Table of Contents
Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S Tire
Specifications:
- Dry 80%
- Wet 80%
- Snow 80%
- Comfort 70%
- Noise 60%
- Treadwear 80%
- Performance on all fronts is excellent
- In light snow, it works well
- Traction and grip are plentiful
- Warranty on treadwear is decently long
- Isn’t very responsive
- Highways can be quite noisy
Anyone who has ever driven a track tire will tell you that high-performance summer tires are the best. In general, I agree with you.
Designed for specific weather conditions, tires allow manufacturers to fine-tune rubber compounds to maximize performance.
Recently, we have seen performance-oriented tires that can be driven in a variety of conditions. All-season tires are decent performers in summer and winter, in my opinion.
They won’t be as good as a dedicated tire for a specific condition. As performance gets closer, recent models have begun to doubt that.
Falken is one of the youngest reputable tire manufacturers today. The company was founded in 1983 in Japan and quickly gained a reputation for making great tires.
As you may have guessed, today I will talk about a high-performance all-season tire from Falken’s lineup.
Ziex’s ZE960 A/S replaces the ZE950, which was an excellent tire. While it performed well in most conditions, it was sometimes a bit rough around the edges. According to Falken, the new model has been improved in some areas.
How noticeable are the upgrades, and is the Ziex ZE960 A/S a better tire than its predecessor?
How does the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S work?
Due to Falken’s extensive racing experience, you can expect a tire with some racing pedigree.
Tires wear out over time, and some models may lose their performance over time. The Ziex ZE960 A/S is designed to counteract this.
The Flask Sipes in the tread design help maintain optimal performance on wet surfaces and improve aquaplaning resistance.
Moreover, the circumferential and lateral grooves assist in this regard as well.
Falken designed the tread for enthusiasts to enjoy the driving dynamics of the tire. Designing the blocks to offer more dynamic drivability, along with the construction of the blocks.
It achieves this by having a more robust construction and stiffer blocks.
As an all-season tire, the Ziex ZE960 A/S should be good on snow, so Falken thought about it as well. As well as the existing edges that can bite into the snow, the tire also features a technology called Canyon Groove.
It is designed with ridges in the middle groove that improve biting force on snow. Since they are inside the groove, the noise and comfort levels shouldn’t be affected too much.
While I am not the all-season subject, Falken’s special rubber compound on the Ziex ZE960 A/S offers better driving characteristics in summer and winter. Using a silica-enriched rubber compound makes the tire pliable in wintery conditions.
What is its behavior on dry tarmac?
On dry tarmac, the Ziex ZE960 A/S performs well. While it’s not the best in the world, it’s good enough to be called a high-performance tire.
In terms of grip and traction, the tire does not disappoint. The braking distances are relatively short, and aggressive acceleration doesn’t result in much slippage.
When entering a corner, the levels of grip will hold the line well. You can get some sideways action without too much risk. As grip is lost, you can feel when you need to take action.
Driving dynamics are the biggest disappointment. Falken has tried to improve its responsiveness over the previous generation, but it still falls short. While it will follow your inputs, it is not as sharp as some of its competitors.
What is its behavior on wet and slippery roads?
The Ziex ZE960 A/S performed well on wet and slippery roads as well. When you push it really hard, you will notice the tire slip at a certain point.
The experience of driving on wet roads is as civilized as you’d expect, with excellent performance.
The Ziex ZE960 A/S continues to perform even when you push it hard, giving you the confidence to push it harder. When it rains, you can still have a lot of fun because traction and grip levels are above average.
As a result of the tread design and grooves, the Ziex ZE960 A/S has excellent aquaplaning resistance.
What is the behavior over snow?
In snowy conditions, the Ziex ZE960 A/S is decently good. Since it cannot be compared to a proper winter tire, I say decently good.
With Falken’s tweak to the rubber compound, the tire performs well at lower temperatures. You won’t have any problems with light snow conditions, and the tire will have a decent amount of grip for a safe drive. It also performs well on ice, so you can use it on icy roads.
Their braking distances are not breaking any records, but they remain at the top of their class.
Winter conditions are the biggest enemy of all-season tires, and the Ziex ZE960 A/S is no exception. In deeper snow, no matter how good the tire is, it will struggle.
How comfortable and refined is it?
High-performance tires aren’t known for their comfort, but the Ziex ZE960 A/S is. You shouldn’t expect a plush ride from this tire anytime soon, since it won’t be compared to a touring tire.
Even so, the tire seems to do a good job of softening up larger holes or road imperfections at higher speeds. You’ll feel some vibrations in the cabin, but they won’t be as bad as I initially thought.
Refinement’s downside is its noise levels, which isn’t surprising. The tires in this category are designed for maximum performance at the expense of refinement.
While the comfort levels are good, the noise levels aren’t so great. On the highway, things get a bit worse when you get out of town.
Can We use it for off-roading?
As long as you don’t expect too much from the Ziex ZE960 A/S, you can do some off-roading. You can drive it on dirt roads or shallow muddy patches without too much trouble, but anything more than that can cause problems.
You might end up damaging it as well as not getting exceptional performance from it.
Would the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S be good for sporty driving?
Ziex ZE960 A/S isn’t the best for sporty driving, but it has these characteristics.
Except for extreme winter conditions, grip and traction levels are excellent throughout the year. Because of this, you’ll have no problem pushing the tire to its limits.
Although it will perform well, some enthusiasts may not like its lack of sharpness. There’s no doubt that it’s not as slow or as numb as some grand touring tires.
Warranty for Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S
Although the Ziex ZE960 A/S is a high-performance tire, Falken offers it with a touring-like warranty.
Based on the speed rating, the tire comes with a treadwear warranty of either 65,000 or 45,000 miles. It is expected that tires with a higher speed rating will have a shorter warranty.
What is the price of the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S?
Overall, the Ziex ZE960 A/S is a good value. The starting price is around $75, which isn’t too high for a tire that can be used all year round. In addition, you get decent performance.
You will have to pay more if you want more, so the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 is a great choice.
What is the best Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S to buy?
The Ziex ZE960 A/S is an excellent high-performance all-season tire for people on a tight budget.
If you’re willing to make some compromises, the tire is a great package. Performance-wise, there are no faults.
Tire grip and traction are excellent throughout the year, and it feels confident and safe on the road. As a downside, you will have to deal with some extra noise and a slower response time.
With the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06, you will be able to enjoy more performance and fewer drawbacks if you are willing to spend the extra money. The Ziex ZE960 A/S is a great option if your budget isn’t as flexible.
Are the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S tires compatible with any vehicles?
The WinGuard Sport 2 fits the following cars:
- Infiniti Q50
- Tesla Model 3
- Mercedes C Class
- Honda Accord
- BMW 3, 4 series
- Toyota Camry
- Lexus IS
- Dodge Challenger, Charger
- Chevrolet Impala
- Acura TLX
- Mazda 6
Sizes of Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S tires
18″ tire size
- 235/55R18
- 215/40R18
- 245/45R18
- 215/45R18
- 235/50R18
- 235/45R18
- 225/45R18
- 225/40R18
- 245/40R18
- 225/50R18
- 245/55R18
- 235/40R18
- 255/45R18
- 255/40R18
16″ tire size
- 205/55R16
- 195/55R16
- 215/60R16
- 205/60R16
- 205/50R16
- 225/60R16
- 205/45R16
- 245/50R16
- 225/55R16
- 215/55R16
- 195/50R16
- 205/65R16
15″ tire size
- 205/65R15
- 195/50R15
- 195/65R15
20″ tire size
- 245/35R20
- 245/40R20
- 245/45R20
- 255/35R20
17″ tire size
- 235/50R17
- 225/45R17
- 205/50R17
- 245/50R17
- 225/55R17
- 245/40R17
- 245/45R17
- 215/45R17
- 215/65R17
- 205/45R17
- 235/55R17
- 225/50R17
- 205/40R17
- 235/45R17
- 215/50R17
- 215/55R17
19″ tire size
- 235/40R19
- 245/40R19
- 225/45R19
- 255/45R19
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