Goodyear vs Falken

It’s easy to feel stuck when choosing tyres. There are the heavyweights - Goodyear, Michelin, Continental - the ones you see in every car magazine or hear about from every dealership.

But then you spot names like Falken, maybe a little cheaper, maybe with better reviews than you'd expect. 

And it gets you thinking… should you just go with what’s familiar, or is it worth exploring?

Goodyear Tyres - A Household Name

Goodyear doesn’t really need much of an introduction. They’ve been around since 1898, and their tyres are everywhere. 

What makes Goodyear appealing is their balance. They rarely do anything radical, but their products are consistent, refined, and usually a safe bet.

Goodyear’s Signature Technologies

SoundComfort: A foam layer built into the tyre to reduce cabin noise. Especially helpful if your car’s a bit noisy on the motorway.

ActiveGrip / ActiveBraking: Designed to improve wet braking. Handy in the UK.

ElectricDrive-Ready Models: A growing number of Goodyear tyres are now optimised for EVs. With improved low rolling resistance, reinforced structure, all that.

Popular Goodyear Tyres

• Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 – A flagship performance tyre that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. Today, prices range from £   to £   per tyre*.
• EfficientGrip Performance 2 – Known for lasting mileage and decent wet handling. Today, prices range from £   to £   per tyre*.
• Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 – Excellent for year-round British weather. A real all-season performer. Today, prices range from £   to £   per tyre*.

Falken – An Underdog With Bite

Falken’s been around since the early 1980s and is owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, one of the world’s largest tyre manufacturers.

While not quite a household name, Falken’s earned its stripes. Especially among drivers who like a bit of edge and value for money.

They’ve got a strong motorsport background, which trickles down into many of their consumer tyres.

What Falken Brings to the Table

• 4D Nano Design: it’s about controlling compound structure at the microscopic level - for better wet grip and tread wear.
• Silent Core: Their own noise-reduction tech, using polyurethane foam inside the tyre. Not available on all models, but a nice bonus where included.
• Advanced Sipe Design: Used heavily on their all-season and winter tyres. Helps disperse water and snow efficiently.

Falken Product Range

Falken has an extensive range of tyres to meet many different categories and needs. They are well renowned for their high performance products.

• Azenis FK520 – A serious ultra-high-performance tyre, but with surprising comfort. Good for people who want a sportier feel without getting rattled over every bump. Prices today range from £   to £   per tyre*.
• Ziex ZE310 Ecorun – Falken’s popular all-rounder for everyday driving. Good wet grip, low noise, and reasonable tread life. Prices range from £   to £   per tyre*.
• EuroAll Season AS210 – Falken’s answer to all-season driving. A solid performance in unpredictable conditions that won’t break the bank. Prices today range from £   to £   per tyre*.

Goodyear or Falken?

There’s no absolute ‘winner’ here. It depends on what you need.

If you’re after something tested, polished, and with strong support from vehicle manufacturers, Goodyear feels like the obvious answer. They’re widely trusted and widely available. Their tyre models tend to get high scores across multiple categories.

Falken, though, is no compromise. They’ve grown out of their budget roots and now stand toe-to-toe with mid-range performance brands. If you want sportier feedback or just better value on your next tyre set, Falken might make more sense.

Goodyear & Falken Ownership

Just for clarity: Goodyear and Falken aren’t connected. 

Falken is owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which interestingly also took over Dunlop from Goodyear in May 2025. So while Falken and Dunlop are now under one roof, Goodyear stands separate.

Does that matter to the average driver? Not directly. 

But it might help explain why Falken has been steadily gaining traction - they’ve got a serious global player backing them.

Choosing Your Tyre: Goodyear Vs Falken

Choosing tyres isn’t just about specs. It’s about how you drive, where you drive, and even how you feel behind the wheel.

Goodyear will probably never let you down. But that doesn’t mean Falken won’t surprise you, in a good way.

Whichever you choose, it’s always smart to check reviews for your specific car. Tyres behave differently depending on the vehicle. Something that doesn’t always come across in the product descriptions alone.