The Audi Q6 e-tron: quiet, low-resistance driving with Falken tyres

Tyres for electric and hybrid vehicles have to satisfy special requirements: they should offer low rolling resistance, guarantee optimum traction on all surfaces and be able handle heavy loads at the same time.

The Falken tyres meet these requirements. Since May 2023 and November 2023, Falken Tyre Europe has been supplying its e. ZIEX AO model in the 235/65R18 H XL and 255/60R18 H XL sizes to the Audi plant in Ingolstadt, where the successful AUDI Q6 e-tron is currently leaving the production lines. 

The e. ZIEX made its premiere in spring 2023 and is one of the most energy efficient tyres that the Sumitomo Rubber Group has ever developed and manufactured. Its asymmetric tread, which was developed with Advanced 4D Nano Design technology, is characterised by the optimised edge sections.

These prevent pressure peaks from occurring on the edges of the tread blocks, resulting in a uniform force distribution: for a superior grip on both wet and dry road surfaces and a longer tyre lifespan. The tread design is also optimised on the contour of the tyre shoulder, which reduces the rolling resistance and increases the vehicle’s range. 

The low rolling resistance was also confirmed by AutoBild magazine in its 2024 summer tyre test: of the eight tyres that were tested, the Falken e. ZIEX impressed with the lowest rolling resistance and also set standards in terms of fuel consumption, measured in kWh per 100 kilometres. “We are very proud to contribute to the quality and innovation for which Audi is known worldwide with our tyres”, said Christian Stolting, OE Sales Director at Falken Tyre Europe, discussing the contract with enthusiasm. 

“We are very happy that our products fulfil the high aspirations of these vehicles in terms of innovative and safe solutions”. The quality of the Falken tyre has also convinced Audi, whose tyres carry the additional A designation in their name, which signifies an OE product for Audi with Falken.

For the retrofitting market, the tyre is available in 29 sizes from 15 – 21 inches in the 40 – 65 series and is approved for speed classes of H/V/W (210 – 240 km/h). Falken Tyre Europe GmbH is the European affiliate of Japanese tyre manufacturer Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (SRI).

With more than 40,000 employees, it is the fifth largest tyre manufacturer worldwide. Tyre production is distributed over 12 production facilities, with more than 116 million tyres sold per year.

The Falken brand was established in Japan in 1983; in 1988 the first branch office was opened in Germany. From its location in Offenbach, Main, the company markets and sells a complete tyre portfolio for passenger cars, trucks, pick-ups and SUVs as original equipment and for the entire European retrofitting market.

More than 220 people from 24 nations work for Falken Tyre Europe, and a distribution network of approx. 8,000 tyre partners across Europe handles the sale and fitting of its premium products. All Falken factories comply with the ISO 9001, IATF 16949 as well as environmental standard ISO14001.