Cheaper Tyres - Falken FK452's any good???

[MAW73]

I may be being a total cheapskate here...... but has anyone fitted Falken FK452 on their cars past or present?

I'm tempted to buy some for my new winter wheels.

Yes I can be a spirited driver at times ( no point in having a GTI otherwise ) but mainly I just use my car for commuting to and from work (motorways and A roads). Plus in winter if it gets really bad ( like the odd day last year ) I drive like miss daisy or take the wifes car to work whilst mines safely tucked away in the garage.

So what do you guys think on these tyres.........? 

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m61b0s134p6214

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Falken/FK452_2.htm

[Rhyso]

Myself and fellow forum member Steve_PD seem to be amongst the minority here but we both felt they were the WORST tyres we've had fitted to our cars, albeit MK4's

I found they were fine for the first couple of thousand miles but after that I found them to be poor in all conditions

Whether or not they aren't suited to diesel engine cars I can't say but everyone who has fitted them to the petrol equivalent have raved about them 

I eventually replaced them with Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta tyres and found them a vast improvement over the Falkens

[MikeT]

I've never used Falkens myself.. although I think if you're looking to save money, tyres are not the place to save really.

However.. I have used Yokohama Parada Spec 2s, which are fairly cheap, they have loads of grip in the dry and are really progressive in the wet.  I preferred them to Bridgestone Potenzas when I had a Civic.

[gossa]

Another vote for the Vredesteins, best tyre I've ever used.

[Steve30]

Martin dont get your prioritys wrong over a few quid on tyres , IMO tyres are more important than alloys mate but i'm sure you know this anyway. 

[Snoopy]

I see it as false economy having winter wheels and not using winter tyres myself.

[MAW73]

I see it as false economy having winter wheels and not using winter tyres myself.

Thanks all for the comments............

My new set of alloys were purchased so I can try and preserve my Monza Shadows through the winter months (and cause I'm a serial wheels changer).

TBO I might as well just swap my Dunlop SP Sort Max tyres from my existing alloys on to my new wheels. Then just run these tyres into the ground and by 4 x new Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta tyres as recommended.

[KennyGTI]

Absoultly not! Shocking tyres! Had them on my Polo for a couple of weeks when I bought a set of alloys off someone, then spun the car on the roundabout in slightly damp conditions! Straight on the phone to order some new ones!

No point in buying a 25-30K car and putting sh!tty tyres on them, only thing that keeps you on the road! 

[musicman87]

Hi guys, im over from the Mk5 section - hope you dont mind me commenting!

I have FK452's on my MK5 GTI - i find them perfectly fine! Yes, they aren't the last word in wet grip compared to Conti's and i haven't tried the Vredesteins although i've read good things. In the dry they give me confidence and there isn't much road noise on the m/way.
I would like to try the Vredesteins but one i wouldn't try are Goodyear Eagle F1's - i had them on my last car (Fiat Panda 100HP - OEM fitted from new!) and i found them absolutely shocking! Worst tyres i've ever used - wet grip was non existant and they lasted 6k miles at a push!

I think i would try Vredesteins next, but the FK452s are ok - not shocking, but not the best i've used

 

[A7 UFO]

I have used Falkens on all my cars over the years.  They are average across the board of wet/dry/cold conditions, last well and they have massive kerb protectors.