Nokian zLine review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners
Owners 78 · 83 reviews analysed Road tests 69 · 13 tests
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The Nokian zLine is widely regarded as a high-performance summer tire that offers exceptional wet-weather grip and a comfortable, quiet ride at a competitive price point. While many users praise its handling and value, there is a consistent consensus regarding its rapid tread wear and occasional reports of sidewall cracking or structural disintegration, leading to a polarized user experience.
Owners rate it 9.4 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
How scores work
- Relative score
- 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
- Road tests
- 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
- Owner reviews
- 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.
By owner reviews
78/100From 83 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
69/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 83 owner reviews found online.
The Nokian zLine is widely regarded as a high-performance summer tire that offers exceptional wet-weather grip and a comfortable, quiet ride at a competitive price point. While many users praise its handling and value, there is a consistent consensus regarding its rapid tread wear and occasional reports of sidewall cracking or structural disintegration, leading to a polarized user experience.
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise output
- Excellent value for money compared to premium competitors
- Precise steering response and stable high-speed handling
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and short overall lifespan
- Reports of sidewall cracking and tread separation
- Soft sidewalls can feel unstable during aggressive cornering
- Inconsistent performance in extreme dry heat
Worth knowing
- Users with heavy vehicles (e.g., BMW 7 Series, Audi A4, Saab 9-5) frequently report faster tread wear and a need for careful pressure management.
- Drivers of performance-oriented hatchbacks and sedans (e.g., Scirocco, Mondeo) noted that the soft sidewalls can reduce steering feedback compared to stiffer UHP tires.
- Owners of larger SUVs noted that the tire's weight and construction can significantly alter fuel consumption and ride characteristics.
Reviews from our readers
Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.
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13 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2018 Auto Express Summer tire Test · 225/45 R17
9th of 10
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Express
2018 Ace 235/45 R18 Summer tire Test · 235/45 R18
3rd of 11
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: ACE
2017 Auto Bild UHP tire Test · 245/40 R18
7th of 9
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 9 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 9 | |
| Dry Braking | 5th of 9 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 9 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 9 | |
| Noise | 8th of 9 |
Source: Auto Bild
2017 Auto Bild Summer tire Test · 225/50 R17
16th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 19th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 15th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 13th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 20 | |
| Wear | 17th of 20 |
Source: Auto Bild
2017 Auto Bild Summer tire Shootout · 225/50 R17
20th of 43
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2016 GTU Performance Summer tire Test · 225/45 R17
6th of 14
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: GTÜ
2016 ADAC tire Test - 225/45 R17 · 225/45 R17
7th of 16
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: ADAC
2015 Sport Auto 235/35 R19 UHP tire Test · 235/35 R19
5th of 7
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Sport Auto
2015 AMS Performance tire Test · 225/50 R17
6th of 9
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
2015 AZ 225/40 R18 Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18
5th of 14
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2014 Auto Zeitung Summer tire Test · 225/50 R17
9th of 12
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Zeitung
2014 Auto Bild 50 Summer tire Shootout · 225/50 R17
16th of 49
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2013 Sport Auto Max Performance Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18
5th of 10
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Sport Auto
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