Falken 452's.....My review.

[miller]

So on the 2nd August 2008 I purchased four Falken FK452's on 225-45-17. According to my service history my cars oddometer read 50,102miles at this time.

At a cost of £280 fitted these were the most keenly priced tyre I was recommended. I had heard good stuff about these

I now cannot get anymore out of them, though the centre tread is good the left hand side (or near side) edges are shot. lumps taken out and bald. I attribute this to Mallory Park where 99% of the bends are right handers. Those who were at Mallory and saw my tyres at the end will testify

To summarise. My cars oddometer now reads, 66,450miles. Within that time i have tracked my car at the following

Silverstone, 2 sessions
Castle Coombe, 2 sessions
Nurburgring, 13 laps
Mallory Park, 3 sessions

So coupled with 16,000miles of road driving i am very impressed. The stickiness on track of these tyres exceeded all my expectations and felt way better than Pirelli PZeros as i ran on my GTO. No comparison to the Avon ZZ3's I ran previously to the Pirelli's.

So here are the pics as they stand. First one is my Drivers side tyres, all the others are the Near side. I may be focusing on the worst areas so bear that in mind.

In conclusion simply put i am waiting on curved lower arms to be fitted then immediatley 4 new Falkens are being fitted and the car is being 4 wheel aligned at the same time. Exact same procedure as before. No uneven tyre wear whatsoever. I cannot stress how much a difference the 4 wheel alignment makes.

See for yourself. RHS tyre is near perfect wear across its breadth. First Pic up!

[foxdie]

Those pics don't show how much tread is left on them all that well, can you take some clear photos around the wear indicator Mike?

[Roberto]

Good to know they last well, got a set fitted late last year.

[miller]

Those pics don't show how much tread is left on them all that well, can you take some clear photos around the wear indicator Mike?

On the centre of the tyres there is nearly 3mm tread depth. Its Mallory right handers that has killed my LHS tyre outer edges Certainly legal as its not long passed its MOT.

[White Lightning]

To summarise. My cars oddometer now reads, 66,450miles. Within that time i have tracked my car at the following

Silverstone, 2 sessions
Castle Coombe, 2 sessions
Nurburgring, 13 laps
Mallory Park, 3 sessions

So coupled with 16,000miles of road driving i am very impressed.

Told ya

Any rep greatly appreciated ...

[HJM]

Yep big it up for Falkens - I've done all my track and Ring stuff on 451 / 452's over 4/5 years and every set has been good

H

[TAR]

I have the same tyres and I also rate them highly.

[swinks]

I have ones too, methinks... Need to check tomorrow morning is it 912 series or 452.
Whatever, as budget tyres - highly recommended. Not great on wet (average) but can't say anything negative.

[miller]

452's are the directional ones and are recommended. The ZEix 912's are a standard tyre with no directional pattern.

[apeman69]

Very pleased with my 452s though I've only done approx 8000 miles on them.

[psbarham]

452's are the directional ones and are recommended. The ZEix 912's are a standard tyre with no directional pattern.

nope, the 912's are assymetric, and are available in extra load, unlike the 452's, I had a set on the VDi, and I was very impressed with them, very quite and stable in a straight line, but still gripped like a grippy thing that's been glued.

[peter thomson]

nope, the 912's are assymetric, and are available in extra load, unlike the 452's, I had a set on the VDi, and I was very impressed with them, very quite and stable in a straight line, but still gripped like a grippy thing that's been glued.

Keith has them on his legnum and I've been impressed with there grip as well

[miller]

ahhh interesting! The 912's are even cheaper again!

[chris g]

I have 912's on the MR2 and they are a good tyre as well...

[psbarham]

ahhh interesting! The 912's are even cheaper again!

oh yes, and according to the tyre bod down the road (he's an independent) the 912's are the replacement for the 452's, I suppose in the same way as the new F1 assymetrics are the replacements for the gsd3's

[MPBVr4]

Got 912's on the Scoob. Very grippy in the wet, dry and even in the snow

[White Lightning]

Interesting ... maybe a set of the 912's next time for me then.

[foxdie]

Looking at other forums for ZE912 (that's what they're called) vs FK452s, people seem to think the FK452s are still more grippier and better in the wet than the ZE912.

Notable differences:

• ZE912's come with a 40,000 mile warranty, the FK452's do not.
• ZE912's are marketed as all-season tyres, FK452 for summer only, meaning the FK452 is designed for temps above 7'C, below that it's softer rubbery compound hardens up, meaning less grip in colder conditions.
• ZE912's are asymmetrical, FK452's are symmetrical.
• ZE912's are reportedly not as grippy in the wet as FK452's.
• FK452's look meaner

Reviews:
ZE912: 78% over 143,470 miles - http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Falken/ZE912.htm
FK452: 79% over 724,860 miles - http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Falken/FK452.htm

References:
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=203244
http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=552282
http://www.fordmondeo.org/forum/show...687/post/last/
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...-any-good.html

[Atik]

You geek Jason!

[miller]

I would imagine the warranty is null and void once the car is tracked. From my point of view with upcoming Ring trip i dont think its the right time to be experimenting. I think its 452's again for now and will see after that!

Very good to know though that the 912's are highly rated aswell. How does their price stack up against other leading brand assymetrical tyres?

Mike