Re: Tires - Falkens

[Greg Spark <sparkg@wave.co.nz>]

Falken tires: I've had 3 sets of these, the first two on my previous
GM V8 sedans, and currently my A4 1.8Tq wears a set of 6 day old
Falken ZE502 225/50 16 V rated.

They are Japanese in construction.

They have been included in at least 2 extensive performance tire
tests in Australian mags and only been bettered (just) by P Zeros. 
In this country P Zeros are nearly twice the price. These tests
included all top tires from Dunlop, Yoko, Pirelli, Michelin and
Bridgestone.

In my experience, their wet weather grip is stunning and breakaway
at the limit predictable and controllable. They are very quiet and 
ride is better than Bridgestones and Continentals I've had.

Wear rate is reputably superb but I can't comment as my vehicles have
been sold with only low ks on these tires. My A4 will *not* suffer
the same fate :-)

Price very good (=better) than other top rated brands.

Falken is heavy in to rally sponsoring here, and has good reputation
on off-roaders (SUVs).

If you can gettem I highly recommend them.

-------------------- orig message ----------------------
> Date: Thu, 3 Jul 97 00:43 BST-1
> From: spiny@cix.compulink.co.uk (Martin Day)
> Subject: Re: Tires
> 
> In-Reply-To: <199707021723.MAA05955@dfw-ix16.ix.netcom.com>
> philby@ix.netcom.com (Phil Coppin) wrote :
> 
> > Its Falken, and I know people on my Supra board that really like the 
> > tires. Unfortunately, I have only had recent experience with Goodyear 
> > Gatorbacks (OK, just OK!), Goodyear RSA (on the wifes A4q 2.8 and not 
> > bad.., and Bridgestone Potenza SO2's (on my Supra Turbo and EXCELLENT).
> > If you have a AWD performance car, the Potenza's are much better than 
> > the Pirelli's. A recent test of a couple of Porsche Turbo's showed the 
> > Pirelli's to be inferior to the Potenza SO2's.
> 
> I know someone who's got Falkens on his Alfa 164 and he's very happy with 
> them including taking it on the track.
> 
> Re. the test you mention : In what way did the Potenzas outperform the 
> Pirellis?

> Are you sure that isn't <Falken>? I've seen a fair number of Falken tires, 
> some of them H- or V-rated, on cars, and according to the sidewalls, they're 
> Japanese.
>  
> - --Andrew Buc, Seattle, WA; Internet: 72220.443@compuserve.com
> 

-- 
Greg Spark
sparkg@wave.co.nz
Hamilton, New Zealand
'96 A4 1.8Tq 5sp MTM/Remus ~200hp Falken tyred.