fk452 unavailable, 453 unavailable for size... ideas?

[mrtwisty]

So I've been looking for another pair of Falken fk452's (205 50 R16's) so I can stick to four matching tyres. Trouble is they're discontinued and I can find any remaining stock ones anywhere.

Next best thing, I think - I'll get the 453's. Except..... they don't make them in that size. Damn.

So what does the PH wisdom repository suggest as a good candidate to match the x2 452's I have on the rears (with plenty of depth still to go)?

[monthefish]

mrtwisty said:

So I've been looking for another pair of Falken fk452's (205 50 R16's) so I can stick to four matching tyres. Trouble is they're discontinued and I can find any remaining stock ones anywhere.

Next best thing, I think - I'll get the 453's. Except..... they don't make them in that size. Damn.

So what does the PH wisdom repository suggest as a good candidate to match the x2 452's I have on the rears (with plenty of depth still to go)?

If there really is plenty of tread on the existing, maybe go part worn?
If not plenty of tread, replace them all you tight fisted bugger! (205 50 16 aren't particularly expensive)

How about 4 x Falken ZE914 for £63.50 each?, or Toyo proxes for £69 each?

[littleredrooster]

I had the same dilemma with the demise of 452s, which I liked. I have now migrated to Firestone SZ90s which (IMO) have similar characteristics and 'feel'. Excellent dry grip, good wet grip and very progressive. After about 3k miles on them, they seem to be wearing OK too. Car is an S-Type, BTW.

[mrtwisty]

monthefish said:

If there really is plenty of tread on the existing, maybe go part worn?
If not plenty of tread, replace them all you tight fisted bugger! (205 50 16 aren't particularly expensive)

How about 4 x Falken ZE914 for £63.50 each?, or Toyo proxes for £69 each?

Sorry, perhaps I shoukd have explained more clearly - I have x4 452's on at the moment, 2 of which are nearly at the wear markers, 2 of which are only worn by 1/2mm.

I've searched for new and part worn 452's without success.

I have considered ebaying the 2 with good tread and buying 4 matching others (Kumho Ecstas/Uniroyal Rainsport 3/Bridgestone Turanza/other suggestions welcomed) but it seems a bit too much of a faff to be honest.

Was really just wondering if there was anything around that were similar to the 452 in terms of tread pattern/compound/sidewall stiffness etc that would be a half decent match with the 452s?

[mrtwisty]

Bump for the evening crowd

[grim_d]

Had this problem when looking for falkens the other week in the same size. Went for eagle f1s in the end.

I guess it's not a 4wd? If so then you can probably get a pair in 215 width which is fine on a 7 inch wide rim.

[mrtwisty]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

I had the same recently when looking for 205 50 16. Seems like its not a very common size.

I jumped up to 205 55 16 and the range available became much larger and also at cheaper prices.

Interesting. What kind of %difference does a change from a 50 to a 55 profile represent I wonder?

Re. the comment about running a 215 - is that really advisable? I'm a bit under-informed when it comes to tyre/wheel sizes tbh!

[glasgowrob]

not very helpful now but did you not think to rotate front to back?

[mrtwisty]

I've sort of fallen into a pattern of buying them in pairs - with some rotating of front to back, but has just worked out this way.

[Crafty_]

Toyo do the T1-R in that size.

What about Hankook ? never used them but they get some pretty positive reviews.

[grim_d]

mrtwisty said:

Re. the comment about running a 215 - is that really advisable? I'm a bit under-informed when it comes to tyre/wheel sizes tbh!

It's not a problem assuming you don't mind/can run a 10mm wider tyre.

[CO2000]

215 45 16 may be worth investigating, I went from 205 45 17 to 215 40 17 and it was a very good move

[mrtwisty]

Hmmm, seems a fair few people go up a couple of increments in width with no problems, so I'll certainly.check that out. But what to pick as a good tread pattern/tyre characteristics match I wonder?

[Mr2Mike]

glasgowrob said:

not very helpful now but did you not think to rotate front to back?

Do people actually waste their time rotating tyres these days?

[CO2000]

Mr2Mike said:

glasgowrob said:

not very helpful now but did you not think to rotate front to back?

Do people actually waste their time rotating tyres these days?

It can mean avoiding buying 2 tyres if say for example you only keep a car for only 2 years and rotate for even wear + better to buy a full matching set if keeping it longer.

[g3org3y]

I'd be considering Vred Ultrac Sessantas. Recently fitted a set of 4 on an E36 and they've impressed me so far. Worth a look.

(Kumho Ku39s might also be an alternative).

[CO2000]

g3org3y said:

I'd be considering Vred Ultrac Sessantas. Recently fitted a set of 4 on an E36 and they've impressed me so far. Worth a look.

(Kumho Ku39s might also be an alternative).

Great tyres the Sessantaa, I have them but they are not available in the correct size for the OP - I'd go for these http://www.camskill.co.uk/m62b0s300p111232/Vredest...

Edited by CO2000 on Saturday 5th July 20:36

[Crafty_]

g3org3y said:

I'd be considering Vred Ultrac Sessantas. Recently fitted a set of 4 on an E36 and they've impressed me so far. Worth a look.

(Kumho Ku39s might also be an alternative).

I would have suggested these too, but alas they don't make the size the OP requires

[mrtwisty]

Well the choice of tyres in this size seems to be more limited than iI'd imagined!

It's now between the Kumho Ecsta KU31 and the Toyo T1R. Was considering the Uniroyal Rainsport 2/3, but I'm not sure about having a 'wet weather' tyre on the front and a summer tyre on the back - or maybe I'm just being a big fanny...