Falken 452 tyres on my 996 C4! Very happy actually!!

[Golden fleece]

My two rears needed replacing (they were Michelin PS2's) and after doing some research and to keep costs down, I opted for the Falkens (265/35 ZR18). Not 'N' rated, but Falken's highest speed rating.

I must say, I am very impressed so far and happy with road noise and dry and wet weather grip! At less than half the price fo PS2's - excellent value for money.

O.k. Now I have different tyres makes on front and back axles, but I haven't noticed any detriment to the handling.

[Trev450]

I had a set of these on a 350Z and although not as good as PS2's imo, still good value for money overall.

[Scamper]

Golden fleece said:

My two rears needed replacing (they were Michelin PS2's) and after doing some research and to keep costs down, I opted for the Falkens (265/35 ZR18). Not 'N' rated, but Falken's highest speed rating.

I must say, I am very impressed so far and happy with road noise and dry and wet weather grip! At less than half the price fo PS2's - excellent value for money.

O.k. Now I have different tyres makes on front and back axles, but I haven't noticed any detriment to the handling.

Same situation with my 964, Falken 452's on the rear and Toyos on the front - good tyres and no "backwards through a hedge handling"....just wait for the N raters to appear!!

[996GT2]

Trev450 said:

I had a set of these on a 350Z and although not as good as PS2's imo, still good value for money overall.

Totally off-topic but how did you find the 350Z? I'm tempted to chop my Clio 172 in for one.

[Trev450]

996GT2 said:

Trev450 said:

I had a set of these on a 350Z and although not as good as PS2's imo, still good value for money overall.

Totally off-topic but how did you find the 350Z? I'm tempted to chop my Clio 172 in for one.

A very good GT car. Not as focused as pork but a very good chassis that is well-balanced and not too unpredictable. The engine is bomb-proof and although doesn't feel overly fast, is quite deceptive. Running costs are about the same as my Cayman with the exception of fuel consumption which is around 2-3 mpg better in the Cayman.

[Golden fleece]

Anyone else have Falken's on their 911?? If so, I'd be interested to hear about the long-term ownership/use experience.

[supermono]

Golden fleece said:

Anyone else have Falken's on their 911?? If so, I'd be interested to hear about the long-term ownership/use experience.

I doubt you'd get many long-term views from those fitting them to turbos/gt cars lol.

I have them on my peugeot 207 and they're pretty good at hanging on through roundabouts.

SM

[Choppy]

What was the difference in Cost?

[FlybyWyre]

What was the difference in Cost?

Around 60% for a 265/35/18 against the top tyres and Y rated.
I use them on my Celica but I must say not for the Boxster for which I have Goodyear F1 Eagles (non N tyre) and really seem fine.
Trying to convince my 'significant other' to use Falkens on her XKR rather than the amazingly priced Pirelli 255/35/20s but I guess the lack of commitment on my own car puts her off.

They seem to be well rated by XK people which can't be bad considering the weight of them.

IMO the best budget tyre

[supersport]

Got them on my 944 although the rears only went on today. They seem to be the tyre of choice along toyos.

[jackal]

very common with teh 968 boys

I had a set on my 968 and found them to be as good as the premium makes but as you say, almost half the price

i did get them for my 993 but sadly they screwed up the handling. I don't think it was the tyre per se but rather the fitment and possibly the fact that i was mixing it with an assymetric

[jon-]

I had a set on long term with the 350z. Very pleasing in the dry, and good grip in the wet but I really didn't like the wet handling. The way they slid in the wet (like every 350z driver I prefered sideways to forwards) was quite difficult to control, and a little snappy.

The quality of the grip reduced as the tyre wore too, they got harder at around 50% wear.

There's no doubting they're great value for money, but for not much more you could get a proper mid range tyre like the proven Hankook S1 Evo.

[Choppy]

My point is that you are skimping on saving £200? on a £30K Plus car.

(To all other PH Massive, this is my view and not the worlds)


When I look at second hand cars, I always see what consumables are used, the cheaper option puts me off. Might be just me?

[Womaniser]

Choppy said:

...When I look at second hand cars, I always see what consumables are used, the cheaper option puts me off. Might be just me?

Same here. I remember looking at a 360M shod with Falken tyres. Makes you wonder what else has been skimped on.

[jackal]

Choppy said:

My point is that you are skimping on saving £200? on a £30K Plus car.

On the cars i've had them on it wasn't 200 quid, it was more like half price. SO like £850 quid versus, £450. A slight difference. And if there is no difference and you're not selling the car, then why pay the money .... just for bragging rights ? If there is little or no perceptible performance degredation then it cant be described as skimping either. Another view is that it's being shrewd and not getting taken for a ride.

I also can't help but spot the flipside of this... the concept of tyre snobbery if you like. A few facts might help explain:

1. you're not fangio
2. even if you are, fangio should not be broaching the limits of the car on the public road on a regular basis or testing out the breakaway characteristics of your new tyres in marginal conditions.
3. 95% of being in a car in this country is about being up someone's chuff at about 11mph waiting for the next speed camera
4. lower grip on the road is actually preferable as it means you'll be having more fun more of the time (That said, I found no difference in dry grip levels between F452's and a premimum brand.)



Outside the realms of trackdays your pilot sport super cup A038 LTS R888 cut slicks are just unecessary and inappropriate chav marketing bling. Image is everything, true functionality counts for zilch. Maybe spend your cash on extra oil changes, a turbo timer, some better gearbox oil or something that will genuinely help your car.?

Edited by jackal on Friday 13th August 23:50

[bobt]

jackal said:

Choppy said:

My point is that you are skimping on saving £200? on a £30K Plus car.

On the cars i've had them on it wasn't 200 quid, it was more like half price. SO like £850 quid versus, £450. A slight difference. And if there is no difference and you're not selling the car, then why pay the money .... just for bragging rights ? If there is little or no perceptible performance degredation then it cant be described as skimping either. Another view is that it's being shrewd and not getting taken for a ride.

I also can't fail to spot the flipside of this... the ludicrousnes and embarrasment of tyre snobbery. First of all, plenty of people can't drive for toffee (PHers excluded of course). After that, most people don't even get near the limits on the public road and then after that even the Fangio's amongst us don't on a regular basis because firstly its considered dangerous and illegal and secondly, 95% of being in a car in this country is about being up someone's chuff at about 11mph waiting for the next speed camera. Outside the realms of trackdays your pilot sport super cup A038 LTS R888 cut slicks are just unecessary and inappropriate chav marketing bling. And the nail in the coffin on top of all that is the fact that lower grip on the road actually means you'll be having more fun more of the time. (That said, I found no difference in dry grip levels between F452's and a premimum brand.)

Edited by jackal on Friday 13th August 23:42

+ 1 x 10 to the n (where n is a large integer)

[Womaniser]

jackal said:

....lower grip on the road is actually preferable as it means you'll be having more fun more of the time...

You reckon?

[will_968]

Choppy said:

My point is that you are skimping on saving £200? on a £30K Plus car.

(To all other PH Massive, this is my view and not the worlds)


When I look at second hand cars, I always see what consumables are used, the cheaper option puts me off. Might be just me?

I don't disagree with the principal of what you're saying, but IMHO the FK452 is every bit as good on the front engined cars I've fitted them to (968, 500E and A6) as any premium brand tyre.

That's of course not to say they're as good on a rear engined car, but I've got enough confidence in them that I'd give them a try.

And they're about £450 a set on a 968 as opposed to £850. For a product I buy every 9 months or so which is so good I see no point paying more for a name.

Just to be balanced, I think the Toyo TR-1 is very good too. My preferance is the Fallen though

[jackal]

Womaniser said:

jackal said:

....lower grip on the road is actually preferable as it means you'll be having more fun more of the time...

You reckon?

Just going round corners fast is only fun for so long, especially in a heavy enclosed road going tintop which isn't that quick mid corner in any case.

Transcending a car is many many times more satisfying and three dimensional.

[Womaniser]

jackal said:

Transcending a car is many many times more satisfying and three dimensional.