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Last updated 7/09/2024 - Originally published 7/08/2024
Written by SimpleTire
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With operations in more than 150 countries, Bridgestone was founded in 1931 and has grown to be the second-largest tire producer in the world. Established in 1983, Falken is today well recognized for its all-season, all-terrain, ultra-high-performance, and winter tires. While Bridgestone manufactures tires for various applications, including motorbikes, cars, trucks, bicycles, off-road vehicles, and airplanes, Falken tires are renowned for their quiet, forgiving ride quality, long tread life, and capable handling.
The Potenza Sport AS is Bridgestone's ultra-high-performance all-season tire that is designed for drivers of sports cars, coupes, and performance sedans seeking high-speed potential and predictable handling in dry and wet conditions, as well as confident performance all year, even in light snow.
An ultra-high-performance all-season tire, the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S is a great tire that offers drivers of coupes and sedans improved performance and better handling.
Are both tires equally good at what they do, or does one perform better? Let's compare the Bridgestone Potenza Sport A/S and Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S using SimpleScore to help you determine which tire is ideal.
Bridgestone Potenza Sport AS incorporates a new all-season compound into an asymmetric tread pattern to boost performance in a variety of weather conditions while maintaining the ride quality that drivers enjoy. The solid circumferential rib design improves handling by ensuring constant contact with the road surface while decreasing distracting pattern noise for smooth, quiet rides in sunny conditions. In wet conditions, the Potenza Sport AS is built with channels aligned with the shoulder blocks to facilitate efficient water evacuation from the contact patch, allowing for control and resistance to hydroplaning.
The Bridgestone Potenza Sport A/S has an overall SimpleScore of 9 thanks to its excellent traction, outstanding handling, and great longevity scores.
With a limited manufacturer warranty of up to 65,000 miles, the ZE960 A/S offers drivers year-round reliability. In any situation, the adaptable Ziex ZE960 A/S provides outstanding performance and snappy handling. For the duration of the tire's life, Flask Siping improves hydroplaning resistance and wet weather grip, while Canyon Groove technology improves snow traction without compromising a smooth ride. With its design aimed at matching the performance characteristics of today's high-end coupes and sedans, the Ziex ZE960 A/S offers driver confidence and control.
On average, the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S gets an overall SimpleScore of 8.6 due to its great traction, superb handling, and reliable longevity.
Traction is very important for a UHP all-season tire. The tread pattern of a UHP all-season tire is exceptionally detailed, with features included to increase wet traction and snow traction. Let's take a look at how the Potenza Sport A/S and Ziex ZE960 A/S perform in terms of traction.
The Bridgestone Potenza Sport A/S boasts an exceptional traction score of 9.3 thanks to its full-depth 3D sipes, circumferential grooves, and open shoulders. In addition, its lateral and circumferential grooves increase wet traction by forcing water out of the tread, reducing the risk of hydroplaning.
The Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S features Flask Siping that ensures stability in rainy circumstances by improving hydroplaning resistance and offering greater wet weather grip. Additionally, the cutting-edge Canyon Groove technology enhances snow traction, giving it a great traction score of 8.5.
When it comes to traction, the Potenza Sport A/S performs better than the Ziex ZE960A/S (9.3 vs 8.5).
ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Potenza Sport A/S
Handling refers to how the tire reacts to the driver's various demands, such as steering, acceleration, and braking. Handling is essential for UHP all-season tires in terms of vehicle stability and driving enjoyment.
The Bridgestone Potenza Sport A/S is a superb UHP all-season tire with high-speed handling and cornering capabilities. The Potenza Sport A/S improves road manners and steering response with stronger shoulders and a robust center rib, giving it an excellent handling score of 9.3. Additionally, it consists of two polyester body plies that have been expanded into a high turn-up sidewall for additional strength to balance handling.
On the other hand, the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S sports a great handling score of 8.6 thanks to its Flask Siping which improves hydroplaning resistance and ensures stability in rainy circumstances. In addition, its asymmetrical tread pattern improves handling while still allowing for free rotation.
When it comes to handling, the Potenza Sport A/S gets a superior score than the Ziex ZE960 A/S (9.3 vs 8.6)
ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Potenza Sport A/S
While UHP all-season tires provide greater handling and traction, they sacrifice longevity; let's see how the Potenza Sport A/S and Ziex ZE960 A/S tires do in this regard.
The Bridgestone Potenza Sport returns a great longevity score of 8.9 and comes with a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. For extended tread life, the tire is constructed with Bridgestone's PeakLife polymer and an enhanced tread composition.
On the other hand, the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S sports a reliable traction score of 8.5 and is backed by a 45,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for W-speed rated sizes, and a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for H- and V-speed rated sizes. That means that if correct use, maintenance, and rotation are followed, the Ziex ZE960 A/S should last 45,000 or 65,000 miles, depending on the tire's speed rating.
In terms of longevity, the Potenza Sport has a better score than the Ziex ZE960 A/S (8.9 vs 8.5).
ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Ultra-high-performance all-season tires provide year-round traction and long tread life without sacrificing performance. The Bridgestone Potenza Sport A/S and Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S are two UHP all-season tires that are made to give vehicles with greater horsepower a better, more opulent ride on the road throughout the year. Not to mention that the rubber compound of these tires does not respond well to extremely low temperatures, making them unsuitable for driving on ice or moderate to heavy snow.
Which of these ultra-high-performance all-season tires best suits your needs? According to SimpleScore, the Potenza Sport A/S outperforms the Ziex ZE960 A/S (9.1 vs. 8.6). In terms of handling, traction, and longevity, the Potenza Sport A/S performs better than the Ziex ZE960 A/S. To help you make a better decision, let's look at their prices.
Comparing the prices of the 205/50R17 tire size, the Bridgestone Potenza Sport A/S costs around $198 per tire, and four such tires cost 792, while the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S costs around $118 per tire, and four such tires cost $472 (a difference of $320).
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Potenza Sport A/S if you:
On the other hand, you should purchase the Ziex ZE960 A/S if you:
The Potenza Sport A/S and the Ziex ZE960 A/S are two ultra-high-performance all-season tires that excel in different aspects. Whichever option you choose will be determined by your vehicles and the factors that are most important to you, such as cost, traction, handling, and longevity.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
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