180Shauny
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New Tyres - Falken?
Hi all, did some searching but couldn’t find a definitive answer on this.
I run 215/40/R17 fronts and 235/45/R17 rears. Just worn through a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3s and found them terrific for the wet but slightly wanting when it comes to light track work.
Tyre review UK lists the Falken FK451s (now discontinued) and 452s among popular tyres on the car (SW20 NA) and I’ve seen the brand bandied around the forum for a bit.
Tempe Tyres will ship me a set for $620 all up which seems an insanely good price.
So, are these tyres good, bad, average? How do they measure up to higher end tyres like Potenzas and F1 Asymmetrics?
Any other brand recommendations?
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MRTurbo
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 09:22:48
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Used them before (FK452) for a while and wasn't impressed at all for the $250 I paid each. Scary for the first few hundred kms too.
Dry grip was fine, wet grip pretty average, tyres were not really confidence inspiring at all in corners either. I wouldn't touch them again.
My $100 'Goodride' china tyres grip better than the Falkens I had.
Bridgies and the F1s should be a lot better, but more $$$ obviously.
I would personally go Toyo next, probably the T1R or similar.
1990 SW20 GT 3S-GTE Targa 2001 Honda CBR600F4i 
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180Shauny
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 10:26:20
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Tempe Tyres are recommending a set of Kumho KU27's, can anyone comment? They're even cheaper than the Falkens...
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mr2pod
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 12:50:56
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Its a "low noise long lasting tyre" - hardly ideal for a sports car, and definately would not provide anything on a track. They're cheap for a reason
I would go with KU31 as a minimum for a sports car if you want Kumho
I use Yokohama S-drives on my AW11 and am verry happy with them, albeit a bit expensive
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180Shauny
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 13:10:18
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The Kumho web site lists its grip characteristics as matching up to a KU31...not sure if this is born out in reality. http://www.kumho.com.au/pcruhp I am looking at putting semi slicks on my stock rims for track days so this may solve the track issue...
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mr2pod
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 14:04:01
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amazingly pretty much all of there tyres get a 4/5 rating in the self-proclaimed tyre rating.
Besides the KU27 is not made in 215/40/17 you have on the front.
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180Shauny
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 14:24:03
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Apparently it is available, this is rule 2 of engineering "don't believe everything the catalogue tells you"
Rule 1 being "Never accept the first model of anything or anything finished on a Friday"
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purple5ive
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 14:35:01
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Have you considered getting a operate set of track only wheels and tyres? That way you can run some slicks and have a good road tyre as well. I have used the fk451 and they weren't that great. I wouldnt recommend
Federals for wet weather either, dry and haunted hills days they were nice
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mr_mi6
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 14:50:49
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Not bad tires. I've used 2 sets of rears with them over 3 years. Great grip in dry, but grip starts to degrade quite dramatically near the end of the tire. Doesn't last long at all. Wet performance is alright not smashing.
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180Shauny
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 15:51:43
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Hey Purple, yes that's what I'm looking at, running a set of semi slicks on my stock rims...
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purple5ive
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 20:29:31
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Did you look at the federal semis then, they had some good reviews.
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5SGTE
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/11/30 20:40:33
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Wow, I've used both the 451 and the 452 and I've had no issues with them, unless pushing HARD and I then found them to be very predictable in how they reacted. I have never really driven my sdub in the rain though so no idea on the levels of grip there. All that said though I'll be trying something diff next time just for the experience.
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matt234
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/12/01 13:42:30
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I used a set of fk452's straight after my conversion was finished and found them really lacking. Ive since replaced the rears with kumho ku36's which are a far better tire and cost me a lot less.
I think it all depends what sort of power your car is running, I think the falkens would be fine as a daily on a n/a but on my v6 they were pretty average especially for the price.
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180Shauny
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Re:New Tyres - Falken?
2011/12/02 13:21:02
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It would appear I am going to run the Kumho KU27s on 17's as my daily tyres and Toyo R888's on my stockies for the track. Has anyone used R888s?
Incidentally tyre prices in Sydney are ridiculously low compared to Melbourne. Tempe Tyres and St George Tyres both quoting very good prices.
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