Tyres Bridgestone S03 vs Falken FK451
Discussion
I have just fitted Falken FK451’s to my car after taking off 2 month Old SO3’s.
I took the SO3’s off of my car after driving them in the wet and finding them to be lethal.
I really tried to like the SO3’s but as far as I’m concerned they are a dud in my experience.
Awful in the dry let alone the wet. I experienced understeer and oversteer at relatively low speeds with the SO3’s.
Then it rained.
SO3’s in the rain on my car were so dangerous providing no lateral grip to speak off and making driving a mental and physical strain rather than an enjoyable experience.
In the end I complained to Bridgestone about them. That’s just how bad I considered them to be.
Bridgestone sent out an engineer to see me (the next day!) and checked the tyres over giving them a clean bill of health. Fortunately it was raining so I took him out for a demonstration of the problems I had been experiencing.
Bridgestone agreed to buy my tyres back off me as a good will gesture which has given me a very good feeling about the company if not their premium product.
My argument was that I had changed nothing but the tyres, going from SO2’s to SO3’s and the performance difference between the two were in my opinion unacceptable.
I know some people on here are happy with the SO3’s but they were dreaful on my car.
Now to the Falkens.
Cheap brand, bit of a risk trying them but I thought what the hell? I’ve had them on previous cars (200SX S14) and found them acceptable.
These tyres are excellent on my car. A different league to the SO3’s in all areas, great under breaking, no more tram lining, better turn in and actual grip before progressive breakaway.
All good for me as they cost £310 for four all in (225/45/16 F 245/45/16 R).
For anyone out there who’s not really happy with their current tyre and are not sure what to try next I think the Falkens are worth a try.
Duncan
I took the SO3’s off of my car after driving them in the wet and finding them to be lethal.
I really tried to like the SO3’s but as far as I’m concerned they are a dud in my experience.
Awful in the dry let alone the wet. I experienced understeer and oversteer at relatively low speeds with the SO3’s.
Then it rained.
SO3’s in the rain on my car were so dangerous providing no lateral grip to speak off and making driving a mental and physical strain rather than an enjoyable experience.
In the end I complained to Bridgestone about them. That’s just how bad I considered them to be.
Bridgestone sent out an engineer to see me (the next day!) and checked the tyres over giving them a clean bill of health. Fortunately it was raining so I took him out for a demonstration of the problems I had been experiencing.
Bridgestone agreed to buy my tyres back off me as a good will gesture which has given me a very good feeling about the company if not their premium product.
My argument was that I had changed nothing but the tyres, going from SO2’s to SO3’s and the performance difference between the two were in my opinion unacceptable.
I know some people on here are happy with the SO3’s but they were dreaful on my car.
Now to the Falkens.
Cheap brand, bit of a risk trying them but I thought what the hell? I’ve had them on previous cars (200SX S14) and found them acceptable.
These tyres are excellent on my car. A different league to the SO3’s in all areas, great under breaking, no more tram lining, better turn in and actual grip before progressive breakaway.
All good for me as they cost £310 for four all in (225/45/16 F 245/45/16 R).
For anyone out there who’s not really happy with their current tyre and are not sure what to try next I think the Falkens are worth a try.
Duncan
Funny you should say that, I was running S03s on m car until June, when I changed them for Goodyear eagle F1s, same sizes as you.
All tramlining disappeared with the switch. Still waiting to do a trackday, but on the road I prefer them.
Good to hear that the Falkens are another alternative in "16 sizes.
All tramlining disappeared with the switch. Still waiting to do a trackday, but on the road I prefer them.
Good to hear that the Falkens are another alternative in "16 sizes.
Ive still got very good SO2's on mine at the mo, and have to agree that they arent ideal in the wet...but find them very good in the dry.
I have been considering a change of wheels (17" to 18" of some discription), and have pondered over tyre choice. Some say the Toyos are useless...SO2's are not available anymore and have heard that the S03's arent an improvement....so Im intereseted in feed back from others as to what they think.
The thing I have found personally with 'cheaper' or 'branded' type tyres are that they either dont last very long, so dont become cost effective, or that they seem to start of being 'a very good grippy tyre' but fade away after some mileage...will be interesting to hear your views on these tyres in few months time.
I have been considering a change of wheels (17" to 18" of some discription), and have pondered over tyre choice. Some say the Toyos are useless...SO2's are not available anymore and have heard that the S03's arent an improvement....so Im intereseted in feed back from others as to what they think.
The thing I have found personally with 'cheaper' or 'branded' type tyres are that they either dont last very long, so dont become cost effective, or that they seem to start of being 'a very good grippy tyre' but fade away after some mileage...will be interesting to hear your views on these tyres in few months time.
Hi Paddy,
I have used the Falkens on a 200sx previously and was pleased with them.
The S02's were a staggeringly good tyre on my Cerb before they wore down to cut slicks on the back
.
In my experience:
S02 = Great, best tyre I have experienced.
S03 = Woefully bad in all conditions, a poor replacement for the S02.
Duncan
I have used the Falkens on a 200sx previously and was pleased with them.
The S02's were a staggeringly good tyre on my Cerb before they wore down to cut slicks on the back
. In my experience:
S02 = Great, best tyre I have experienced.
S03 = Woefully bad in all conditions, a poor replacement for the S02.
Duncan
SO3's are great in personal experience - god knows why so many dont find them great???
I wouldnt go near Falkens with a barge pole - I've seen them blow so easily at high temperatures - and the cerbera can make those tyres quite hot - a different ball game to the 200sx.... so be careful - yes they perform - but drive at the limit at top speed and you're asking for it - i read a independant review of tyre reliability - and Falkens didnt fair well in the top end of the budget performer group - toyo's took another 10 minutes of extreme heat and stress before they blew - but Bridgestones outlasted them all - second to Nitto slicks apparently... I'll dig up the link...
I wouldnt go near Falkens with a barge pole - I've seen them blow so easily at high temperatures - and the cerbera can make those tyres quite hot - a different ball game to the 200sx.... so be careful - yes they perform - but drive at the limit at top speed and you're asking for it - i read a independant review of tyre reliability - and Falkens didnt fair well in the top end of the budget performer group - toyo's took another 10 minutes of extreme heat and stress before they blew - but Bridgestones outlasted them all - second to Nitto slicks apparently... I'll dig up the link...
Ash I'd like to see that link.
Must say that having read many of your posts your opinions seem to be very polarized, either something is great or it's pants
.
My Cerb is a road car. If I wanted to go on track a lot I'd by an elise.
My S03 review could well be specific to my car but it seems (a couple of posts up) that it's not.
Maybe it's a wheel size thing or Suspension settings but all I know is that S03's were shockingly bad on my car
.
Not happy about it btw as I really wanted the S03's to work.
Duncan
Must say that having read many of your posts your opinions seem to be very polarized, either something is great or it's pants
. My Cerb is a road car. If I wanted to go on track a lot I'd by an elise.
My S03 review could well be specific to my car but it seems (a couple of posts up) that it's not.
Maybe it's a wheel size thing or Suspension settings but all I know is that S03's were shockingly bad on my car
. Not happy about it btw as I really wanted the S03's to work.
Duncan
I'm still looking for it... I know its in my 1000+ unorganized favourites!!! ARRRRRGGGGGRRRRRR!!!!!!
I wouldnt mislead someone - and you have to remember - why some of the top supercar manufacturers will only use tyres such as Bridgestone and Michellin, expensive tyres but there are other reasons too - its a pity TVR always take the *cheap* approach to make an extra buck or two - ie now they use Toyo's! Whats next? A set of Federals????
>> Edited by SXS on Wednesday 3rd November 23:34
I wouldnt mislead someone - and you have to remember - why some of the top supercar manufacturers will only use tyres such as Bridgestone and Michellin, expensive tyres but there are other reasons too - its a pity TVR always take the *cheap* approach to make an extra buck or two - ie now they use Toyo's! Whats next? A set of Federals????
>> Edited by SXS on Wednesday 3rd November 23:34
Coincidently, I was at a very wet Donington track day on Tuesday. I have SO2s on the front and SO3s on the rear. I never had any feeling of understeer but the back felt very "slidy" even when going round corners quite gently. Even small amounts of throttle exiting the corners made the back twitch. There was a Tamora and another Cerbera there, both on Toyos, and they appeared to be lapping quicker than me. I realise there could be many other contributory factors but I was wondering whether the SO3s had anything to do with it.
After reading this thread, perhaps they do?
Richard
After reading this thread, perhaps they do?
Richard
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff