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Nokian zLine Test Results

Tested 2013 to 2018 9 publications

Tested 15 times by independent publications, the Nokian zLine averages a finish of 8th.

  • 15Independent tests
  • 0Test wins
  • 1Podium finishes
  • 8thAverage finish
  • 44%Field beaten on average
  • 9Publications
Nokian zLine

15 tests, 2013 to 2018

0%50%100%201320142015201620172018Average 44%2013 Sport Auto Max Performance Summer Tire Test (2013): P5 of 10, Beat 56% of the field2014 Auto Bild 50 Summer Tire Shootout (2014): P16 of 50, Beat 69% of the field2014 Auto Zeitung Summer Tire Test (2014): P9 of 12, Beat 27% of the field2015 AZ 225/40 R18 Summer Tire Test (2015): P5 of 14, Beat 69% of the field2015 AMS Performance Tire Test (2015): P6 of 9, Beat 38% of the field2015 Sport Auto 235/35 R19 UHP Tire Test (2015): P5 of 7, Beat 33% of the field2015 Top 5 Summer Performance Tires (2015): P5 of 5, Beat 0% of the field2016 ADAC Tire Test - 225/45 R17 (2016): P7 of 16, Beat 60% of the field2016 GTU Performance Summer Tire Test (2016): P6 of 14, Beat 62% of the field2017 Auto Bild Summer Tire Shootout (2017): P20 of 51, Beat 55% of the field2017 AZ Summer Tire Test (2017): P5 of 10, Beat 56% of the field2017 Auto Bild Summer Tire Test (2017): P15 of 20, Beat 21% of the field2017 Auto Bild UHP Tire Test (2017): P6 of 9, Beat 25% of the field2018 Ace 235/45 R18 Summer Tire Test (2018): P2 of 11, Beat 80% of the field2018 Auto Express Summer Tire Test (2018): P9 of 10, Beat 11% of the field
Share of the field beaten in each test, oldest to newest. Hover or tap a point for the test.
  • Test win
  • Second
  • Third
  • Average 44%

Record by discipline

Where the Nokian zLine finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.

Discipline Tests Avg finish Field beaten Firsts
Dry
Dry Braking 2 P9 of 14.5 43% -
Dry Handling 2 P5.5 of 14.5 55% -
Wet
Wet Braking 2 P11.5 of 14.5 30% -
Wet Handling 2 P10 of 14.5 38% -
Comfort
Noise 1 P8 of 9 13% -
Value
Wear 1 P17 of 20 16% -
Rolling Resistance 1 P4 of 9 63% -

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Nokian zLine. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 8 shared: 3 ahead, 5 behind 8 3 5 - 38%
Pirelli P Zero 8 shared: 2 ahead, 6 behind 8 2 6 - 25%
Continental Sport Contact 5 8 shared: 1 ahead, 7 behind 8 1 7 - 13%
Michelin Primacy 3 7 shared: 2 ahead, 5 behind 7 2 5 - 29%
Bridgestone Turanza T001 6 shared: 5 ahead, 1 behind 6 5 1 - 83%
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 6 shared: 1 ahead, 5 behind 6 1 5 - 17%
Falken Azenis FK510 6 shared: 0 ahead, 5 behind 6 0 5 1 0%
Yokohama Advan Sport V105 5 shared: 5 ahead, 0 behind 5 5 0 - 100%
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 5 shared: 0 ahead, 5 behind 5 0 5 - 0%
Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 5 shared: 0 ahead, 5 behind 5 0 5 - 0%
Falken FK453 4 shared: 3 ahead, 1 behind 4 3 1 - 75%
Vredestein Ultrac Satin 4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind 4 2 2 - 50%
Vredestein Ultrac Vorti 4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind 4 2 2 - 50%
Avon ZV7 4 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 4 2 1 1 67%
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue 4 shared: 1 ahead, 3 behind 4 1 3 - 25%
Continental Premium Contact 6 4 shared: 1 ahead, 3 behind 4 1 3 - 25%
Uniroyal RainSport 3 4 shared: 1 ahead, 3 behind 4 1 3 - 25%
Apollo Aspire 4G 3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 3 2 1 - 67%
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3 3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 3 2 1 - 67%
Toyo Proxes T1 Sport 3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 3 2 1 - 67%

Against its own line

The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.

Tire Tests Wins Avg finish Field beaten
Nokian Z G2 Predecessor 9 1 5th 53%
Nokian zLine This tire 15 0 8th 44%
Nokian PowerProof Successor 19 1 6th 49%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 14 tests. Updated October 29, 2026.

The Nokian zLine has a mixed fourteen-test record, with favorable handling assessments offset by repeated concerns about behavior near the limit and aquaplaning resistance. Dry handling was fourth of twenty in the 2017 Auto Bild full test, and the 2013 Sport Auto test described it as second best in the dry. Wet handling and braking were fifth of nine in the 2017 Auto Bild Sportscars comparison, with wet braking only 0.8% behind the best. However, the 2017 Auto Bild full test placed wet braking eighteenth of twenty and wear seventeenth. Testers repeatedly described understeer, oversteer or abrupt responses, while aquaplaning resistance drew criticism in several tests.

Second of eleven overall in the 2018 ACE comparison was unusually strong against the broader record, including ninth of ten in Auto Express that year. Auto Express also judged dry performance very weak, an unusual contrast with earlier dry-handling praise. Efficiency was inconsistent: low rolling resistance or fuel use was praised in several tests, but others criticised high resistance, including the highest in the 2017 AZ test. Steering likewise drew both praise and criticism for slow responses. The 2016 GTU test rated it Highly Recommended, but that verdict sits alongside substantial variation between sizes and comparisons.

Performance Strengths

Performance Weaknesses

Do owners agree with the tests?

Every tester write-up on the Nokian zLine (10 tests) and 72 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.

Where owners and testers agree

  • Dry handling strength in 4 of 10 tests 12 praise, 2 criticise of 72 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Dry braking strength in 2 of 10 tests 5 praise, 2 criticise of 72 reviews · Read those reviews

Where they disagree

  • Road noise weakness in 1 of 10 tests 15 praise, 6 criticise of 72 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Ride comfort weakness in 1 of 10 tests 12 praise, 5 criticise of 72 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Aquaplaning resistance weakness in 3 of 10 tests 5 praise, 2 criticise of 72 reviews · Read those reviews

Raised by owners, not by any test of this tire

  • Puncture resistance no test mentions it 1 praise, 5 criticise of 72 reviews · Read those reviews

Every test, newest first 15

Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.

2018 2 tests
2017 4 tests
2016 2 tests
2015 4 tests
2014 2 tests
P9 of 12 Beat 27% of the field

2014 Auto Zeitung Summer Tire Test

Auto Zeitung 225/50 R17

Oversteer in the wet, understeer on dry roads and slow in the slalom and handling

WinnerContinental Sport Contact 5

2013 1 test
P5 of 10 Beat 56% of the field

2013 Sport Auto Max Performance Summer Tire Test

Sport Auto 225/40 R18

Second best in the dry, the Nokian Z Line takes abuse well with no signs of overheating. Good grip in the wet, but load changes are fairly snappy and the wet braking and aquaplaning performance was a little behind the top 4.

WinnerDunlop SportMaxx RT

Back to the Nokian zLine overview

Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tire Reviews score. All Nokian tires

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