Falken FK 452 Tyres. Good buy?

[Jaguar steve]

Will need some tyres for the XJ pretty soon.

Bit of Googling came up with these at almost half the price of the OE Pirellis and excellent customer ratings and reviews too. Almost too good to be true in fact. Anybody got them and what do you think?

Cheers chaps

[Jaguar steve]

Cheers WB just what I needed

[Jaguar steve]

Thanks for all so far - any idea where they fit in the comfort and ride quality vs performance and handling overal scheme of things?

Sport or Touring tyre? Can't be good at both shirley?

[Jaguar steve]

Puddenchucker said:

retrorider said:

Puddenchucker said:

retrorider said:

another quality goodyear/dunlop group tyre...

I thought Falken were part of the Japanese company Sumitomo Rubber, and just manufactured Dunlop & Goodyear branded tyres under licence? (I stand to be corrected on this)

The company, through Gerd Grunewald, vice president for sales and marketing at Goodyear-Dunlop Tires Europe, has developed a strategy to make the most of the various brand names it has.

In an extension of Goodyear's global ``good-better-best'' approach, the company's European division will sell two ``families'' of consumer tires into the continent's market.

Brand awareness is not the only issue, however. The level of brand awareness, and the prestige associated with each of the brands in the division's portfolio varies strongly with country and region, Valensi said. Because of this, Goodyear has had to revise its strategy for all its consumer-oriented brands within the European region.

Goodyear presaged the changes recently, announcing the phase-out of eight brand names-Delta, Diplomat, Durant, India, Ohtsu, Seal, Trident and Voyager-to allow the organization to concentrate on its key names.

On the Goodyear side, the top brand (``best'') is Goodyear, supported by Kelly (``better'') and Sava (``good''). Fulda remains in the Goodyear family, but has a peculiar niche below Goodyear and above Kelly.

The other family has a slightly sportier image using Dunlop as the top brand, supported by Falken.Mirroring the situation with Fulda, the Pneumant brand fits in a niche somewhere between Dunlop and Falken.

Fulda and Pneumant don't fit easily into this good-better-best structure, because their brand strength varies, especially with geography, Valensi said. In Germany, a Fulda tire can take its place as original equipment on a Mercedes or BMW, but elsewhere in Europe, consumers have less respect for the brand.

``With Fulda and Pneumant, they are both a bit special,'' Valensi said. ``Fulda is too strong in Germany to be only a second brand, so we are marketing these two with a separate identity, so it is about brand development, brand management.''

Valensi said the continued strength of the Fulda name in Germany, 39 years after Goodyear acquired the brand, proves Goodyear can manage different brands successfully. ``We can protect brand names. We do understand local strengths, and to anyone who does not believe that, I say `Look at Fulda,''' he said.

Grunewald and his team must ensure that the two families compete effectively in the market, but not too hard that they fight against each other, Valensi said.

Apologies for taking this off-topic.

Sumimito Rubber

1984 Acquired six tire plants in U.K., Germany and France as well as Dunlop Tyre Technical Devision in U.K.
1986 Acquired Dunlop Tire Corporation in U.S.A.
1999 Formed alliance in tire business with The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in U.S.A.

http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/productdatabase/dunl...

http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/productdatabase/falk...

http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/productdatabase/good...

Not off topic at all - info just what I wanted

[Jaguar steve]

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.

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.

[Jaguar steve]

monthefish said:

jon- said:

monthefish said:

BigLepton said:

Apache said:

They seem to have been superceded by the 912....anyone got any experience of them?

FK452 is still Falkens top tyre, the 912 has been introduced as a less performance orientated tyre for MPV's and family saloons.

912 replaces the 512.

MYTRES Website said:

Introducing Falken's newest and most technically advanced all-season performance tyre! Designed to replace and outperform, its predecessor (ZE-512). The ZE-912 improves upon the ZE-512's already great qualities to make an even better performing and riding tyre.

Anyone used the 912 yet?

They're meant to be a fairly good step better than the 512's, where are regarded as pretty average. Some reviews here if you want to read more: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Falken/ZE912.htm

Thanks Jon - I'd had a look at that site already (and have now bought 2 as a result!!)

Just wondered if anyone on here had had any experience with them...

Just ordered Falken 912's for the barge from Camskill. 4 x 225/60/16W £265 inc delivery. A bargain. Thanks for all replies and feedback - I'll post again once they are fitted.

[Jaguar steve]

Just put a set of 912s rather then the 425s on my XJ. Really pleased so far, very smooth and quiet and even 'tho they are brand new seem to have good feel and grip too.

£265 from Camskill.

Thanks for all replies.