Falken Ziex ZE960 AS review
As Falken steadily climbs up the ladder of becoming one of the most sought-after tire manufacturers today, they do so with excellent delivery. Falken tires continue to amaze the public with their cheap and efficient tire productions. They are known for delivering tires with outstanding performance on and off-road without having to sacrifice comfort. The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS is an excellent addition to the brand’s tire lineup. For drivers not familiar with the brand, here’s an opportunity to discover its offerings.
The Falken Ziex ZE960 is a dynamic all-season high-performance tire designed to deliver quality performance and improved handling in different road conditions. It is incorporated with Falken’s most innovative features and technologies that deliver exceptional performance. In this Falken Ziex ZE960 AS review, we will explore the interesting features of the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS that set it apart from other tires in its class.
The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS is designed for drivers of passenger cars, coupes, and sedans. It is an efficient version of its predecessor, the Falken ZE950 AS. It possesses a more responsive handling and feel compared to its predecessor.
Recommended
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS brings only the best in terms of predictible steering and sports driving, and the driving comfort that a genuine touring tire should deliver throughout the seasons.
REREV may receive a commission for purchases made through links on our site. Learn more.
Why you can trust REREV’s tire reviews: Our automotive expert researchers analyze tire specs, customer feedbacks and reviews from credible sources. This thorough analysis provides accurate information about tire performance, helping you make the best choice. Find out more about how we evaluate tires.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS key technologies
The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS includes a wide range of technological features that improves its performance ability. Its engineers integrated some of its most innovative technological features to deliver a tire that will meet the requirement of drivers. Here are some of the important features that make the it a much-needed tire.
Canyon Groove Technology: The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS employs the use of its Canyon Groove Technology in delivering impressive snow performance. The technology improves its braking capacity when driving in the snow. Also, the Canyon Groove Technology is engineered to deliver a comfortable and quiet ride to the driver.
Exclusive Silica Compound: The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS also uses an exclusive silica tread compound that acts on the tire rubber to improve its flexibility in cold weather. This action enhances its grip in wet and snowy conditions. In dry conditions, the compound causes the rubber to strengthen as it warms up delivering an equally impressive performance.
Optimised Tread Pattern: A tire’s tread pattern or design is pivotal to its performance delivery. The optimised tread pattern of the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS sports a robust casing that improves all-season handling.
Flask Siping Technology: Tires lose traction and performance ability as they wear. However, the flask cycling technology in the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS continues to expel water from the tires, improving hydroplaning resistance and wet braking all through the tire’s lifetime.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS safety features
Safety features in a tire make it more desirable by drivers as they have a guarantee of safety while driving. The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS is equipped with features and technologies that promote driver safety. Technologies like the flask typing technology aids in improving wet braking performance and delivering a steady resistance to hydroplaning even as the tire wears out.
The optimized tread pattern and robust construction of the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS delivers an enhanced handling performance that further ensures the safety of the driver. Also, the exclusive silica tread compound protects the tire by making it flexible and rigid in wet and dry conditions to deliver exceptional performance and keep the tires safe.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS speed ratings
All tires come with speed ratings depending on their sizes. Tire speed ratings are the ideal speeds a tire can maintain overtime while delivering optimum performance. Tire speed ratings are found on the tire’s sidewall. It is important for drivers to know the speed rating of their tiire so as not to exceed them and endanger their lives and the tire.
The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS has 3 speed ratings to include H, V and W. These alphabets each have a max speed of 130, 149 and 168 mph. Drivers can attempt to drive at a higher speed than this rating but should note that the performance delivery of the tire at higher speeds is compromised.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS treadwear and durability
The rate at which a tire wears is said to be its treadwear rating or ability. Some tires are designed to wear slower, thanks to the tire’s composition and design. The exclusive silica tread compound of the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS aids in delivering a longer tread life. Its action on the tire in making the tire versatile in different weather conditions, helps in protecting the tire hence improving its tread life.
The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS has a uniform tire quality grading (UTQG) rating of 640. The UTQG rating signifies the wear rate of the tire. Tires with lower uniform tire quality grading ratings than the 640 of the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS tend to wear faster. The UTQG rating ranges from 100 to 1000 thereby setting the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS rating, above average.
In addition, the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS comes standard with a 65,000-miles tread life warranty for the H and V-rated tires and a 45,000-miles tread life warranty for the W-rated tires. This further proves that the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS has excellent treadwear and durability.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS maintenance indicators
All tires come with indicators that show the wear rate of the tire. Maintenance indicators are signals or markings that notify the driver when the tire needs replacement. Tires wear and need to be changed as they have lost traction performance. The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS does not seem to have a maintenance indicator; however, it uses the industry-standard tread wear indicator.
Tread wear indicators are markings or bars placed evenly through the grooves of the tire. When the tread of the tire becomes level with the marking it means that the tire needs to be replaced. The industry-standard tread wear indicator signals that tires need to be replaced when the tread depth has worn up to the final 2/32 inches of tread depth. At this point, the tires are no longer suitable for road use as they have lost substantial traction on wet roads.
However, the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS has a tread depth of 10/32 inches which gives the driver a long time before needing a replacement.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS traction performance
A tire’s traction greatly influences its performance delivery. Some tires are built to deliver excellent traction in a particular road or weather condition. Winter tires excel majorly in winter and snow-covered roads. The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS is designed to deliver impressive performance in wet, dry and snow road and weather conditions. Below, we highlight the features that make the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS a decent traction performance tire in different road and weather conditions.
Wet traction
The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS is designed with flask siping technology that improves its effectiveness in wet conditions. The technology continues to expel water from beneath the tires thereby improving its braking performance and hydroplaning resistance even as the tire wears.
Dry traction
The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS features an optimized tread pattern with a robust body construction that improves its ability in dry conditions to deliver impressive cornering and handling.
Snow traction
The canyon groove technology is designed to deliver an ideal performance in snow conditions. It is engineered to move through light snow and deliver an improved braking performance and grip in the snow. Drivers should note that the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS is not a winter tire and therefore cannot match the capacities of a winter tire.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS noise and comfort
Drivers love to enjoy a comfortable and quiet ride while driving. The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS offers drivers a quiet ride thanks to its optimised tread pattern and polyester casing that mitigates the road noise. Also, the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS is designed to absorb a level of vibration felt when driving hence, ensuring an improved level of comfort to the driver.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS competitors and alternatives
The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS delivers impressive performance and responsive handling in any condition. Its enhanced features and technologies are designed to give it an edge over any road condition. There are a few tires that perform excellently as the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS.
Close alternatives to the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS include the Michelin Defender and Continental PureContact. These tires deliver excellent traction, handling and also a quiet and comfortable ride. They also have an impressive tread life. However the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS stands out exceptionally.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS price range
Tire prices vary depending on their sizes. In most cases the smaller sizes are cheaper than the larger ones. The Falken Ziex ZE960 AS has a price range from $91 to $240.
Falken Ziex ZE960 AS warranty
Along with the 65,000-miles limited tread life warranty for the H and V-rated tire sizes and the 45,000 miles limited tread life warranty of the W-rated sizes, the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS also comes with;
Road Hazard Coverage: Here, drivers get a free replacement for up to two years or for the first 3/32nds of tread life for the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS
Material And Workmanship Warranty: Every Falken Ziex ZE960 AS is warranted against defects in material and workmanship for the usable life of the original tread within six years of date of production based on the tire DOT serial number.
Our take
We strongly recommend the Falken Ziex ZE960 AS for drivers looking to get the best out of the tires in wet conditions. It is also a very durable tire with an impressive after wear tread performance.