Comparison: Falken ZIEX ZE320 vs. Continental PremiumContact 7

Today, we're going to compare two touring summer tyres: the Falken ZIEX ZE320 and the Continental PremiumContact 7. Both tyres have impressed in various tests and have their unique strengths.

Starting with the Falken ZIEX ZE320, a tyre produced by Falken that was an improvement from its previous model, the Falken ZIEX ZE310 Ecorun. It received a 62% rating from us. Manufactured in Turkey, this tyre impressed particularly with its dry braking and wet handling capabilities, according to the Autobild test where it ranked 7th out of 52 tyres. On the downside, it was noted that this tyre didn't provide exceptional dynamic driving features, nor short braking distances on either wet or dry surfaces, as well as a noisy roll.

On the other hand, we have the Continental PremiumContact 7, made by Continental, an upgrade from the Continental PremiumContact 6 and Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 models. Our rating for this tyre was an impressive 97%. It was assembled in different locations: France, Slovakia, Germany, and the Czech Republic. In the Aftonbladet test, this tyre held an impressive second place out of 10 tyres. Its strengths showed in the Autobild test where it stood out with satisfactory aquaplaning reserves, short braking distances, dynamic handling, an impressive lifespan, and a great cost-performance ratio. It ranked 8th, excelling in terms of longitudinal aquaplaning and rolling resistance.

In the mutual comparison in tests, the Continental PremiumContact 7 narrowly outperforms the Falken ZIEX ZE320. However, it's essential to note that both tyres have desirable features and their drawbacks, so the choice will strongly depend on individual driving needs and preferences.

To sum up, it can be seen that the Continental PremiumContact 7 boasts of higher overall performance according to all test data. However, the Falken ZIEX ZE320 is a competitive alternative that shines in specific areas like dry braking and wet handling. As of now, no new models have replaced these tyres yet, which means they still hold up strongly in current comparisons.