Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Falken ZIEX ZE320
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 71
- TR Score
- 9.4/10
- Owners say
- 87% · 17
In the 8 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 5 times and the ZIEX ZE320 3 times. The PremiumContact 7 lasted 24.7% longer in the wear tests; the ZIEX ZE320 stopped 1.8% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Continental PremiumContact 7 if wet-braking safety, predictable all-conditions behavior, and longer life/value per kilometer are your priorities. Choose the Falken ZIEX ZE320 if you want a sportier-feeling touring tire with consistently excellent dry braking and very strong handling performance for the price-accepting that wet-braking margin is typically not as strong as the Continental.
Where the PremiumContact 7 is stronger
- Class-leading wet braking across the shared tests (wins 7/8; e.g., 30.1 m vs 34.3 m in ADAC, 25.1 m vs 27.3 m in Auto Express)
- Strong aquaplaning performance in several major tests (e.g., ADAC straight aquaplaning 79.7 vs 75.2 km/h; curved 3.7 vs 3.1 m/s²)
- Longer predicted wear and better cost-per-km where measured (ADAC 44,700 km vs 37,500 km; Auto Bild 46,250 km vs 35,520 km; value 8.22 vs 10.47 price/1000 km)
Where the ZIEX ZE320 is stronger
- Very strong dry braking performance (wins 6/8; often among the shortest distances, e.g., 33.0 m vs 34.6 m in Auto Bild/Shootout)
- Handling-focused performance that can win overall tests on breadth and pace (Auto Express 2026 winner; frequently quickest/near-quickest on wet and dry handling)
- Good subjective comfort in multiple reports (e.g., Vi Bilagare comfort points edge; calm response over joints/bumps described)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
PremiumContact 7 vs ZIEX ZE320 at a glance
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | Gap | ZIEX ZE320 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won8 shared tests | 5 | 3 | |
| Dry15 measurements | 5 | The ZIEX ZE320 stopped 1.8% shorter in the dry (8 tests) | 9 |
| Wet31 measurements | 19 | The PremiumContact 7 stopped 4.9% shorter in the wet (8 tests) | 11 |
| Comfort11 measurements | 5 | Level between the two. | 5 |
| Value9 measurements | 6 | The PremiumContact 7 lasted 24.7% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) | 2 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The PremiumContact 7 by 0.1 | 9.4/10 |
| Owner rating71 and 17 reviews | 82% | The ZIEX ZE320 by 5 points | 87% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 74% | The ZIEX ZE320 by 6 points | 80% |
| Pricein the 6 tests that listed prices | +16% | The PremiumContact 7 was dearer in 5 of 6 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 56 | 27 sizes made in both | 53 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 8 tests, 2025 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | PremiumContact 7 | Field | ZIEX ZE320 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Express Summer Tire Test | P2 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| 2026 Vi Bilagare Summer Tire Test | P1 of 10 | P4 of 10 | |
| 2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P1 of 16 | P5 of 16 | |
| 2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tire Test | P4 of 7 | P1 of 7 | |
| 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tire Test | P2 of 14 | P13 of 14 | |
| 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tire Test | P4 of 20 | P7 of 20 | |
| The Best Touring Tires for 2025 Tested | P1 of 7 | P3 of 7 | |
| 2025 Summer Tire Test Shootout | P8 of 52 | P7 of 52 |
Performance profile
15 measurements from the 8 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
PremiumContact 7
ZIEX ZE320
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
PremiumContact 7
ZIEX ZE320
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
PremiumContact 7
ZIEX ZE320
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the ZIEX ZE320 87% from 17. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | PremiumContact 7 | Gap | ZIEX ZE320 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 118 | 1.8% | 116 | 2-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69.86 | 0.6% | 69.52 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 74.4 | 0.3% | 74.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 6.6% | scored | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 101 | 4.9% | 106 | 7-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 115 | 7.4% | 124 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 86.11 | 0.8% | 86.57 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 45.5 | 1% | 45.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.1% | scored | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.66 | 0.3% | 12.69 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 51.2 | 1% | 50.7 | 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 10.6 | 9.5% | 9.8 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 7.6% | scored | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.7% | scored | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.53 | 0.8 dB | 70.73 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.8 | 0.4 dB | 73.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 28,257 | 24.7% | 22,686 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.15 | 0.6% | 8.21 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.45 | 1.8% | 5.55 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69 | 2.8% | 71 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the PremiumContact 7 scores 9.5 and the ZIEX ZE320 9.4 out of 10.
| PremiumContact 7 | Category | ZIEX ZE320 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94 | Dry | 96 | ||
| 97 | Wet | 86 | ||
| 36 | Comfort | 52 | ||
| 67 | Value | 46 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| PremiumContact 7 | Category | ZIEX ZE320 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.2 | Dry Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 9.2 | Wet Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 8.3 | Road Feedback | 8.8 | ||
| 8.4 | Handling | 8.9 | ||
| 7.3 | Wear | 8.1 | ||
| 7.5 | Comfort | 8.5 | ||
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the ZIEX ZE320 87% from 17. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental PremiumContact 7
- 82%from 71 reviews
- 74%would buy again
- 704,882 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners are largely impressed with the Continental PremiumContact 7, rating it 82.9% on average with no outright negative reviews, and the standout theme is strong, confidence-inspiring grip in both dry and wet conditions. Nearly half of owners mention excellent dry and wet grip, often backed up by praise for secure handling and stability. The main drawback is refinement: around a quarter to a third of owners report notable road noise, and a similar share are disappointed by tread life, with wear sometimes described as quicker than expected. Comfort is generally viewed positively overall, though opinions vary, and steering feel is more mixed than the outright grip levels suggest.
- Strong dry grip and traction
- Very confident wet grip
- Secure, planted handling in the dry
- Comfortable ride over bumps and on longer runs
- Noticeable road noise, especially on coarse surfaces
- Tread life can be disappointing for a premium tire
- Steering feel/precision can be inconsistent (some find it vague)
Summarised by AI from 58 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 71 PremiumContact 7 reviewsThe PremiumContact 7 offers a great balance of touring longevity, comfort, and sufficiently precise handling to keep you safe at higher speeds and in unexpected situations. These tires provide near-perfect grip across various conditions, performing exceptionally well on both dry and wet roads. On the other hand, they can get a bit noisy on rough surfaces.
Falken ZIEX ZE320
- 87%from 17 reviews
- 80%would buy again
- 92,020 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners are overwhelmingly happy with the Falken ZIEX ZE320, with consistently strong reports of dry grip and confident handling, backed up by positive wet-weather feedback. Around half of owners who mention it also find road noise low for the class, and a third highlight sharp steering response. The main caveats come from around one in five owners citing higher fuel use and similarly around one in five questioning tread life, while isolated comments mention reduced performance in extreme heat and less progressive behavior at the limit.
- Strong dry grip
- Low road noise for the class
- Confident wet grip
- Sharp steering response and good feedback
- Mediocre rolling resistance (worse fuel economy)
- Questionable tread life for some owners
- Can lose performance in very high heat
Summarised by AI from 13 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 17 ZIEX ZE320 reviewsThe tires provide excellent handling and grip in both dry and wet conditions. There is absolutely no tire noise on the highways, although if the asphalt quality is poor, some noise returns. The ride is very comfortable and not too firm. I rotated the tires from front to back at 10,000 km, and I haven't noticed any wear at this point. Overall, these tires offer great value for the price, and I feel very confident in both braking and cornering!
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 56 sizes of the PremiumContact 7 and 53 of the ZIEX ZE320, 27 of them made in both.
| Category | PremiumContact 7 | ZIEX ZE320 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 56 sizes, 16 to 21 inch | 53 sizes, 15 to 18 inch |
| Made in both | 27 sizes 205/55 R16205/60 R16215/60 R16225/55 R16205/45 R17205/55 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17215/60 R17215/65 R17225/45 R17and 15 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A100% | A100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C74%B26% | C91%B9% |
| EU label noise | 71-73 dB B100% | 66-68 dB A100% |
| On the market since | 2022 | 2024 |
| Replaced | Continental Premium Contact 6 | Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun (2017) |
| Awards | Recommended: Best Tires for Family Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Summer Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2024) | Winner: Summer Value Performer (16in and below) (WhatTire, 2026/27) |
| Price in the shared tests | The PremiumContact 7 was the dearer tire in 5 of the 6 tests that listed prices, by 16% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Previous generation: Continental PremiumContact 7 vs Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun (7 shared tests)
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Continental's PremiumContact 7 and Falken's ZIEX ZE320 sit in the same “premium-touring summer” brief, but across eight shared group tests they achieve it with noticeably different priorities. The Continental is repeatedly judged as the safety-first, high-reserve option-especially when the road is wet and the braking zone is short-while the Falken's story is about rounded, confidence-inspiring grip and pace, often topping dry metrics and frequently shining in handling-focused scoring.
The interesting twist is that both tires have credible “premium” credentials in independent testing: the PremiumContact 7 racks up more overall wins (5 vs 3), yet the ZE320 also takes outright victories in major tests (notably Auto Express 2026) by being near the top almost everywhere. If you mainly care about wet braking and long-term ownership costs, the data tends to favor Continental; if you want an agile, stable tire that's frequently quickest in dry braking/handling for mid-pack money, Falken makes a compelling case-provided you accept its occasional wet-safety caveats depending on test conditions.
Conclusion
Across the shared tests, the clearest, most repeatable separator is wet braking: the PremiumContact 7 wins 7/8 comparisons and often by a meaningful margin (e.g., ADAC: 30.1 m vs 34.3 m; Auto Express: 25.1 m vs 27.3 m). That advantage translates directly into real-world safety margin in emergency stops, and it's a big reason Continental also converts more overall test wins, while pairing that wet authority with strong all-round manners and, in multiple reports, very low perceived/rough-road noise.
The Falken ZE320, however, is the more frequent “driver's pace” tire in the dry and on handling circuits. It wins dry braking 6/8, including several notable gaps (e.g., Auto Bild/Shootout: 33.0 m vs 34.6 m), and it's often at or near the top in wet and dry handling metrics (Auto Express winner; strong handling praise elsewhere). Where it can lose ground is the very area many buyers prioritize most in summer tires-straight-line wet braking-and in some datasets it's also more variable in wet feel (one combined test places it far down the order with warnings about cool/wet behavior). For longevity and ownership cost, the Continental also tends to look stronger, with significantly higher predicted wear in ADAC (44,700 km vs 37,500 km) and Auto Bild (46,250 km vs 35,520 km), plus better value-per-distance where measured.
Practical takeaway: if your priority is maximum wet-stop safety and a “no-drama” tire that also lasts well, the PremiumContact 7 remains the more dependable choice. If you want a sportier, often quicker-feeling touring tire that delivers standout dry braking/handling for the money-and you're comfortable trading away some wet-braking margin-the ZIEX ZE320 is the sharper-value performance play.
PremiumContact 7 vs ZIEX ZE320: your questions
Is the Continental PremiumContact 7 or the Falken ZIEX ZE320 the better tire?
In the 8 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental PremiumContact 7 finished ahead 5 times and the ZIEX ZE320 3 times. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the PremiumContact 7 scores 9.5 and the ZIEX ZE320 9.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the PremiumContact 7 or the ZIEX ZE320?
The PremiumContact 7 led 19 of the 31 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.9% shorter in the wet across 8 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The ZIEX ZE320 led 9 of the 15 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.8% shorter in the dry across 8 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The PremiumContact 7 lasted 24.7% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) and used 1.8% less fuel (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.3/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 8.1/10 for the ZIEX ZE320.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The ZIEX ZE320 was 0.8 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the PremiumContact 7 and 8.5/10 for the ZIEX ZE320.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the PremiumContact 7 82% from 71 reviews and the ZIEX ZE320 87% from 17. 74% of PremiumContact 7 owners would buy it again, against 80% for the ZIEX ZE320.
Which is more expensive?
In the 6 tests that listed prices, the PremiumContact 7 was the dearer tire in 5 of them, by 16% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The PremiumContact 7 is made in 56 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the ZIEX ZE320 in 53 (15 to 18 inch). 27 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the PremiumContact 7 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the ZIEX ZE320 A and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The ZIEX ZE320 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2024, the PremiumContact 7 in 2022. The PremiumContact 7 replaced the Continental Premium Contact 6. The ZIEX ZE320 replaced the Falken ZIEX ZE310 EcoRun.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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