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Falken ZIEX CT50 vs Kumho Crugen HT51 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
Kumho Crugen HT51
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7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Why this score
| Source | ZIEX CT50 | Crugen HT51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 97 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | ZIEX CT50 | Crugen HT51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 92 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 94 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | ZIEX CT50 | Crugen HT51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 91 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 60 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 92 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | ZIEX CT50 | Crugen HT51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 94 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 53 | 67 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 95 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | ZIEX CT50 | Crugen HT51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 94 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | ZIEX CT50 | Crugen HT51 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 95 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | ZIEX CT50 | Crugen HT51 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 77 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Falken ZIEX CT50 | Kumho Crugen HT51 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 62 | 80 |
| Dry | 79 | 85 |
| Wet | 62 | 87 |
| Snow | 37 | 78 |
| Comfort | 58 | 83 |
| Noise | – | 87 |
| Treadwear | 63 | 73 |
| Handling | 70 | 77 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Falken ZIEX CT50 receives mixed to negative feedback, primarily criticized for its excessive road noise and acoustic performance. While users acknowledge acceptable handling characteristics and reasonable tread longevity, the persistent noise issues significantly detract from the overall ownership experience.
Pros
- Acceptable tread wear longevity
- Competent handling performance
- Reliable dry road stability
Cons
- Excessive road noise and 'wooing' sounds on tarmac
- Low treadwear rating (300) compared to aftermarket alternatives
- Susceptibility to manufacturing defects such as slow leaks
Observations
- Mazda CX-9 owners consistently report that the tire compromises the vehicle's intended quiet cabin experience.
- Users note that the tire's performance and noise levels do not improve with consistent rotation or pressure adjustments.
The Kumho Crugen H/T51 is widely regarded as a high-value, versatile highway tire that offers impressive wet and dry traction comparable to premium competitors. While users appreciate its fuel efficiency and handling characteristics, long-term ownership experiences are polarized by reports of uneven tread wear and significant noise degradation over time.
Pros
- Excellent wet and dry weather traction
- High value-to-performance ratio compared to premium brands
- Positive impact on fuel economy
- Quiet highway performance during early stages of ownership
Cons
- Significant increase in road noise as the tire ages
- Premature or uneven shoulder wear
- Limited capability in deep mud or severe winter conditions
- Noise levels becoming intrusive between 45-55 mph
Observations
- Users operating heavy-duty trucks like the Ram 1500 report stable handling and good wet-weather confidence.
- Owners of SUVs like the 4Runner note that while the tire performs well for highway and light off-road use, it is susceptible to shoulder wear patterns.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Falken ZIEX CT50 | B · Kumho Crugen HT51 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | — |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | — |
| Sizes available | — | 44 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 12.5/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 720 A A |
| Treadwear warranty | — | 70,000 mi |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
Falken
Kumho
Winner: Kumho Crugen HT51 — better snow, wet and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Kumho Crugen HT51 scores 78 vs 37 on snow.
Kumho Crugen HT51 scores 87 vs 62 on wet.
Kumho Crugen HT51 scores 83 vs 58 on comfort.
Kumho Crugen HT51 scores 73 vs 63 on treadwear.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.