FALKEN ZIEX ZE320 WINS 2026 AUTO EXPRESS SUMMER TYRE TEST

The FALKEN ZIEX ZE320 has won the 2026 Auto Express summer tyre test. The tyre finished first in the rankings ahead of several other premium, mid-range and budget tyres.

The testing team from Auto Express recognised 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 tyre tests are among the most influential test programmes for passenger car tyres in the UK. All tyres are tested independently by a team of road testers and tyre experts, without tyre manufacturers’ prior knowledge, giving British car buyers trusted advice on the most popular tyres available today.

The 2026 test was carried out with 205/55 R16 91V tyres, the most popular size tyre sold in the UK today. Testing included driving and braking in wet and dry conditions, aquaplaning tests, and gauging tyres’ 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 tyres 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 tyre.”

Jaap Leendertse, managing director for Sumitomo Rubber Europe, the parent company for FALKEN, commented: “Winning the Auto Express summer tyre test is a fantastic achievement and a strong endorsement of the ZIEX ZE320’s real-world performance. This result shows that FALKEN can compete, and win, against the most established names in the market and deliver the quality, confidence and value drivers expect from our tyres.”