My opinion of falken fk452

shane@mbtech · 20-12-2009, 09:03 PM

I Have been using my csl regularly in the last few weeks along with my normal m3, coming back and 2 to work, 52 mile round trip,

I have been pushing both quite hard on the same roads in the same temps in the same damp cold greasy conditions.

TBH its the first time ive really pushed the csl on the road on the falkens, ive driven it fast before but I'm now using it quite often, so I have starting pushing really hard on familiar roads. I even put the falken/csl's on the m3 for true comparison/.

My csl is on Falken FK452 235 35 19 265 30 19
My m3 is on contisport 3 235 35 19 255 35 19

Im no racing god but this is my honest opinion of the fk452,

They have very very little, if any feel, they are very vague and give no grip limit no feedback, wooden feel, wooden feel, wooden feel then the back flicks out.
Not nice in the cold at all, they are slightly better in the warm but still lack feel although the grip level was better in the warmer months, the difference immense between the contis and falkens.

Compared to the contis they are poor, they lower the ride quality, make the car feel harsh and crashy. The contis have far more grip, better turn in more progressive grip levels, and when the slide did come it was predictable.

I put them on my car as I dont use it regularly, they were also £440 for the 4 tyres.

They are fine as a stop gap tyre, they would suffice as an everyday user on the csl as long as you dont push on in wet/colder weather but be cautious in driving it conservatively also. In the summer they were ok, just ok. No match for ps2, conti etc etc though.

I have run various high powered rwd cars over the years and have used many many tyres travelling the same route to work, the falkens are not something I would class as a performance tyre, commuting tyre yes. Performance tyre NO

I know a few swear by them but if you are trying them in the hope they will be close to the grip levels of mich conti etc, they will not,

I personally posted that I found them ok, especially for the money, in the dry/warmer months I stand by this.

But in cold or damp cconditions they feel poor to me compared to other makes

weedavey · 20-12-2009, 09:24 PM

Informative write up. Will bear this in mind.

Dan · 20-12-2009, 10:10 PM

I completely agree mate, I have Continental Contisport Contacts or something on my current M3 and find they offer excellent levels of grip in both wet and dry conditions.

I have had FK452's before on other cars and did funnily find them hard and quite unforgiving, my mate also had them on his 3dr Cosworth and to be honest they were shite, car stepped out all over the place and gave no indication of when it was going to, not good!

DuncanR · 21-12-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

I completely agree mate, I have Continental Contisport Contacts or something on my current M3 and find they offer excellent levels of grip in both wet and dry conditions.!

How do the above tyre compare against PS2's, as thats the only tyre I have experience of, and what I know is that they are round ..black ...and made of rubber I think !!

danp · 21-12-2009, 12:31 PM

I didn't think the Conti's ever got any good press, unlike the Falken's!

jibm · 21-12-2009, 12:42 PM

are we talking about conti's 2's or 3's?

big difference IMO

jibm · 21-12-2009, 12:44 PM

but still no way as good as PS2

DuncanR · 21-12-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibm

but still no way as good as PS2

I guess thats my answer then ! no technical jargon to sift thro there jibm !

danp · 21-12-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibm

are we talking about conti's 2's or 3's?

big difference IMO

Was at the PH thing at MB World last weeked, and in the drifting competition ;-) also went out with one of their instructors (F2 driver) round the track and skid pan.. he said they rip the Conti's (3 I believe) straight off the AMG 6.2 V8's as they are so bad, and put on Pirelli (he also admitted that they are sponsored by Pirelli ;-)

Dan · 21-12-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuncanR

How do the above tyre compare against PS2's, as thats the only tyre I have experience of, and what I know is that they are round ..black ...and made of rubber I think !!

I've never used the PS2's, Pirelli I presume? I think the Conti's I have are 2's, will take a look later when I go out to car after work!

20-12-2009, 09:03 PM	#1
shane@mbtech CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: warrington Posts: 5,419 Casino cash: $19783	My opinion of falken fk452 I Have been using my csl regularly in the last few weeks along with my normal m3, coming back and 2 to work, 52 mile round trip, I have been pushing both quite hard on the same roads in the same temps in the same damp cold greasy conditions. TBH its the first time ive really pushed the csl on the road on the falkens, ive driven it fast before but I'm now using it quite often, so I have starting pushing really hard on familiar roads. I even put the falken/csl's on the m3 for true comparison/. My csl is on Falken FK452 235 35 19 265 30 19 My m3 is on contisport 3 235 35 19 255 35 19 Im no racing god but this is my honest opinion of the fk452, They have very very little, if any feel, they are very vague and give no grip limit no feedback, wooden feel, wooden feel, wooden feel then the back flicks out. Not nice in the cold at all, they are slightly better in the warm but still lack feel although the grip level was better in the warmer months, the difference immense between the contis and falkens. Compared to the contis they are poor, they lower the ride quality, make the car feel harsh and crashy. The contis have far more grip, better turn in more progressive grip levels, and when the slide did come it was predictable. I put them on my car as I dont use it regularly, they were also £440 for the 4 tyres. They are fine as a stop gap tyre, they would suffice as an everyday user on the csl as long as you dont push on in wet/colder weather but be cautious in driving it conservatively also. In the summer they were ok, just ok. No match for ps2, conti etc etc though. I have run various high powered rwd cars over the years and have used many many tyres travelling the same route to work, the falkens are not something I would class as a performance tyre, commuting tyre yes. Performance tyre NO I know a few swear by them but if you are trying them in the hope they will be close to the grip levels of mich conti etc, they will not, I personally posted that I found them ok, especially for the money, in the dry/warmer months I stand by this. But in cold or damp cconditions they feel poor to me compared to other makes Last edited by shane@mbtech; 20-12-2009 at 09:09 PM.

21-12-2009, 12:42 PM	#6
jibm S5, Sport Off, DSC M-track Asteroids Champion! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 591 Casino cash: $14218	are we talking about conti's 2's or 3's? big difference IMO __________________ Never pat a burning dog

21-12-2009, 12:44 PM	#7
jibm S5, Sport Off, DSC M-track Asteroids Champion! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 591 Casino cash: $14218	but still no way as good as PS2 __________________ Never pat a burning dog

20-12-2009, 09:24 PM	#2
weedavey S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 144 Casino cash: $1842	Informative write up. Will bear this in mind.

20-12-2009, 10:10 PM	#3
Dan Driving it like I nicked it Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2,058 Casino cash: $6689	I completely agree mate, I have Continental Contisport Contacts or something on my current M3 and find they offer excellent levels of grip in both wet and dry conditions. I have had FK452's before on other cars and did funnily find them hard and quite unforgiving, my mate also had them on his 3dr Cosworth and to be honest they were shite, car stepped out all over the place and gave no indication of when it was going to, not good!

21-12-2009, 12:31 PM	#5
danp S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 177 Casino cash: $6280	I didn't think the Conti's ever got any good press, unlike the Falken's!