What's wrong with Falkens

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Dr Shiny
Joined: Mon 04 May, 2009 08:59
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Maldon

What's wrong with Falkens

Post by Dr Shiny »

No, no, no this is not another tyre question. It's really more of a tyre rant.

Since buying our '99 2.8 Z3 I've been meaning to change the tyres. It came with an interesting array of them. In fact, a different one at each corner.

Before the forum die-hards shout at me, I have read the many posts on tyre choice for Z3s and, IMHO, the cars are not too tyre fussy as long as they are all of the same type.

Anyway, following advice from this forum I decided to go with Falken 452s. Now for the point of this story: two of my local tyre houses have warned me against fitting such tyres. They independently told me that they were "budget" tyres and "you wouldn't want to fit those to a car like that, Sir." One tyre house recommended Toyos and the other suggested Bridgestones. Both are significantly more expensive than Falkens.

What gives with Falkens? Are tyre houses not making enough profit from the deal or do they really have our welfare and safety at heart?

Oh, the other reason for this post was to put up a picture of Tolly.

Paul

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Jonttt
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Post by Jonttt »

Dr Shiney

Easy answer ££££££££££££

They earn more profit on certain makes of tyres and push them harder :wink:

The general opinion seams to be that the Falkens offer best value for money for everyday driving of a Z.

I've run two on the front and was quite impressed with them :wink:

ps Looks like you have a lucky dip of tyres that works (either the previous owner was an expert who knew how to mix tyres to get the best out of a Z or just plain lucky :D )
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TitanTim
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Post by TitanTim »

I always thought Falkens where an OK tyre, not sure how they fare on the Zed. Have too say my overall fave tyre are Michelin Pilot Sports, they can be pricey, but as an overall allrounder hard to beat in my book. Have them on the Zed and on my 1 Series as Runflats and as Runflats go are not too bad.

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Waitey
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Post by Waitey »

I have them on the back. Thay are holding up fine.
Ex owner of:
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NickDale
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  Z3 roadster 1.9
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Post by NickDale »

anyone tried toyo 888's ?? i'm thinking of pushing it and getting them.
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c_w
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Post by c_w »

NickDale wrote:anyone tried toyo 888's ?? i'm thinking of pushing it and getting them.
I've got some on my "track" wheels. They're not a road tyre though so wouldn't be a wise choice to use for general road use unless you only use it through the summer when it's dry. They are pretty soft so have good dry grip, but as they are a semi-slick they don't work well in standing water and are very noisy (sounds like a WW2 plane at high speed). They're also quite stiff so will make the ride more jittery compared to softer sidewalled road tyres. Also only come with 5 or 6mm of tread vs 8-10mm of a new road tyres.
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Jonttt
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Post by Jonttt »

Nick, are they the R888 Chris has on his Coupe ?

se his recent ring trip on them here

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... highlight=
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Martin
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Post by Martin »

Many Z4 owners seem to swear by Falkens 452 as an alternative to OEM Runflats.

I had Toyos on my Z3 and was very pleased with them in terms of handling noise and wear.
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Mouldy
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Post by Mouldy »

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Falkens IMHO. My local tyre fitters said that it would be madness to fit budget tyres on a high performance car, but I decided to take the advice offered on the Forum and go for the 452s anyway.

I tried a different local tyre suppliers (Wootton Tyres and Exhausts on the outskirts of Northampton) who did me a great deal on a set of four tyres (225/45 x 17 front and 245/40 x 17 rear) at just under £300.

I have covered about 1500miles on them now including a wet trip tp Snowdonia and a wetter trip to Lowestoft and have nothing negative to say about them at all.

I think it was Mike Fishwick who said in an earlier thread that they would get more credibility if Falken raised their prices and I have to agree.
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estocks
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Post by estocks »

Falkens are a good tyre. Not overpriced, good in the wet and the dry, last well.
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321bhp
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Post by 321bhp »

What's wrong with Falkens

there cheaper than most other top brands,and they do the same job,like bread tesco,s bread is cheaper than mothers pride but its still bread

i had falken 452 all round on 19inch wheels they seem nice and grippy,not tried them in the wet though

the Michelin Pilot Sports that were on the m didnt seem that grippy to me
davieb
Joined: Sat 31 Dec, 2005 13:21
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Post by davieb »

I had Falkens on the rear of an 850 a few years ago - didn't last as long as I was expecting. (And, if you're interested an automatic 850 isn't a car that is prone to spinning rear wheels when pulling away.)
henrycrun
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Post by henrycrun »

not sure how relevant but found this reader comparison - http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyres_For/ ... Series.htm
Z3M Jason
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Post by Z3M Jason »

I am running a set of Falken 452's currently and they are absolutley fine in wet and dry......In fatc I had an 11 hour straight drive through France in torrential rain all the way and the car was very composed. Now its hot here and I give them some serious abuse, they are great. Gets a BIG thumbs up from me!!
Sure its about $$$$ for the tyre dealers as already stated!!
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BenZ3-2.0
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Post by BenZ3-2.0 »

Have Flakens on my Z and X5 and perosnally thing they are great. Have used lots of different makes in the more expensive range and honestly prefer the falkens!!!
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z head
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Post by z head »

I've got Falkens on my 2.5 Z4, no problems at all. I have a lot more faith in their road-holding ability than the OEM runflats. I find that if the back end is going to go, it tends to slide rather than the sudden skip you get with rft's.
Dav
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Post by Dav »

I have Falken 452s on my Zed all round. I have found them excellent with good grip and with less road noise than the F1s I had fitted previously.
I am looking forward to seeing what Mike F has to say. :lol:
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Fk-452

Post by Guest »

OK - I have just bought my second set of FK-452, and after almost nine years of using Falken, I cannot find anything wrong with them.

They do what they are supposed to - stop the car falling onto the road, grip well in all conditions, and last for a respectable time.

Maybe all the people who claim that the Z3 is tail-happy should try using Falken instead of 'premium' tyres!

If £300-£350 for four tyres represents a suspiciously cheap tyre, then maybe I'm just one of the poor people.
snatch
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Post by snatch »

I run them with plenty of power at my disposal = no probs. :D
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Jonttt
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Post by Jonttt »

I think there is only one answer to the original question

there is NOTHING wrong with Falkens :D
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NickDale
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Post by NickDale »

c_w, jonttt thanks very much, defiantly made me have second thoughts. more reading to be done. :shock:
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muppet
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Post by muppet »

Another thumbs up here, 452's all around and happy :zmurf:
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komis
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Post by komis »

Swapped from Dunlops to FK452s (full set from Camskill for ~£300), only done about 150 miles so far but they feel excellent, really transformed the car.

+1 for Falken then!
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Gio
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Post by Gio »

Event Tyres are quoting about £330.00 for full set of FK452's (225 front 245 back), including mobile fitting at home or at place of work.
jollyassassin
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Post by jollyassassin »

Gio wrote:Event Tyres are quoting about £330.00 for full set of FK452's (225 front 245 back), including mobile fitting at home or at place of work.
Had event tyres fit mine at home last week. Great price & the guy did a great job :) they charged me £300 for 225/50/16
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Mike123
Joined: Tue 21 Mar, 2006 14:34
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Falken 452s

Post by Mike123 »

I'm on my second set of 452s, and couldn't be more delighted with them.
The grip is terrific wet and dry (terrible in snow!). Traction is excellent, in spite of Z3M power.
Forget the price - they are perfect for the Z.
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NickDale
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Location: Teesside

Post by NickDale »

i went for Toyo T1R's, i wouldnt change them now fantastic.
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calbens
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Post by calbens »

Yep, Falkens all the way for me too ! :thumb:
I've had them for quite a while now and have covered a fair few miles in all driving conditions, can't fault them one little bit.
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RobBruce
Joined: Tue 09 Mar, 2004 20:57
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Location: Behind you in West Essex

Post by RobBruce »

I always had F1's until recently.

The price of the new F1's was just stupid. I went with the Falken 452s as well (on 18's) after researching this and other websites.

I was a bit dubious at first as they seemed a bit skittish to begin with. However, like the F1's, they needed to bed-in, it just took a little longer.

So far, I've been impressed with them. The grip seems as good in the dry, not really pushed them in the wet, but were fine on the couple of occasions I have driven in it.

I reckon it's just money - you own a sports car so therefore we can sell you the most expensive tyres. I'd have no hesitation in buying the Falkens for the Zed again :thumb:
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Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
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Falken

Post by Mike Fishwick »

When I first admitted on his forum to having Falken FK-451 on my Z3 I was told by everyone that it was folly to put 'Budget' tyres on a powerful RWD car. I'm still waiting - after ten years - to find out what I have done wrong!

I'm on my second set of FK-452 and find nothing wrong with them. If I was a rabid track day fan (as distinct from a would-be track day fan) perhaps - and it's a big perhaps - I may find that Pilot Sports or Eagle F1s are a shade better, but for any kind of road use they are tops, and don't cost anywhere near as much as PS2 or F1. They are good enough for the Falken race series in Germany.

Oh - you will also find that many BMW dealers will tell you that Falken are not approved by BMW and should therefore be thrown away forthwith . . .

My opinion is that they are a good tyre at sensible prices, and yes, if they charged the earth for them some people would enthuse over them. A lot of owners like to 'follow the band' and seem to have lots of money to throw about - if you are one of them, fine, but if you are an ordinary person, go for Falken.

A last thought - most of the F1 enthusiasts like to tell us that the Z3 is a tail-happy car . . . this may be due to the deficiencies of the F1, particularly at low temperatures, or their wish to make themselves look like the master of a difficult-to-drive monster!

All I can say is that my 2.8 Z3 is the most predictable and user-friendly RWD car I have ever owned. Draw your own conclusions.

I have usually had 20k from the rears, and 30k front, but since fitting Strong-Strut's butt strut and body brace I get at least 25k from the rears.
skeete
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Post by skeete »

I know this is not a Z3, but I had some Avon zz3's on my old golf and switched to BF goodrich as they were cheap, the difference was immense. No road noise, amazing grip especially in the wet.. I guess its just which tyres suit the geometry of the car.

And as for the z3 being "tail-happy" . I can vouch for this, but it has never been a hairy ride and always fun and predictable. Try having a mid engine car like my mates Clio V6, then you will know what tail happy means !
triumphted
Joined: Tue 30 Dec, 2008 19:34
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Location: Essex

Budget Tyres - Federals

Post by triumphted »

Mike & Co

I am with you here on two points.

The Z3 is only as tail happy as the driver makes it. If your tyres are in bad shape and the weather is poor, and you drive like a 17yr old in front of a hen party then it will step out.

I have Federals on my 2.8. They are cracking. Very grippy reasonable wear, but maybe a bit noisey. So budgets are fine by me. Check out Federals as well, there are many Asian and Australian reviews that take in a diversity of weather. I was going to change to Good Years as i bought my tyres on my 17'' Smooth spokes, however then thought Falkens after reading the reviews here, now will consider direct replacing my federals.

I drive like my rear end is on fire most of the time. It has stepped out once and I completely provoked it and expected it. :twisted: :D :D

The fact is, the Zed is predicatable if you understand the principle of car control, at least my Zed is. If some accelerate whilst entering a corner and then wonder why they are facing the wrong way they ought to take some advanced driving courses. This stuff is proven physical facts.


So do also consider Federals all.
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Mike123
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'Tail Happy' Z3s

Post by Mike123 »

I've driven my Z3M Roadster (S50 - no traction control) for 45,000 fast miles, winter and summer for 4 years, in all conditions.
I'm not sure what 'tail happy' cars you guys are driving, but it's not the one that I drive.
Try an original Beetle, an E28 M5, an early 911, just about any Ford Escort and you'd really find what 'tail happy' means!
Mr Silver
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Post by Mr Silver »

...ah yes, the original Beetle! I had one of these up on two wheels at Zandvoort - with the new wife on board...

Tail happy and then some!

Regards.
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domross
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Post by domross »

I too had a type 1....(beetle) possibly one of the best cars to learn to drive a rear wheel drive car in.....could provoke the tail into going at about 20mph...a few frights like that at 18 years old taught me 1stly to treat the car with respect and then how to control the rear end when this sort of thing happened...compared with that sort of handling the Zed is a pussy cat which you've either got to be driving like a complete a#se or vvv unlucky to lose the back end
dineshee28
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Post by dineshee28 »

I Still rate th F1 Goodyear tyres GSD3. The best for Z3. Never screeched no matter how fast your car go around the roundabout!
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Boysie
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Post by Boysie »

Hi

I have just had new tyres fitted to rear by Indy Munich legends
they recommended Goodyear Eagle F1's.

They should know I hope, the have vast experience dealing with M cars

I didnt find them that expensive £120 each

Once bedded in, I will let you all know


Ray
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