A subsidiary of the Japanese company Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Falken Tire specializes in producing tires for passenger cars, minivans, CUVs, 4x4s, SUVs, light trucks, and medium trucks in different categories such as all-season, all-terrain, UHP, mud terrain, summer, and winter. Among its range of winter tire lines, the Falken Espia EPZ II SUV is a new offering that promises to offer superior performance in severe winter weather conditions.

Designed for SUVs and light trucks, the Espia EPZ II SUV features advanced technologies in the rubber compound, tread pattern, and construction to ensure the tire returns effective handling and performance in the toughest winter conditions. With a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certificate, it comes with tread surface etching and wide circumferential grooves which clean the surface quickly to reduce the risk of hydroplaning and deliver improved traction in icy and wet conditions. It comes in a wide range of tire sizes from 16 to 20 inches which cover most of the common SUV tire sizes.

So, does the Falken deliver in reality? Let’s find out the answer in this Falken Espia EPZ II SUV tire review. Read on.

Features and Benefits

Winter tires are designed to offer superior traction and performance on ice and snow-clad surfaces. They feature deep sipes and grooves to evacuate water and slush and restore traction in severe winter weather conditions. The Espia EPZ II SUV certainly qualifies to be a frontrunner among quality winter tires.

• Improved grip on ice and snow – The optimized tread features an etched surface for slip-resistant contact on ice and improved braking performance during severe winter conditions. For deep snow, wet, and slushy conditions, there are deep and wide lateral grooves that quickly evacuate water and snow and regain traction. Meanwhile, the wide circumferential grooves, too, flush out water and work in tandem with the lateral grooves to resist hydroplaning.
• Good handling and stability – The large shoulder blocks with high-density sipes push water and snow away from the tread and, at the same time, create biting edges for consistent road contact. The center rib with deep sipes not only improves road contact but also aids in precise steering responsiveness. The winter rubber compound allows better handling and stability along with even wear.
• Quiet and comfortable ride – The optimized contact patch with dense sipes and multiple grooves ensures there is reduced noise and improved comfort. The flexible sidewall design absorbs most of the bumps and does not filter them inside the cabin.

Pros and Cons

The Espia EPZ II SUV tire line has had its share of advantages and disadvantages, too. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of the Falken tire before we have our final say.

Pros

• Extra sipes create more biting edges for constant traction
• Wide grooves and dense sipes resist hydroplaning by taking the water or snow away
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification
• Large shoulder blocks for consistent contact with the road
• Tread surface etching for excellent ice traction performance
• Optimized tread pattern for minimal noise and vibrations
• Wide and deep lateral grooves for quick ice and snow removal
• Circumferential grooves quickly drain water to resist hydroplaning

Cons

• The is a bit loud when running at moderate speeds
• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Not backed by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty

SimpleTire’s view on Falken Espia EPZ II SUV tires

To sum up, the Falken Espia EPZ II SUV (starts around $127) offers great winter performance thanks to the dense network of sipes, multiple grooves, and symmetric tread pattern. It features deep grooves for consistent road contact in snow and ice while also getting the prized Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification – a guarantee of optimum performance in severe winter weather conditions.

It locks horns with the likes of Toyo Observe G3-Ice (starts around $92), Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV (starts around $116), and General Altimax Arctic 12 (starts around $101).

Vehicles the Falken Espia EPZ II SUV is a good replacement tire for

The Falken tire isn’t an OE-fitted tire, however, it’s a good alternative in the replacement tire market for SUVs and light trucks such as Acura MDX, Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Escape, Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Sorento, Subaru Forester, and several more.