Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Falken FK-452 tire review -

http://www.gambitmotorsport.com/fafktire.html

I'm really loving them so far! Great performance, great price.


Roy

[halB]

Totally agree!! I was surprised by how well they behave with my E93's sport suspension. Also the ride is much improved over the stock RFT.

[wj4]

For 'budget' tires, they are certainly worth it!

[halB]

I would say "Bargain" rather than "Budget" tires becasue they feel and run way way better than budget tires.

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Originally Posted by halB

Totally agree!! I was surprised by how well they behave with my E93's sport suspension. Also the ride is much improved over the stock RFT.

I just added this to my review:

"One oddity to me at first, was how they "take their seat" leaning quickly in on each corner and then hold it level throughout. The quickness of the lean gives more of a shifting feeling at first, but as I push them further and further, I'm seeing it's not an issue - perhaps even an asset."

Did you notice that at all? For instance, running an imaginary slalom at around 60mph, the car jumps from side to side very, very quickly in a way that was disconcerting at first. But, after getting used to them, you see it's like they're just trying to get to business sooner.

I'm running at 35F/37R psi. Initially, I was at around 37F/39R psi. Feels the same both ways...


Roy

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Originally Posted by wj4

For 'budget' tires, they are certainly worth it!

Hah! I bought them at Tire Central. Thanks for your initial recommendation of that place. Pretty good service and great prices in SoCal. They were telling me the Falken Azenis RT-615 are even better, but I didn't want to give up wet traction and I really want to get the balance of the car internalized before I get tires so good that they hide my mistakes.


Roy

[Don@TireOption]

Nice review

[halB]

Originally Posted by roy@gambitmotorsport

I just added this to my review:

"One oddity to me at first, was how they "take their seat" leaning quickly in on each corner and then hold it level throughout. The quickness of the lean gives more of a shifting feeling at first, but as I push them further and further, I'm seeing it's not an issue - perhaps even an asset."

Did you notice that at all? For instance, running an imaginary slalom at around 60mph, the car jumps from side to side very, very quickly in a way that was disconcerting at first. But, after getting used to them, you see it's like they're just trying to get to business sooner.

I'm running at 35F/37R psi. Initially, I was at around 37F/39R psi. Feels the same both ways...


Roy

I did notice that the first time I took a quick corner with them on. I felt the tail end drifted out just a tiny bit quicker than I was used to but the car never lose its poise. I thought perhaps I was too used to the super stiff sidewalls of the runflats. I am currently runing 36F/39R as per door sticker recommendations for 19" tires.

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Yeah - I picked up my own torque wrench for my wheel mounting lugs, loosened and re-fitted them just to make sure everything was cool with the shop I was at (which it was), and have been pushing them harder and harder since then through curves I know. No BS, 60mph with grip left at curves I used to slide at 50mph at in my Continentals...

I think it's just that the stiff sidewalls institute near immediate turn-in and I wasn't used to it.

[AV9]

good to know they're lookin good, cuz i just ordered them lol

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Originally Posted by avzbmveh

good to know they're lookin good, cuz i just ordered them lol

Are you coming from the stock RFTs or some other brand? If not RFTs, what were you running and how did you like them?

[Gen_E92]

love these tires...really nice ride and more than enough performance for everyday even spirited driving!

[gtrokin330]

ive ran these tires on my 19's on my 330 and 335...love them

[billspreston]

Originally Posted by roy@gambitmotorsport

I just added this to my review:

"One oddity to me at first, was how they "take their seat" leaning quickly in on each corner and then hold it level throughout. The quickness of the lean gives more of a shifting feeling at first, but as I push them further and further, I'm seeing it's not an issue - perhaps even an asset."

Did you notice that at all? For instance, running an imaginary slalom at around 60mph, the car jumps from side to side very, very quickly in a way that was disconcerting at first. But, after getting used to them, you see it's like they're just trying to get to business sooner.

I'm running at 35F/37R psi. Initially, I was at around 37F/39R psi. Feels the same both ways...

....

I think it's just that the stiff sidewalls institute near immediate turn-in and I wasn't used to it.

It is my understanding that you experiencing the exact opposite. I believe the sidewalls on FK-452s are a little soft considering how heavy our cars are. That 'shift' you feel may be the tire literally shifting side to side due to the lateral movement of the 'heavy' car itself.

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Originally Posted by billspreston

It is my understanding that you experiencing the exact opposite. I believe the sidewalls on FK-452s are a little soft considering how heavy our cars are. That 'shift' you feel may be the tire literally shifting side to side due to the lateral movement of the 'heavy' car itself.

Some of the FK-452s have reinforced sidewalls and some don't - our stock sizes do.

What you're saying makes some sense though, but coming from the Continentals which I believe I've heard in a couple places have quite soft sidewalls, my expectation is these are a little stiffer.

I may try playing with the PSIs tomorrow at Speed Venture's autocross at the California Speedway in Fontana.


Roy

[Gen_E92]

sorry to say but they SUCK in autocross...

[sflgator]

Originally Posted by roy@gambitmotorsport

Falken FK-452 tire review -

http://www.gambitmotorsport.com/fafktire.html

I'm really loving them so far! Great performance, great price.


Roy

+1. Just as good as PS2's in performance (imho) but much less $$; I replaced my PS2's (rears wore out @ 18k mi.) with the Falken FK-452s, and I love them!

i love em

[nasdakboy]

I love mine! Pretty sick in the wet too. Car has had impressive control in the rain at 100mph. Feel more like Michelin Pilot Sports to me.

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Originally Posted by Gen_E92

sorry to say but they SUCK in autocross...

So, at Speed Venture's autocross at the California Speedway in Fontana today, I did better than I ever had. I did better than most of the Miata's: which is a first for me. And it wasn't because there were huge straight-aways. The guy in the Miata who did do better was only so by a few seconds and is an SCCA regular who I've seen at many events. I was running 35f, 37r pressures in the morning. To be honest, I kept doing a little better each run, so didn't go to the gauge and pump at all for adjustments as they heated. I even beat the E36 M3 that was there by 2 seconds, but we ran the same group and I never got to see how well he drove.

Since my last autocross, I did go to BMW's Car Control Clinic. That certainly helped impart a better understanding of throttle steer which was used extensively in the a big loop and cross-over at the beginning of the course today. Also, I had my rear swaybar on the tightest setting, but that was also the case at the SCCA Solo2 event I last went to with the Continental tires and I didn't do as well, though the class of driver you compete against there is tops.

What tires do you like better for autocross? I would bet the Falken Azeni would do a bit better, the Bridgestone RE-01R a lot better, and any R-compounds the best. But, none of them (with the possible exception of the RE-01R) are good for daily driving, right? Is there a daily driver tire that outclasses the FK-452? I'm going to buy it next, provided it's not twice the cost or wears out twice as fast.


Roy

[Gen_E92]

good to know that you had result with those...

For some reason...the FK452 was so easy to spin out, and once it start to understeer I have to brake alot to bring the car back, everything might be due to my driving...I'm using them on 19'' Rays ITC btw...

But once I switched to 18'' Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec, there's a night and day difference...just impossible to spin out and easy to control when the tail starts to slide.

FK452 does feel VERY good performance wise for everyday driving, but its autox performance is not as good as I expected.

The Z1 star spec is just incredible, once you tried it you won't want to go back to FK452, Tirerack's test result shows it's better than RE-01R as well.

[roy@gambitmotorsport]

Originally Posted by Gen_E92

For some reason...the FK452 was so easy to spin out, and once it start to understeer I have to brake alot to bring the car back, everything might be due to my driving...I'm using them on 19'' Rays ITC btw...

But once I switched to 18'' Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec, there's a night and day difference...just impossible to spin out and easy to control when the tail starts to slide.

Hmm... I can't explain that at all, except possibly track conditions or driving style.

The stock 335i pushes/understeers a lot, but like any RWD car you could certainly get the back to rotate a bit with throttle lift and especially with braking all the way up to the apex. I could get this with all my tires so far, Bridgestone, Continental, Falken - each coming back with more control, especially at the edge.

The Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs sound like quite a tire - I don't doubt it. The price isn't too bad, either.

But, all the same, I was much enjoying watching the majority of drivers/vehicles in the other run group at last weekend's autocross coming in behind my times, rather than the other way around.

I'd like to hear more about others' experience with both the FK-452s and the Direzza Z1 Star Specs, especially at autocross.


Roy