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Last updated 10/16/2024 - Originally published 10/16/2024
Written by SimpleTire
The German tire manufacturer, Continental is a household name in the US thanks to its incredible line of tires in different categories. At the same time, the Sumitomo-owned Falken is revered for its affordable tire range and top-brand matching performance. Whether it's all-terrain, all-weather, or all-season, both brands have a wide tire portfolio that fits passenger cars, minivans, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, and commercial vehicles. Their UHP all-season tire range provides superb traction, handling, stability, control, and longevity, and the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus and Ziex ZE960 A/S are no exceptions.
Designed for passenger cars, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus and the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S offer superb grip, traction, handling, and stability while delivering excellent wearability for year-round use. These ultra-high-performance tires are engineered to offer incredible performance in dry, wet, and light snow. Both the Continental and Falken offer great performance, so which one should you pick? Let’s compare Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus vs Falken Ziex ZE960 based on our proprietary scoring method, SimpleScore, to know which is the best tire.
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus tires
After the success of the ExtremeContact DWS06, the Continental introduced its upgraded iteration in 2021 in the name of the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus which witnessed a bump in braking, acceleration, snow traction, stability, and dry and wet handling over its predecessor. Thanks to the SportPlus Technology, the Continental UHP tire offers accurate steering response, enhanced control and stability, and improved wearability. Designed for CUVs, sports and luxury cars, and SUVs, the Conti’s QuickView Indicators (D- dry, W-wet, S-snow) aid in informing drivers visually about the optimal tread condition with performance in dry, wet, and snow conditions. While the optimized tread sequence reduces road noise and vibrations for a comfortable ride, the solid backing of an up-to-50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty gives peace of mind. Lastly, it’s covered under the Continental Total Confidence Plan, which includes a satisfaction trial, flat tire roadside assistance, road hazard, and limited warranty.
With a phenomenal SimpleScore of 9.4 out of 10, the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus emerges as a fantastic tire that returns solid traction, exceptional handling and stability, and a longer tread life.
Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S tires
Designed for coupes and sedans, the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S features an asymmetric tread pattern that helps return dynamic handling thanks to the optimized design rigidity and sturdy construction, which boosts control and handling at high speed. Being a UHP all-season tire, it features Canyon Groove technology, which improves snow braking without compromising comfort. While the special silica tread compound remains flexible in low temperatures and promotes better grip in wet, icy, and snowy conditions, it warms up in dry conditions for better bonding between polymers and effective dry performance. Despite wearing, the Ziex ZE960 A/S continues to showcase great wet performance thanks to the Flask Siping that clears water to mitigate the risk of hydroplaning and boost wet traction and control. With an up to 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Falken tire is backed by their road hazard protection and 30-day ride guarantee.
With a formidable score of 8.6, the Falken ensures great traction, handling, stability, and longevity.
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus vs Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S tires on traction
The traction of a tire means its ability to stay connected to the surface without skidding. UHP tires are designed to ‘stick’ to the road and return excellent grip and traction.
With an excellent 9.8 in traction, the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus features an asymmetric tread pattern that not only boosts aesthetics but also delivers incredible traction courtesy of multiple grooves and sipes.
Contrarily, the Ziex ZE960 A/S scores a modest 8.5 in traction thanks to Falken’s exclusive silica rubber compound that ensures great grip in dry and wet conditions. While the Canyon Groove technology boosts snow traction, the circumferential grooves allow quick water dispersal for effective wet performance.
From the above, it is very clear that the Conti is a class apart! The Falken is simply no match for Conti’s incredible traction and it loses.
ADVANTAGE: Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus vs Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S tires on handling
Fast vehicles can only be enjoyed when they promptly respond to your steering inputs, making handling a vital trait of UHP tires.
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus continues to stun with its characteristics by scoring another 9.8 this time in handling. Thanks to its asymmetric tread pattern, the Continental provides superb control, handling, and stability as it provides extra biting edges. Moreover, the Conti’s SportPlus technology allows excellent steering response and superior stability at fast speeds.
On the other hand, the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S’s handling score is a decent 8.6 out of 10. The Falken delivers impressive steering response at high speeds thanks to the robust construction and optimized tread pattern rigidity.
Scoring an almost 10-on-10, there’s very little that Falken can do to overpower the Continental, so the Ziex ZE960 A/S loses the handling section too.
ADVANTAGE: Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus vs Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S tires on longevity
Long tread life is rarely expected from a UHP tire but the all-season tread compound of these UHP all-season tires makes it happen, enabling them to last longer than their regular ultra-high-performance counterparts.
Scoring an 8.8 in longevity, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus comes with SportPlus technology and a special rubber compound that ensures uniform wear throughout the lifecycle of the tire while limiting uneven wear. While it is backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for non-staggered fitments, there’s a 25,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty on the rear staggered fitments.
Boasting an 8.7 longevity score, the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S features a unique rubber compound and sturdy construction that improves wearability and durability, while delivering exceptional performance around the year in dry, wet, and light snowy conditions. It is backed by a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
This one is a tough battle but the Conti manages to stay ahead with a marginal edge (0.1).
ADVANTAGE: Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus
When to use each
UHP all-season tires fuse the characteristics of ultra-high-performance tires with all-season tires to deliver consistent year-round performance in dry, wet, and light snow. The warranty on these tires is a great plus for a high-speed auto enthusiast.
If you want to drive in moderate to severe winter weather conditions, you can pick the all-weather tires as they offer superior performance in unpredictable weather conditions due to their special rubber compound, which doesn’t freeze in low temperatures.
Which one should you choose?
In the end, the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus beats the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S comprehensively in traction and handling and marginally in durability. However, the Falken has an ace in the name of the longer warranty (65,000 vs 50,000 miles). Let’s compare their prices.
Concerning the pricing of 235/40R19 tire size, the ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus costs $223 per tire while the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S costs $199 per tire. A set of four Conti tires will cost $892, while the four Falken tires cost $796, resulting in a difference of $196! The Falken, being an affordable tire, wins this price war.
Based on the SimpleScore, you should go for the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus if you:
- Drive vehicles like Audi A4, Ford Explorer, and Tesla Model S.
- Want a good-looking tire
- Prefer improved traction (9.8 vs. 8.5) and handling (9.8 vs. 8.6) performance
You can pick the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S if you:
- Drive vehicles like Chevrolet Impala, Mazda 6 and the Tesla Model 3
- Want an affordable option (difference of $196 on four tires!)
- Prefer longer limited mileage (65,000 miles vs 50,000 miles)
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.