Falken FK-451 ::: Review

Celly · 11-23-2004, 09:04 PM

I know a few people have been asking about these. Hopefully this helps.

RE92 owners note: Before you bolt on one more part to your subaru. Go buy new tires. I have never been one to completely knock the stockers, but I was aware there was better.... I had the mentality of "they work fine now, I'll wait for them to wear out...." As many of us do... Lemme put it this way. Did your ECU wear out? Did your Downpipe wear out? Did you Intake delete elbow wear out? Nope. So stop using that excuse... And go buy new tires now.

All I Have to say is, tires are the best money I have spent, with the most noticable improvement I have see so far from any aftermarket part. Period.

--

o. Size: 205/55/ZR16
o. Price: 312$ Shipped to my front yard. [UPS man didn't make it to the door... Just threw them in the yard. Weird. Huh? ]
o. Site: www.tires.com
o. Installation: $64 [15$ a corner]
o. Pressure: Front 38 / Rear 36

First impression: The first thing I noticed was that they a little were noisy. But that is a price I was willing to pay. They don't tend to ride in grooves. Steering stayed lights and Bumps are indeed absorbed nicely. Grip. Well, Lets just say, these bad boys grip. What use to feel like Ludacrous Speed around corners had been easily been turned to Plaid.

200 Miles: I had to put some miles on these things. I drove all around on Sunday trying to see if tires truely do have a "Break-in" Period. Well, They do. These tires are now quieter than my RE92's. Grip (if possible) has been increased, and off ramps are now offically too short. I Have nothing but praise about these tires.

Overall..... I'm sure these are not "The Best" summer tire on the market. But for anyone looking for the ultimate upgrade to their WRX/RS, so far this is it.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

nhluhr · 11-24-2004, 01:56 AM

so you're telling me the grip on these is incredible but your frame of reference includes only the RE92?

eyeballs · 11-24-2004, 01:59 AM

just wait until you try them out in the rain.

moss · 11-24-2004, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhluhr

so you're telling me the grip on these is incredible but your frame of reference includes only the RE92?

Ditto... Anything is "incredible" compared to RE92s...

Celly · 11-24-2004, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhluhr

so you're telling me the grip on these is incredible but your frame of reference includes only the RE92?

On the WRX Yes. But I have driven many different tires before. I don't think it is fair to compare the 451 to, lets say, a S03 I have driven on in a Porsche, or a F1 I have driven on a GT Mustang. Apples to Oranges IMHO.

Boost-Free Subee · 11-24-2004, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhluhr

so you're telling me the grip on these is incredible but your frame of reference includes only the RE92?

i think that was the point. change tires first....

nhluhr · 11-24-2004, 12:28 PM

my point is that going from the RE92 to the 451 of course it's gonna feel grippy. A Kumho 712 feels grippy and responsive compared to the RE92. You can't really review the tire properly until you've tried other performance tires on the same car.

Swano · 11-24-2004, 12:46 PM

Lady's, before flamming the guy about the 451 maybe you should have a look at what tires the SCCA STX champion was running for tires at the last Nationals.

And for the record, S03 aren't nearly as good as what you think. Maybe a couple years ago, but not anymore.

Phil =)

ButtDyno · 11-24-2004, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swano

Lady's, before flamming the guy about the 451 maybe you should have a look at what tires the SCCA STX champion was running for tires at the last Nationals.

And for the record, S03 aren't nearly as good as what you think. Maybe a couple years ago, but not anymore.

Those 451's at nationals tires were shaved. Not exactly a fair comparison.

john

nhluhr · 11-24-2004, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swano

Lady's, before flamming the guy about the 451 maybe you should have a look at what tires the SCCA STX champion was running for tires at the last Nationals.

And for the record, S03 aren't nearly as good as what you think. Maybe a couple years ago, but not anymore.

Phil =)

I actually KNOW Tom (and have personally worked many hours on his car) and the tires he was running, although starting life as an FK451, did not bear any practical resemblence to an FK451 in the state that he ran them. They were HEAVILY shaved (down to the softer base compound) and an extremely wide/low profile size. Basically had nothing to do with street-going applications of this tire.

waveskidude · 11-24-2004, 11:52 PM

I would warn anyone thinking of taking FK451 to the track (HPDE) to either make sure they are shaved or get a dedicated set of track tires. I had put brand new 451's on my WRX and completely destroyed the fronts by the end of one track day. Save your money and get some R-compounds which can take the heat and abuse. As far as noise, they are about as loud as the RT215's.

Uncle Scotty · 11-25-2004, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waveskidude

I would warn anyone thinking of taking FK451 to the track (HPDE) to either make sure they are shaved or get a dedicated set of track tires. I had put brand new 451's on my WRX and completely destroyed the fronts by the end of one track day. Save your money and get some R-compounds which can take the heat and abuse. As far as noise, they are about as loud as the RT215's.

ANY brand new, full tread deapth, street tires on the track is a bad idea.

A few heat cycles and a couple thousand miles and they likely wouldn't have chunked.....if the alignment was good for them for track conditions

rare_impression · 11-26-2004, 05:37 PM

Anyone know how long these tires last on average?

nhluhr · 11-26-2004, 05:45 PM

You can expect them to last about as long as any typical UHP 3-season tire.

Celly · 11-27-2004, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rare_impression

Anyone know how long these tires last on average?

Tread rating of 280...

0260B4U · 11-28-2004, 07:04 PM

I love em, wet traction is GREAT.
Ive gotten over 20k out of em and 5-6 autox. And just now hitting the wear markers

Granted I really overdrove the tires in the past and the alignment was fudged so the front set was balding on the inside inch or so.
Now that I have front and rear strut/sways and -1.5 in all corners( 0 toe) they are even better.

I have driven other tires on other cars. But for the money they are great tires. I've driven an Audi TT with Pilot Sports on it. And they perform right up there with them. IMO.

11-23-2004, 09:04 PM	#1
Celly Scooby Specialist Member#: 48724 Join Date: Nov 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Dead Whorelando, FL	Falken FK-451 ::: Review I know a few people have been asking about these. Hopefully this helps. RE92 owners note: Before you bolt on one more part to your subaru. Go buy new tires. I have never been one to completely knock the stockers, but I was aware there was better.... I had the mentality of "they work fine now, I'll wait for them to wear out...." As many of us do... Lemme put it this way. Did your ECU wear out? Did your Downpipe wear out? Did you Intake delete elbow wear out? Nope. So stop using that excuse... And go buy new tires now. All I Have to say is, tires are the best money I have spent, with the most noticable improvement I have see so far from any aftermarket part. Period. -- o. Size: 205/55/ZR16 o. Price: 312$ Shipped to my front yard. [UPS man didn't make it to the door... Just threw them in the yard. Weird. Huh? ] o. Site: www.tires.com o. Installation: $64 [15$ a corner] o. Pressure: Front 38 / Rear 36 First impression: The first thing I noticed was that they a little were noisy. But that is a price I was willing to pay. They don't tend to ride in grooves. Steering stayed lights and Bumps are indeed absorbed nicely. Grip. Well, Lets just say, these bad boys grip. What use to feel like Ludacrous Speed around corners had been easily been turned to Plaid. 200 Miles: I had to put some miles on these things. I drove all around on Sunday trying to see if tires truely do have a "Break-in" Period. Well, They do. These tires are now quieter than my RE92's. Grip (if possible) has been increased, and off ramps are now offically too short. I Have nothing but praise about these tires. Overall..... I'm sure these are not "The Best" summer tire on the market. But for anyone looking for the ultimate upgrade to their WRX/RS, so far this is it. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-24-2004, 01:56 AM	#2
nhluhr John Wayne Toilet Paper Moderator Member#: 7327 Join Date: Jun 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle, WA Vehicle: 2008 Mazdaspeed3 2006 Wrangler Sport	so you're telling me the grip on these is incredible but your frame of reference includes only the RE92?

11-24-2004, 01:59 AM	#3
eyeballs Scooby Specialist Member#: 31629 Join Date: Jan 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Gainesville, GA Vehicle: 2012 Mazda 2 Spirited Green	just wait until you try them out in the rain.

11-24-2004, 12:28 PM	#7
nhluhr John Wayne Toilet Paper Moderator Member#: 7327 Join Date: Jun 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle, WA Vehicle: 2008 Mazdaspeed3 2006 Wrangler Sport	my point is that going from the RE92 to the 451 of course it's gonna feel grippy. A Kumho 712 feels grippy and responsive compared to the RE92. You can't really review the tire properly until you've tried other performance tires on the same car.

11-24-2004, 12:46 PM	#8
Swano Scooby Newbie Member#: 19114 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Oxford, UK Vehicle: 2002 2.5TS Blue Ridge	Lady's, before flamming the guy about the 451 maybe you should have a look at what tires the SCCA STX champion was running for tires at the last Nationals. And for the record, S03 aren't nearly as good as what you think. Maybe a couple years ago, but not anymore. Phil =)

11-24-2004, 11:52 PM	#11
waveskidude Scooby Newbie Member#: 17007 Join Date: Mar 2002 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Oxnard, CA Vehicle: 2002 WRX MBP	I would warn anyone thinking of taking FK451 to the track (HPDE) to either make sure they are shaved or get a dedicated set of track tires. I had put brand new 451's on my WRX and completely destroyed the fronts by the end of one track day. Save your money and get some R-compounds which can take the heat and abuse. As far as noise, they are about as loud as the RT215's.

11-26-2004, 05:37 PM	#13
rare_impression Scooby Newbie Member#: 50138 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston(Sugar Land), Tx Vehicle: 2004 Wrx Black	Anyone know how long these tires last on average?

11-26-2004, 05:45 PM	#14
nhluhr John Wayne Toilet Paper Moderator Member#: 7327 Join Date: Jun 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle, WA Vehicle: 2008 Mazdaspeed3 2006 Wrangler Sport	You can expect them to last about as long as any typical UHP 3-season tire.

11-28-2004, 07:04 PM	#16
0260B4U Scooby Specialist Member#: 33249 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Jax, FL. Riverside/Avondale Vehicle: 2003 WRX (white) aka Little John	I love em, wet traction is GREAT. Ive gotten over 20k out of em and 5-6 autox. And just now hitting the wear markers Granted I really overdrove the tires in the past and the alignment was fudged so the front set was balding on the inside inch or so. Now that I have front and rear strut/sways and -1.5 in all corners( 0 toe) they are even better. I have driven other tires on other cars. But for the money they are great tires. I've driven an Audi TT with Pilot Sports on it. And they perform right up there with them. IMO.