[spirocheter]

I've driven over a hundred miles on my HS439s and on way home tonight, the back roads were very quiet so decided to see how they handle.

Errr, lairy would be the best way to describe things! It was 8.5 degrees and dry, and even at 2k revs (unmapped 335d) traction control triggered. Cornering moderately hard gets the back end well out!!! It was all pretty progressive and no sudden snaps. The ride is certainly much smoother after going from run flats.

I'm glad I've fitted them a bit prematurely, I think they'll need another couple of hundred miles of wearing in - for others out there moving over from their all weather tyres, you have been warned!

[parapaul]

That's a caution with all winter tyres AFAIK. They need a good few hundred miles from new to bed in properly.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by spirocheter

...I'm glad I've fitted them a bit prematurely, I think they'll need another couple of hundred miles of wearing in - for others out there moving over from their all weather tyres, you have been warned!

Some tyres need around 500 miles to reach peak performance, so a wise move to appreciate that fact.

HighlandPete

[chesney72]

I wouldn't worry just yet? Everytime i put new winter tyres on the car feels like they've been dipped in grease! I notice the fronts take longer to bed in. The vredestein ones i've recently put on have taken ages to come good but thankfully are feeling a lot better now that i've put 1k on them

[seanblee]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

Maybe it wasnt such a good idea putting budget touring winter tyres on your 335d

Diseasel, seriously, give it a rest. You don't like Falken tyres, we get it. You don't need to dive in on every thread that mentions Falken to slag them off.

Do you actually know anything about the company? The brand's been around since 1983 and is part of Dunlop, which is mostly owned by Goodyear, so it's certainly no Sunny or Nankang. Besides, the HS439 isn't a 'budget touring winter tyre', it's an inexpensive high performance winter tyre. I'm running them on my 335i this year and have found them to be pretty reasonable, even compared to my summer ContiSportContact 5Ps.

[kaishang]

Jetstar, the budget airline is 100% owned by Qantas. It's still shit.

[kaishang]

Anyway, any benefit to winter tyres at typical UK above freezing winter temperatures is marginal.

The benefit is driving on snow or ice

[spirocheter]

Originally Posted by seanblee

Diseasel, seriously, give it a rest. You don't like Falken tyres, we get it. You don't need to dive in on every thread that mentions Falken to slag them off.

Do you actually know anything about the company? The brand's been around since 1983 and is part of Dunlop, which is mostly owned by Goodyear, so it's certainly no Sunny or Nankang. Besides, the HS439 isn't a 'budget touring winter tyre', it's an inexpensive high performance winter tyre. I'm running them on my 335i this year and have found them to be pretty reasonable, even compared to my summer ContiSportContact 5Ps.

I certainly found the reviews most encouraging for the Falkens, certainly comparable to Sottozeros if not rated slightly better. Even budget winter tyres will far outperform premium ultra high performance summer and all year tyres on cold roads even with no snow. So which winter tyres are you fitting Diseasel? Good luck with your RE050s mate! I bet you are one of those people who still prefers vinyl to CDs? Thanks for your comments though, it is always nice to hear other people's view points (even if they are twoddle )

Interestingly the Falkens didn't feel at all warm even after a moderate workout. I've usually found summer tyres to wear in more quickly. I'll reserve judgement on performance until 500 miles in and post up my thoughts then. I should think there'll be many other people trying them for a first time. My Vredestein Wintrac Extremes fitted to my V70 last year certainly felt a bigger drop in performance from the Ultrac Sessantas, in comparison moving from Michelin PS2 run flats to the Falkens. The Wintracs tramlined something rotten and were very squidgy, though they were awesome in the snow and on cold wet roads.

[spirocheter]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Anyway, any benefit to winter tyres at typical UK above freezing winter temperatures is marginal.

The benefit is driving on snow or ice

My experiences from last year were that even above freezing, performance was noticeably far superior on winters. There is a clip on YouTube somewhere illustrating this with markedly improved braking distances. A few degrees above 7C though and the converse is true.

[briers]

Mine were the same last year - like driving on ice. Back end would step out with just a simple overtake without kickdown in the damp.

It made it worse that when i fitted them it rained for weeks and was cold. After about 500 miles they gripped normally.

On the odd occasion we had bone dry above freezing, sunny days i took it out on my fav road and it gripped the twisties just the same as summers, felt nicely tracked. Only the initial turn in suffered but more feedback.

[m1bjr]

The 452 are exactly the same when <500miles old or so.

It doesnt sound like these are any improvement as I find the 452 just fine even at a greasy 5C

Steve

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

It was 4.5 degrees yesterday morning and there was no difference in driving than at 30 degrees.

This is on PS2 RFT's

I'd get those tyres over to Bridgestone, could teach them a thing or two on how to develop the perfect tyre.

With the Bridgestone RFT you can tell the temperature without needing a thermometer.

HighlandPete

[YvesD]

Some decent chaps here think they are quite nice.....

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Fa...nter-HS439.htm

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by Diseasel

Maybe it wasnt such a good idea putting budget touring winter tyres on your 335d

I have HS439s and they have worked very well in snow and cold temps for the last 4 years.

I don't think Diseasel has actually ever owned any Falken tyres, so I'd treat his opinion on these matters accordingly.

I think he just likes arguing and being rude.

[jasonprice07]

This will be my 3rd winter on the Falkens, but the first with them fitted to my 335D, been on a 320D in the past.
I still managed to get stuck in car parks that had no snow clearing or gritting but I think only FWD's or 4WD cars could handle it.
As for handling turn in is not as sharp but you get used to it, only when the summer tyres go back on that I realise the difference.

Jason

[B33M3R]

Originally Posted by jasonprice07

This will be my 3rd winter on the Falkens, but the first with them fitted to my 335D, been on a 320D in the past.
I still managed to get stuck in car parks that had no snow clearing or gritting but I think only FWD's or 4WD cars could handle it.
As for handling turn in is not as sharp but you get used to it, only when the summer tyres go back on that I realise the difference.

Jason

You got stuck in a snow covered car park? That doesn't inspire confidence in my choice of winter rubber

[p1tse]

If in current 16 degree day temps in the dry and wet which would brake better (both sets run in)
Hs439 winter
452 summer

[pjs]

Bollocks to winter Tyres, going sideways and trying not to get stuck Is half the fun, shovel in boot everytime.

[spirocheter]

Originally Posted by ///ajd

I have HS439s and they have worked very well in snow and cold temps for the last 4 years.

I don't think Diseasel has actually ever owned any Falken tyres, so I'd treat his opinion on these matters accordingly.

I think he just likes arguing and being rude.

Yes, thanks for the heads up. I don't think further comment is warranted, as I don't fancy being banned from the forum! I left school some time ago now, but this sort of takes me back so being a teenager!

[chris_s1]

Originally Posted by p1tse

If in current 16 degree day temps in the dry and wet which would brake better (both sets run in)
Hs439 winter
452 summer

The general rule is 7 degrees is the switchover temp.
Anything above that and summer tyres are better in all conditions, below 7 and winters are better. Although in the cold (not freezing) dry conditions it is probably marginal.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by p1tse

If in current 16 degree day temps in the dry and wet which would brake better (both sets run in)
Hs439 winter
452 summer

I'd say clearly the summer in the dry, but I'd like to see a test for the wet braking performance.

Interesting quote from Continental...

When should I fit winter tyres to my car?


It is recommended that you switch to winter tyres in the UK between October and April.

If you are reluctant to change tyres and have nowhere to store summer tyres when they are not in use, you are better off using winter tyres all year round.

Winter tyres are as quiet and comfortable as summer tyres and, thanks to sophisticated compound technology, do not wear any more quickly.

There is a slight trade off with stopping distances as a winter tyre does not stop as quickly in the dry as a summer tyre, however, on balance if it is not possible to switch tyres in the winter, experts say you are better off with winter tyres all year round. This is because the difference in stopping distances of summer tyres in winter is far greater than for winter tyres in the summer.

Underlining my addition.

HighlandPete

[chris_s1]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I'd say clearly the summer in the dry, but I'd like to see a test for the wet braking performance.

Interesting quote from Continental...





Underlining my addition.

HighlandPete

Thanks that is an interesting and perhaps surprising comment to come from Conti.
Do you think this might be misleading to the average punter though, as most cars (I'm talking average family hatchback/rep mobile stuff) are fitted with what you would probably call 'all season' tyres rather than strictly summer tyres.