Falken FK 452 Tyres. Good buy?
Discussion
Jimbeaux said:
I am thinking of putting them on my Z4 in place of the RFTs. I only hear good things. I have Sumitomos on my XJS, a similar tire in price and design; no complaints there either.
DO IT!! I was slightly skeptical of the claims that others have made abot getting rid of runflats but I've just swapped to FK452s from 18" Bridgestone RE050 runflats on my 123d, and it's made a HUGE difference, so much so that I could feel the change whilst in first gear driving out of Micheldever tyre depot!! There's much more feedback, a far more compliant ride, they're quieter, grippier, don't tramline nearly as much and are less than half the price of runflats, basically leagues better at everything apart from puncture avoidance! Ive only had the car a week and to start with I was mildly disappointed with the handling compared to what I was anticipating, I just felt it wasnt communicating and came across as being edgy in corners, it just didn't somehow click together to flow or inspire confidence through bends as much as I thought it would given the reviews, despite having undeniable grip and poise. It almost felt like driving a computer game with force feedback, a bit artificial with something missing that prevented you from reading the car's behaviour and reacting instinctively. Ditching the runflats has revealed the car I hoped for from the start, the only minor (and I mean minor) change that could be seen as a downside is a very slight slowdown of initial turn-in due to more flex in the sidewall, but I dont think thats actually a bad thing as the trade-off is that you can feel the tyres as you begin to turn-in rather than it being a bit of a dart at the apex as soon as you flex your arms whilst you're wondering for a split second if one end or other is going to let go or do something unpredictable.
LocoBlade said:
Jimbeaux said:
I am thinking of putting them on my Z4 in place of the RFTs. I only hear good things. I have Sumitomos on my XJS, a similar tire in price and design; no complaints there either.
DO IT!! I was slightly skeptical of the claims that others have made abot getting rid of runflats but I've just swapped to FK452s from 18" Bridgestone RE050 runflats on my 123d, and it's made a HUGE difference, so much so that I could feel the change whilst in first gear driving out of Micheldever tyre depot!! There's much more feedback, a far more compliant ride, they're quieter, grippier, don't tramline nearly as much and are less than half the price of runflats, basically leagues better at everything apart from puncture avoidance! Ive only had the car a week and to start with I was mildly disappointed with the handling compared to what I was anticipating, I just felt it wasnt communicating and came across as being edgy in corners, it just didn't somehow click together to flow or inspire confidence through bends as much as I thought it would given the reviews, despite having undeniable grip and poise. It almost felt like driving a computer game with force feedback, a bit artificial with something missing that prevented you from reading the car's behaviour and reacting instinctively. Ditching the runflats has revealed the car I hoped for from the start, the only minor (and I mean minor) change that could be seen as a downside is a very slight slowdown of initial turn-in due to more flex in the sidewall, but I dont think thats actually a bad thing as the trade-off is that you can feel the tyres as you begin to turn-in rather than it being a bit of a dart at the apex as soon as you flex your arms whilst you're wondering for a split second if one end or other is going to let go or do something unpredictable.
Slinky said:
bossman23780 said:
Slinky said:
I run them on the rear of the roadster, very happy with them..
I was pleased to see that jon webster runs them on the front of his 1800hp MG SV..
Slinky
Out of interest what tyre sizes do you run on the rears?I was pleased to see that jon webster runs them on the front of his 1800hp MG SV..
Slinky
ozzerr said:
Quite sure i have seen a tyre review online where the continental contact sports have the same grip if not better in the wet and dry and they give more miles than the falkens albeit the conti's are twice the price.
EFA 
Mine cost £68 a corner fitted for 225/40-18" FK452s (a price match of Bracknell Tyres by Micheldever), Contact Sport 3's are £142 fitted going by the price on eTyres
Edited by LocoBlade on Monday 26th January 00:07
I have 452's on the TVR, Omega and Golf. Work as well as or better than the more expensive brands I've tried over the years. 452's give excellent grip in the wet and very nice progressive predictable breakaway when pushing on in the dry. I find I hold a better line and carry more speed with these than the previous bridgestones (on the TVR and the Golf).
I tried 512's on the Omega, they were shockingly bad. But the 452's that replaced them are excellent. I've just bought a full set of 912's for the omega as it only does motorway miles, but for anything sporty 452's are the only way to go.
I tried 512's on the Omega, they were shockingly bad. But the 452's that replaced them are excellent. I've just bought a full set of 912's for the omega as it only does motorway miles, but for anything sporty 452's are the only way to go.
bossman23780 said:
Slinky said:
bossman23780 said:
Slinky said:
I run them on the rear of the roadster, very happy with them..
I was pleased to see that jon webster runs them on the front of his 1800hp MG SV..
Slinky
Out of interest what tyre sizes do you run on the rears?I was pleased to see that jon webster runs them on the front of his 1800hp MG SV..
Slinky
bigdods said:
I have 452's on the TVR, Omega and Golf. Work as well as or better than the more expensive brands I've tried over the years. 452's give excellent grip in the wet and very nice progressive predictable breakaway when pushing on in the dry. I find I hold a better line and carry more speed with these than the previous bridgestones (on the TVR and the Golf).
I tried 512's on the Omega, they were shockingly bad. But the 452's that replaced them are excellent. I've just bought a full set of 912's for the omega as it only does motorway miles, but for anything sporty 452's are the only way to go.
I tried 512's on the Omega, they were shockingly bad. But the 452's that replaced them are excellent. I've just bought a full set of 912's for the omega as it only does motorway miles, but for anything sporty 452's are the only way to go.
The XJ is a motoway mile muncher too. Good to see you've bought Falkens twice and just the two types I'm intrested in. Is there much difference in the real world between the 452's and 912's? My use is mostly long distance touring so I'm looking for a quiet comfortable ride rathet than outright performance. Not very PH I know but tyres make a hell of a difference when you're in the car all day.
Hammer67 said:
Similar money as Falkens and also very good vfm are Kumho KU31.
I guess it may depend on which car but I found them to lack grip in the wey and terrible in the cold on wet roads.Falkens are pretty damn good, even if they were half the price again they'd still be good value.
I switched form Kumho to Michelin Pilot sport and then to Falken (on the same car) and find the Falkens are excellent.
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