Falken ZE950 as tire replacement?

[Sanderspt27]

Hello all.

Recently picked up a 23 MME GT Performance but comes with the summer rubber. Here in VA, that just won't work and don't really want to have dedicated summer and winter tires. Has anyone used the Falken ze950 tires? They receive decent reviews and from what I can find have a good rolling resistance score and overall good performance. Priced at 160 on sale for 245/45/20 they seem difficult to beat. I have had good success with the 950 predecessor but that was on G37x back in 2012.

Being new to EVs is an EV tire necessary and are there any other recommendations around a similar price point.

Appreciate any input!

Sponsored

 

[HuntingPudel]

Well, that tire in the correct size looks to have the proper load rating. It may not have the efficiency of an EV type tire, but it should work. As long as you know the tire’s performance characteristics and think you will be happy with it, I say go for it. ??

 

[tuminatr]

That ZE950 is discontinued, being replaced by the ZE960. Not being an EV tire you are likely to loose some range, but at $160 per tire they are a bargain. Wet and snow grip ls likely similar to the factory Continental

Falken is fine but those are behind the market leaders in wet and snow performance. Market leaders are Michelin, Continental, Pirelli and Vredetein

There is a new category out there refered to as all weather. It's what you refered to and is designed to be run all year round but is rated with three peak mountain snowflake. If you are not familiar that's the rating / designation for winter tires.

Falken does make an all weather they call it the FALKEN AKLIMATE, but most of the manufacturers make an all weather. I run the Vredetein Quatrac Pro+ and they are a real good fit for the MME

 

[Sanderspt27]

Well, that tire in the correct size looks to have the proper load rating. It may not have the efficiency of an EV type tire, but it should work. As long as you know the tire’s performance characteristics and think you will be happy with it, I say go for it. ??

I appreciate the feedback. I agree about the efficiency and took forever to find the rolling resistance grade through some EU specs. My commute is about 20 miles per day so shouldn't matter to much. Thank you for verifying load on it.

 

[Sanderspt27]

That ZE950 is discontinued, being replaced by the ZE960. Not being an EV tire you are likely to loose some range, but at $160 per tire they are a bargain. Wet and snow grip ls likely similar to the factory Continental

Falken is fine but those are behind the market leaders in wet and snow performance. Market leaders are Michelin, Continental, Pirelli and Vredetein

There is a new category out there refered to as all weather. It's what you refered to and is designed to be run all year round but is rated with three peak mountain snowflake. If you are not familiar that's the rating / designation for winter tires.

Falken does make an all weather they call it the FALKEN AKLIMATE, but most of the manufacturers make an all weather. I run the Vredetein Quatrac Pro+ and they are a real good fit for the MME

Agree on all points and regarding the 960, from what I could find the difference is negligible and doing the 950 saves about $140 in total. I appreciate the info on the new classification of all weather as well.

 

[tuminatr]

Agree on all points and regarding the 960, from what I could find the difference is negligible and doing the 950 saves about $140 in total. I appreciate the info on the new classification of all weather as well.

One other thought is the major consumer magazine said two low points of the ze960 were worst than average ride quality and higher than average rolling resistance. They also rated snow performance as poor. But at that price you are likely not going to get better

 

[Scooby24]

That ZE950 is discontinued, being replaced by the ZE960. Not being an EV tire you are likely to loose some range, but at $160 per tire they are a bargain. Wet and snow grip ls likely similar to the factory Continental

Falken is fine but those are behind the market leaders in wet and snow performance. Market leaders are Michelin, Continental, Pirelli and Vredetein

There is a new category out there refered to as all weather. It's what you refered to and is designed to be run all year round but is rated with three peak mountain snowflake. If you are not familiar that's the rating / designation for winter tires.

Falken does make an all weather they call it the FALKEN AKLIMATE, but most of the manufacturers make an all weather. I run the Vredetein Quatrac Pro+ and they are a real good fit for the MME

I had the ZE960 on a TDI Passat a couple of years ago...I also now have the DWS06+ to compare. Consumption wise the TDI got over 50 mpg with the tires so I do believe they were at least not of poor efficiency. They were quiet but they were also pretty vague feeling. Their wet and snow grip was not close at all to the DWS. They were....acceptable, but they were not at all confidence inspiring like the DWS.

I ALSO had the ZE950 on a Forester XT before the Passat. They were a very different size on the Forester so they aren't a direct comparison but they were also quiet and rode well but a bit more vague than the ZE960. I didn't get to try them in winter. I'd say they are pretty comparable to the ZE960 so if they are a good bit cheaper and still available, go for them. They may be old stock though now....so ask if you can be provided the dates of the tires before you agree to the ZE950s. Anything more than a couple years old I would pass.

 

[Sanderspt27]

One other thought is the major consumer magazine said two low points of the ze960 were worst than average ride quality and higher than average rolling resistance. They also rated snow performance as poor. But at that price you are likely not going to get better

I have not seen this but admittedly only searched the 950. From the reviews I have seen the 950 outdid the 960. If you have a link I would love to read it to see / compare to others. Thank you!

 

[tuminatr]

I have not seen this but admittedly only searched the 950. From the reviews I have seen the 950 outdid the 960. If you have a link I would love to read it to see / compare to others. Thank you!

I think what you are seeing is the 950 is old. When it was out is was more comparable to others in the market.

Everyone else has upped their game and made huge improvements.

As a for instance the original Conti DWS had much more snow traction than the current DWS06+ but the new DWS06+ is much better in the wet.

Like I said for the price you aren't going to do better but you can do much better if you pay more of get something newer.

 

[Sanderspt27]

I had the ZE960 on a TDI Passat a couple of years ago...I also now have the DWS06+ to compare. Consumption wise the TDI got over 50 mpg with the tires so I do believe they were at least not of poor efficiency. They were quiet but they were also pretty vague feeling. Their wet and snow grip was not close at all to the DWS. They were....acceptable, but they were not at all confidence inspiring like the DWS.

I ALSO had the ZE950 on a Forester XT before the Passat. They were a very different size on the Forester so they aren't a direct comparison but they were also quiet and rode well but a bit more vague than the ZE960. I didn't get to try them in winter. I'd say they are pretty comparable to the ZE960 so if they are a good bit cheaper and still available, go for them. They may be old stock though now....so ask if you can be provided the dates of the tires before you agree to the ZE950s. Anything more than a couple years old I would pass.

Awesome insights and appreciate the heads up on the old stock part. That is definitely something I had not considered. Thank you.

 

[tuminatr]

I have not seen this but admittedly only searched the 950. From the reviews I have seen the 950 outdid the 960. If you have a link I would love to read it to see / compare to others. Thank you!

https://www.tirereview.com/falken-ziex-ze960-high-performance-all-season-tire/

There is an more detailed article on tire business but it's behind a pay wall. The ze960 is an improvement to the ze950. The ze960 was released in 2019 the ze950 was released in 2013

 

[Silver Pony]

I picked up these Goodyeat Electric Drive 2s for my 2021 all wheel drive MME and really like them. They hold the road better than the OEM Michellin tires that came with the car.

Sponsored