/22/2025
Written by SimpleTire
The Taiwan-based tire maker Kenda Tire is renowned for its extensive lineup of capable tires for passenger cars, SUVs, CUVs, minivans, and light trucks. Be it traction, handling, durability, or longevity, Kenda Tire has established itself as a great alternative for drivers looking for affordable tires for their vehicles. On the other hand, Kumho Tire has been producing tires in different categories like all-season, all-terrain, mud-terrain, UHP (ultra-high-performance), and winter for SUVs, CUVs, coupes, sedans, and commercial vehicles. Let’s compare the Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) from Kenda and the Ecsta V720 from Kumho to know which of the two offers better performance in high-speed racing.
Engineered for performance coupes, sedans, and sports cars, the Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) and the Kumho Ecsta V720 are ultra-high-performance, summer tires that offer fantastic grip, traction, and control on tarmac in dry and wet conditions. The ‘sticky’ rubber compound interlocks with the surface to deliver surprisingly great traction, braking, and accelerating ability to folks who enjoy fast driving on tracks and in streets. Being UHP tires, they are not covered by any limited manufacturer tread life warranty. So, which is the one to go for? Let’s compare Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) vs Kumho Ecsta V720 based on our SimpleScore scoring mechanism to know the best option.
Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) tires
Designed for performance-oriented cars, the Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) is a race-proven, DOT-approved, road to track tire that offers great performance on tarmac. Often termed Podium2Pavement, the Kenda tire offers adequate grip, traction, and control in dry and wet conditions thanks to its directional tread pattern and low-profile design. With an advanced rubber compound, the Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) returns outstanding wearability in challenging driving conditions of hard acceleration and cornering on racetracks and streets. With the wide circumferential grooves and strategic lateral grooves on shoulders, the racing tire returns respectable wet performance as it clears water quickly from the tread to mitigate the risk of hydroplaning. Being a UHP summer tire, the Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) doesn’t come with a mileage warranty, and so do most racing tires.
Scoring a 7.9 out of 10 average SimpleScore, the Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) promises adequate grip, handling, traction, and performance in dry and wet conditions.
Get Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) tires at the best deals for your vehicle here.
Kumho Ecsta V720 tires
Once chosen as an OE for the hand-built street-legal Dodge Viper ACR (American Club Racer), the Kumho Ecsta V720 is renowned for its broad contact patch that offers great grip, traction, and control over the vehicle on tracks and in streets. Designed for hot rods, sports cars, and performance-oriented cars, the Ecsta V720 features an asymmetric tread design with large, plane tread blocks on one side and zigzag grooves and sipes on the other half of the tire. The unique tread pattern with a deep circumferential groove at the center returns stunning performance in dry and warm conditions. While the DOT-approved tire features ESCOT technology for improved wear and traction, the dual high-tensile steel belts of the Kumho competition tire assure great stability and durability at high speed.
With an 8.3 out of 10 SimpleScore, the Kumho Ecsta V720 promises great value as it offers solid traction, grip, and handling on dry surfaces.
Get Kumho Ecsta V720 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here.
Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) vs Kumho Ecsta V720 tires on traction
The ultra-high-performance tires are designed to deliver exceptional grip and traction on dry and wet surfaces. The Kenda and Kumho promise great traction on track and in the street. Let’s find out their traction scores.
With an 8.1 traction score, the Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) assures decent grip and traction in different driving conditions on track and street. The DOT-approved tire features a directional tread design with wide circumferential grooves that resist hydroplaning by quickly evacuating the water from the tread to improve wet traction.
On the other hand, the Kumho Ecsta V720 scores a superb 9.1 in traction thanks to its asymmetric tread pattern with large blocks on one side and zigzag grooves on the other. The large contact patch allows it to put more rubber on the surface leading to increased grip and traction in dry and wet conditions. The tread nicely interlocks with the tarmac to deliver improved braking and acceleration.
The Kumho Ecsta V720 is the winner of the traction department as it scores better than its counterpart.
ADVANTAGE: Kumho Ecsta V720
Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) vs Kumho Ecsta V720 tires on handling
Racing is all about fun and control. Tires that precisely follow your commands are the ones that deliver the maximum output and are the safest options especially when driving at high speed. Both tires offer outstanding handling scores; let’s look at what they are like.
Boasting a fantastic 8.6 handling score, the Kenda racing tire features a directional tread pattern with a close shoulder design and low profile that aids in ensuring great stability and steering response during straight line high-speed runs and sharp cornering. The broad center rib of the Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) ensures increased contact area leading to improved steering response and control at high speed.
Contrarily, the Kumho Ecsta V720 returns a superb 9.2 in handling and stability assuring great steering response and control during high-speed runs. Thanks to its asymmetric tread pattern and low-profile design, the Ecsta V720 offers increased control and grip during cornering while the dual high-tensile steel belts maintain tire rigidity for optimum load balance and steering response.
With a better handling score, the Kumho yet again wins, making it 2-0!
ADVANTAGE: Kumho Ecsta V720
Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) vs Kumho Ecsta V720 tires on longevity
Summer, UHP tires are designed to wear faster as they lend high grip and traction while being subjected to aggressive braking, cornering, and acceleration. Let’s check their longevity scores.
The modest 7.2 longevity score of the Kenda tire is no surprise as UHP tires do not last long and are not meant for year-round performance unless they have an integrated all-season rubber compound. The advanced rubber compound of the Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) delivers an acceptable tread life for a UHP, summer tire.
Similarly, the Kumho Ecsta V720 wears faster due to its higher grip and traction capability. Better traction means higher rolling resistance and increased wear. Thanks to Kumho's ESCOT technology, the tire returns an average longevity score of 7.3 out of 10, which is not bad for a UHP, summer tire.
The Kumho Ecsta V720 wins the longevity battle as well, cleanly sweeping the comparison with 3-0!
ADVANTAGE: Kumho Ecsta V720
When to use each
UHP summer tires are used for scintillating performance on tracks and tarmac. They are designed to offer superior grip, traction, and control at high speed in dry and wet conditions. If you need the same level of performance round the year, you should pick the UHP all-season tires as they are paired with all-season rubber compound for excellent tread life and some tires may be offered with a limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
The Kenda and the Kumho are solid UHP summer tire choices as they offer adequate performance in warmer driving conditions. Despite being great performers, they are aggressively priced!
Which one should you choose?
To sum up, the Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) is a decent choice for a racing tire if you prefer a solid tread life with decent handling and traction. However, the Kumho Ecsta V720 is the UHP summer tire to go for if you value excellent steering response, traction, and tread life.
The Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A)’s range starts from $109 per tire (for 195/55ZR15 onwards), while that of the Kumho Ecsta V720 starts at $253 per tire (for 285/30R18 size onwards).
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Kenda Vezda UHP MAX Summer (KR20A) if you:
- Drive vehicles like the Audi A6, Porsche 911, and Ford Mustang
- Want adequate performance on dry and wet surfaces
- Prefer a decent tread life
- Want an affordable yet performing UHP tire
You should go for the Kumho Ecsta V720 if you:
- Drive vehicles like the Dodge Viper and Mercedes-Benz SL Class
- Want improved traction (9.1 vs 8.1)
- Prefer great handling (9.2 vs 8.6) on tracks and streets
- Want a decent tread life (7.3 vs 7.2)
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.