FALKEN ZIEX ZE320 wins 2026 Auto Express summer tire test
Sep. 16. 2026
DUNLOP’s (Company name: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.; President and CEO: Yasuaki Kuniyasu) European-market tire brand FALKEN’s ZIEX ZE320 has won the 2026 Auto Express summer tire test. The tire finished 1st in the rankings ahead of several other premium, mid-range and budget tires. The testing team from Auto Express recognized the ZIEX ZE320 for its all-round ability and its confidence-inspiring performance in both wet and dry conditions.
Auto Express is one of the UK’s leading automotive magazines for new and used car buyers. Its annual summer and winter tire tests are widely recognized within the UK automotive sector. All tires are tested independently by a team of road testers and tire experts, without tire manufacturers’ prior knowledge, providing British car buyers with independent test results and information.
The 2026 test was carried out with 205/55 R16 91V tires, the most popular size tire sold in the UK today. Testing included driving and braking in wet and dry conditions, aquaplaning tests, and gauging tires’ noise levels and rolling efficiency.
John Barker, a journalist and expert tester from Auto Express, had a positive final verdict to share on the ZIEX ZE320: “The FALKEN scored an impressive victory, beating some excellent tires to take a first win. It topped the table in three tests, including setting fastest lap times on both the wet and dry circuits, illustrating its excellent all-round ability. It was the pace-setter in both the wet and the dry and delivered strong results in almost every other discipline too. It’s an outstanding tire.”
Jaap Leendertse, managing director for Sumitomo Rubber Europe, the parent company for FALKEN, commented: “Winning the Auto Express summer tire test is a fantastic achievement and a strong endorsement of the ZIEX ZE320’s real-world performance. This result demonstrates that FALKEN achieved the highest overall score in this test against several other tire models and can deliver qualities that many drivers value, including performance and everyday usability.”
About the FALKEN ZIEX ZE320
"The FALKEN ZIEX ZE320 is designed to suit a broad range of drivers and driving conditions. Its intelligently designed tread pattern – with offset sipes – combines strong traction and precise handling in the dry and the wet with reduced running noise. Under EU tire labelling, every version of the ZEIX ZE320 is rated ‘A’ for wet grip and external rolling noise.
Its lightweight casing design also offers high rolling efficiency, improved damping in everyday use and aerodynamically optimized sidewalls, without compromising on lateral stability.
Auto Express is one of the UK’s leading automotive magazines for new and used car buyers. Its annual summer and winter tire tests are widely recognized within the UK automotive sector. All tires are tested independently by a team of road testers and tire experts, without tire manufacturers’ prior knowledge, providing British car buyers with independent test results and information.
The 2026 test was carried out with 205/55 R16 91V tires, the most popular size tire sold in the UK today. Testing included driving and braking in wet and dry conditions, aquaplaning tests, and gauging tires’ noise levels and rolling efficiency.
John Barker, a journalist and expert tester from Auto Express, had a positive final verdict to share on the ZIEX ZE320: “The FALKEN scored an impressive victory, beating some excellent tires to take a first win. It topped the table in three tests, including setting fastest lap times on both the wet and dry circuits, illustrating its excellent all-round ability. It was the pace-setter in both the wet and the dry and delivered strong results in almost every other discipline too. It’s an outstanding tire.”
Jaap Leendertse, managing director for Sumitomo Rubber Europe, the parent company for FALKEN, commented: “Winning the Auto Express summer tire test is a fantastic achievement and a strong endorsement of the ZIEX ZE320’s real-world performance. This result demonstrates that FALKEN achieved the highest overall score in this test against several other tire models and can deliver qualities that many drivers value, including performance and everyday usability.”
About the FALKEN ZIEX ZE320
"The FALKEN ZIEX ZE320 is designed to suit a broad range of drivers and driving conditions. Its intelligently designed tread pattern – with offset sipes – combines strong traction and precise handling in the dry and the wet with reduced running noise. Under EU tire labelling, every version of the ZEIX ZE320 is rated ‘A’ for wet grip and external rolling noise.
Its lightweight casing design also offers high rolling efficiency, improved damping in everyday use and aerodynamically optimized sidewalls, without compromising on lateral stability.