Falken Azenis FK520 vs Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- TR Score
- 9.1/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 55
- TR Score
- 9.0/10
- Owners say
- 74% · 96
In the 8 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 finished ahead 7 times and the Azenis FK520 once. The Azenis FK520 lasted 29.8% longer in the wear tests; the P Zero PZ4 stopped 2.8% shorter in the wet.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Pirelli P Zero PZ4 if you prioritize wet-weather confidence, precise steering, and enthusiastic driving. Choose Falken Azenis FK520 if you value lower upfront cost, longer tread life, better aquaplaning safety margins, and reduced running costs for high-mileage or budget-focused use.
Where the Azenis FK520 is stronger
- Excellent value and lower purchase price across tests
- Longer tread life and lower wear rates (e.g., +23-37%)
- Lower rolling resistance in most tests, aiding fuel economy
Where the P Zero PZ4 is stronger
- Superior wet handling and lateral grip (wins 6/6 wet handling)
- Sharper steering and balanced dynamics with high subjective scores
- Consistently competitive dry performance with short braking
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Azenis FK520 vs P Zero PZ4 at a glance
| Category | Azenis FK520 | Gap | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won8 shared tests | 1 | 7 | |
| Dry14 measurements | 7 | Level between the two. | 7 |
| Wet28 measurements | 9 | The P Zero PZ4 stopped 2.8% shorter in the wet (7 tests) | 19 |
| Comfort7 measurements | 4 | 2 | |
| Value9 measurements | 7 | The Azenis FK520 lasted 29.8% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) | 2 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.1/10 | The Azenis FK520 by 0.1 | 9.0/10 |
| Owner rating55 and 96 reviews | 82% | The Azenis FK520 by 8 points | 74% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 76% | The Azenis FK520 by 21 points | 55% |
| Pricein the 5 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The P Zero PZ4 was dearer in 5 of 5 | +17% |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 8 tests, 2023 to 2025
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Azenis FK520 | Field | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 AZ Summer Tyre Test | P8 of 10 | P5 of 10 | |
| 2024 EVO Summer Tyre Test | P7 of 7 | P6 of 7 | |
| 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tyre Test | P7 of 11 | P5 of 11 | |
| 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test | P8 of 20 | P11 of 20 | |
| 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tyre Test | P6 of 10 | P3 of 10 | |
| 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test | P7 of 13 | P3 of 13 | |
| 2023 Summer Tyre Market Overview | P8 of 50 | P3 of 50 | |
| 2023 ACE / Gute Fahrt UHP Summer Tyre Test | P7 of 7 | P2 of 7 |
Performance profile
12 measurements from the 8 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Azenis FK520
P Zero PZ4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 95%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 6 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Azenis FK520
P Zero PZ4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Azenis FK520
P Zero PZ4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Azenis FK520 82% from 55 reviews and the P Zero PZ4 74% from 96. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Azenis FK520 | Gap | P Zero PZ4 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33.96 | 0.4% | 33.83 | 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 90.44 | 0.1% | 90.28 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 111.4 | 0.8% | 112.3 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 9.8% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 37.03 | 2.8% | 35.8 | 2-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.39 | 4.1% | 68.42 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 80 | 3.9% | 83.03 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 23.4% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.3 | 3.3% | 8.57 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.13 | 2.1% | 11.88 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 81.31 | 0.9% | 80.66 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 19.75 | 1.4% | 19.43 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 33.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 11.9% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69.78 | 0.4 dB | 70.14 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 42,400 | 29.8% | 32,650 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.65 | 5.4% | 9.17 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0.1 | 33.3% | 0.15 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Azenis FK520 scores 9.1 and the P Zero PZ4 9 out of 10.
| Azenis FK520 | Category | P Zero PZ4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | Dry | 93 | ||
| 83 | Wet | 91 | ||
| 57 | Comfort | 49 | ||
| 54 | Value | 7 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Azenis FK520 | Category | P Zero PZ4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | Dry Grip | 8.7 | ||
| 8.3 | Wet Grip | 7.5 | ||
| 7.9 | Road Feedback | 8.2 | ||
| 8.4 | Handling | 8.1 | ||
| 7.7 | Wear | 5.9 | ||
| 8.1 | Comfort | 6.8 | ||
Owners rate the Azenis FK520 82% from 55 reviews and the P Zero PZ4 74% from 96. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Falken Azenis FK520
- 82%from 55 reviews
- 76%would buy again
- 403,489 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Falken Azenis FK520 highly (average 79.6%), most often praising its strong dry grip and capable wet grip for the money. Comfort and refinement also come through well, with many describing it as quiet and compliant for a UHP-style tyre, and around one in five explicitly calling it great value. The main recurring drawbacks are mixed steering feel (some find it sharp, others a bit numb) and a smaller but notable group reporting vibration/balance issues; wet handling is also more divided than outright wet grip.
- Strong dry grip, comparable to premium brands
- Reassuring wet grip
- Comfortable ride despite sporty intent
- Low road noise on motorway speeds
- Occasional vibration or balancing issues at speed
- Steering feel can be a bit numb or lacking feedback
- Wet handling feels less confidence-inspiring for some
Summarised by AI from 49 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 55 Azenis FK520 reviewsFalken Azenis fk520 have been a great tyre, noise level is not intrusive and they give a good return on fuel economy. These tyres are very progressive and give good feed back. Having watched a back to back comparison with the Michelin PS4, the Falkens are punching way above their price range. If you want near PS4 performance at kumho prices, you won't go far wrong...will definitely try out the latest incarnation, Falken azenis R820 when the fk520's are done.
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- 74%from 96 reviews
- 55%would buy again
- 952,792 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners tend to rate the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 as a strong dry-road performance tyre, with clear majorities praising dry grip and crisp steering response. Comfort and road noise are also more often seen as positives than negatives, making it a surprisingly civilised option for a UUHP fitment. The main sticking point is durability: around two in five owners mention tread life and most of them report fast wear, while a smaller but notable group (around one in eight) highlight aquaplaning concerns, especially as the tread gets lower or in standing water.
- Strong dry grip
- Sharp steering response and good feedback
- Confident, sporty dry handling
- Low road noise for the category
- Fast wear / short tread life
- Aquaplaning in standing water, especially at speed
- Poor cold-weather grip and needs heat to work properly
Summarised by AI from 85 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 96 P Zero PZ4 reviewsGood grip all arround, especially in the dry where they really shine. Used them as front tires on high power rwd car. They maintain good grip under heavy braking, and are very progressive at the limit. The only downside i found is that the got oval shaped and the car started vibrating at high speeds, wich cannot be resolved by balancing since they were not perfectly round.aybe the car being rarely used, it sits in the garage over winter, and only moved around a bit every few weeks, but maybe that was not enough, even though the rear ones, a different brand did not suffer the same problems.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | Azenis FK520 | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Replaced | Falken Azenis FK510 (2016) | Pirelli P Zero |
| Replaced by | - | Pirelli P Zero PZ5 |
| Awards | - | Recommended: Best Tyres for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Highly Recommended: Best Tyres for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Performance Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2024) Winner: Performance Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2022) |
| Price in the shared tests | The P Zero PZ4 was the dearer tyre in 5 of the 5 tests that listed prices, by 17% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pits two max-performance summer staples: Falken's Azenis FK520 versus Pirelli's P Zero PZ4. Across eight shared tests from 2023-2025, the PZ4 consistently lands higher overall (7 test wins vs. 1), driven by sharper handling balance and stronger wet-grip metrics. The FK520 counters with standout value, longevity, and low rolling resistance, often edging the PZ4 on cost of ownership and aquaplaning resistance.
On dry roads the pair trade blows in braking and lap time, but the PZ4 repeatedly scores better subjectively for steering precision and balance. In the wet, the gap widens: the PZ4 is generally quicker in handling, circle, and often braking, while the FK520's strengths cluster around straight/curved aquaplaning, comfort, and wear. If you prioritize outright performance and feel, the PZ4 sets the tone; if you want durability and savings without falling far behind, the FK520 is compelling.
Conclusion
Synthesis across tests shows a clear pattern: the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 delivers more engaging, confidence-inspiring handling, particularly in the wet where it posts faster laps and stronger lateral grip. Dry performance is closely matched on the stopwatch, but the PZ4's steering response and balance earn higher subjective scores. The trade-offs are higher price, higher rolling resistance in most tests, and notably shorter tread life.
The Falken Azenis FK520 offers excellent value through lower purchase price, better wear (often 20-35% advantage), lower running costs via reduced rolling resistance, and strong aquaplaning safety margins. Its limitations show up in wet precision and stability under load, where braking and handling can lag the class leaders. Enthusiast drivers or those frequently facing rain will be better served by the PZ4; high-mileage users and value seekers will likely prefer the FK520's economy without sacrificing basic summer-tyre competence. The practical takeaway: choose PZ4 for performance feel and wet security, FK520 for total cost and long-haul peace of mind.
Azenis FK520 vs P Zero PZ4: your questions
Is the Falken Azenis FK520 or the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 the better tyre?
In the 8 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 finished ahead 7 times and the Azenis FK520 once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Azenis FK520 scores 9.1 and the P Zero PZ4 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Azenis FK520 or the P Zero PZ4?
The P Zero PZ4 led 19 of the 28 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.8% shorter in the wet across 7 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 7-7 between the Azenis FK520 and the P Zero PZ4.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Azenis FK520 lasted 29.8% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) and had 5.4% lower rolling resistance (6 tests). Owners rate wear 7.7/10 for the Azenis FK520 and 5.9/10 for the P Zero PZ4.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.1/10 for the Azenis FK520 and 6.8/10 for the P Zero PZ4.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Azenis FK520 82% from 55 reviews and the P Zero PZ4 74% from 96. 76% of Azenis FK520 owners would buy it again, against 55% for the P Zero PZ4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 5 tests that listed prices, the P Zero PZ4 was the dearer tyre in 5 of them, by 17% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.
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