Random comment on Falken FK-452's
#1
10-07-2009, 07:57 AM
Random comment on Falken FK-452's
I've had this set of tires for a little over a year now, with roughly 22k miles on it and about 6/32nd's of tread left.
On the track, it performs admirably and never leaves you guessing about where traction is at any given moment. At the limit, loss of adhesion comes in gradually, allowing you to control the car better. It does start to scream once temps go up, but as i later found out it wasn't necessarily a sign that traction has gone the way of the dodo. It also never feels gummy. On average, I use up about 1-2mm of tread with each track day.
The 19's in 40 profile are marketed as having reinforced sidewalls, and i am led to believe that it's true. During my last session, i took a corner too hot, missed the next transition and headed out to the grass. Not a lot, but enough to hit the starting edge of the curb marker at roughly 40+mph.
*Bang! Bump! Sigh*
I had expected the worst, but was surprised the car still tracked with no vibration. I finished a couple more laps and checked out the damage.
The wheel now has a minor lip bend. The tire? An almost unnoticeable bulge on the sidewall and no tears anywhere. In fact, the tire is holding pressure for a couple of weeks now. Based on experience, i had expected much worse. Previous tires, with the same type of impact, would either just bulge out like a bad pimple or get torn.
I think the tire did a commendable job of not only allowing me to have fun on the track, but keeping my wheel protected (as much as it could, we're talking 40-series tires here). The wheel can be repaired, but i think the tire will have to be replaced. That bulge, albeit very small, cannot be fixed.
I've used different tires in the past, but i've never felt as much respect for a set as i just have for the 452's.
Of course, YMMV.
Cliffs:
- Have Falken FK-452's
- They're awesome
- Thanks for reading
On the track, it performs admirably and never leaves you guessing about where traction is at any given moment. At the limit, loss of adhesion comes in gradually, allowing you to control the car better. It does start to scream once temps go up, but as i later found out it wasn't necessarily a sign that traction has gone the way of the dodo. It also never feels gummy. On average, I use up about 1-2mm of tread with each track day.
The 19's in 40 profile are marketed as having reinforced sidewalls, and i am led to believe that it's true. During my last session, i took a corner too hot, missed the next transition and headed out to the grass. Not a lot, but enough to hit the starting edge of the curb marker at roughly 40+mph.
*Bang! Bump! Sigh*
I had expected the worst, but was surprised the car still tracked with no vibration. I finished a couple more laps and checked out the damage.
The wheel now has a minor lip bend. The tire? An almost unnoticeable bulge on the sidewall and no tears anywhere. In fact, the tire is holding pressure for a couple of weeks now. Based on experience, i had expected much worse. Previous tires, with the same type of impact, would either just bulge out like a bad pimple or get torn.
I think the tire did a commendable job of not only allowing me to have fun on the track, but keeping my wheel protected (as much as it could, we're talking 40-series tires here). The wheel can be repaired, but i think the tire will have to be replaced. That bulge, albeit very small, cannot be fixed.
I've used different tires in the past, but i've never felt as much respect for a set as i just have for the 452's.
Of course, YMMV.
Cliffs:
- Have Falken FK-452's
- They're awesome
- Thanks for reading
#6
10-07-2009, 02:08 PM
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#7
10-07-2009, 05:05 PM
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