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Fordwerke

CEG'er
Joined
Jan 27, 2008
Messages
157
Location
Bay Harbor Islands, FL
Hi, I wanted to have my front tires changed before the raining seasons starts here. The profile of them is really down. Now I checked for other Falken tires of the size 205/60 R15, and found them to be priced in the mid 50s. But other brands go much higher, to the 80s and even 100s.
I'm now wondering is there a difference, particular with regards to safety or fuel economy, if I choose another pricier brand.

Thnx for the infos!
 
When the price goes up that usually means the performance level of the tire goes up, which may not be a good thing if you're looking for a rainy weather tire. Keep in mind most tire places will put the new tires on the back wheels to keep you from spinning out so look at the shape of your rear tires too.
 
Dyoel182 said:
When the price goes up that usually means the performance level of the tire goes up, which may not be a good thing if you're looking for a rainy weather tire. Keep in mind most tire places will put the new tires on the back wheels to keep you from spinning out so look at the shape of your rear tires too.
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thnx for the info. I asked for the cheapest non-performance tires, cause it gets really wet here in MIA. Fuzion HRI, never heard of that brand.
And they put 'em on the front. I asked if they don't wanna put 'em on the rear, and the guy said 'nah, u wanna have the new ones at the front."

what is the tire pressure advised by Ford? I looked for info on door stickers, couldn't find any, neither in the manual. I drive at 42psi front and rear. While the older Falken state 51psi as Max, the new ones only allow 44psi Max.
 
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Fordwerke said:
thnx for the info. I asked for the cheapest non-performance tires, cause it gets really wet here in MIA. Fuzion HRI, never heard of that brand.
And they put 'em on the front. I asked if they don't wanna put 'em on the rear, and the guy said 'nah, u wanna have the new ones at the front."

what is the tire pressure advised by Ford? I looked for info on door stickers, couldn't find any, neither in the manual. I drive at 42psi front and rear. While the older Falken state 51psi as Max, the new ones only allow 44psi Max.
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I have Fuzion HRI's on my car. Good tire for dry and rain, for snow they suck....good thing you are in Florida. You want new tires up front so the car can get traction and have improved steering response. I have no idea why someone would say to put new tires on the rear of a front wheel drive car. :help: The front tires are the ones that control where you go and how much traction you are getting.
 
Fordwerke said:
what is the tire pressure advised by Ford? I looked for info on door stickers, couldn't find any, neither in the manual. I drive at 42psi front and rear. While the older Falken state 51psi as Max, the new ones only allow 44psi Max.
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There is a sticker somewhere that has the recommended pressures for the factory tires. Of course you have to use that as a starting point for any other tire since they are sized differently even if the numbers are the same. 42psi is a little high for my tastes since it makes the tire rock solid but if you're fine with the ride quality then go with it. Do check your tires sometime to see if they're wearing out on the sides faster than the middle or vice-versa which will tell you you need to try a different pressure.
 
elraido said:
I have Fuzion HRI's on my car. Good tire for dry and rain, for snow they suck....good thing you are in Florida. You want new tires up front so the car can get traction and have improved steering response. I have no idea why someone would say to put new tires on the rear of a front wheel drive car. :help: The front tires are the ones that control where you go and how much traction you are getting.
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Some tire places have a policy of putting the good tires on the rear to increase understeer. Making a car with oversteer is dangerous to the general bad driving public. Basically the same reasoning manufacturers use when they engineer understeer into vehicles.

Any of my tire wholesalers always said that you should put the good tires on the rear for that reason, I always put the good tires on the front though because the fronts wear out faster than the rear in most cases on a FWD, and for increased traction, which we have to worry about in cold states more anyways.

Fordwerke said:
what is the tire pressure advised by Ford? I looked for info on door stickers, couldn't find any, neither in the manual. I drive at 42psi front and rear. While the older Falken state 51psi as Max, the new ones only allow 44psi Max.
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On a contour with 15inch wheels ford recommends 32 psi I think. Running 42 psi on 15 inch tires is just gonna get you a LOT of center tread wear. 35psi is ok, but if you go over that you are gonna see a lot more tread wear in the center of your tires.
 
sorry, fuzions are garbage. tires are more expensive because of the way they are made, and materials that they are made with. a $50 fuzion would be no where close to say a $120 michelin hydroedge. keep in mind that a michelin is usually the most expensive tire option at stores. this is partially due to the michelin name, but the tire is far superior in every way compared to that fuzion. i've had great luck with the Falken Ziex. great in all weather scenarios, and relatively cheap. and never believe anything that a service writer will tell you. i've worked at enough shops to realize that most of them are all scum bags who just want to sell the tire that they get the most commission for.
 
Black 98 CSVT said:
sorry, fuzions are garbage. tires are more expensive because of the way they are made, and materials that they are made with. a $50 fuzion would be no where close to say a $120 michelin hydroedge. keep in mind that a michelin is usually the most expensive tire option at stores. this is partially due to the michelin name, but the tire is far superior in every way compared to that fuzion. i've had great luck with the Falken Ziex. great in all weather scenarios, and relatively cheap. and never believe anything that a service writer will tell you. i've worked at enough shops to realize that most of them are all scum bags who just want to sell the tire that they get the most commission for.
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The Fuzion aren't a horrible tire;
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Fuzion&tireModel=HRi

Lets compair them to some Michelin like you say;
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Energy+LX4

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=MX4

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Energy+MXV4+S8


Don't just buy because of a name and price. Do a little homework before you buy a tire, see what other people experience is with them, and go from there.
 
Anyone I have ever sold Fuzions to have been really happy with them. Most of the cost of Michelins are the brand recognition. The Michelins I used to sell were always higher price than even the comparable Goodyear or Bridgestone/Firestone tires.
 
i worked at NTB for 2 years and i currently work at firestone(kill me). fuzions are so cheaply made, its ridiculous.
 
I ran a set of fuzions on my contours (same set, just used on both of em) and another set on my escort. Also put some on people's cars while working at goodyear and have a friend that got them. They aren't cheaply made, no more so than any other tire. I had no problems with them. For the money, they're a pretty decent tire. I ran an autox or two with the escort on em and did fine, even got first in my class. Let a friend use them at the drag strap and they performed as that type of tire would be expected to (nothing special but better than the crap he had). I also used them once on the escort at the drag strip and they did again, as expected.
 
Black 98 CSVT said:
i worked at NTB for 2 years and i currently work at firestone(kill me). fuzions are so cheaply made, its ridiculous.
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Why would Bridgestone make a cheap tire while trying to get another brand out there? You sound like the Firestone techs I used to sell part to. If you asked them they're say everything but their Firestone or Uniroyal tires were garbage and cut you a deal to move their aging stock. Of course they parked in the back and had a nice mix of Falkens, Kumhos and Mastercrafts(bleh!).
 
elraido said:
what proof do you have and have you ever used them?
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all of the customers who come in with prematurely worn fuzions. see it all the time.

Dyoel182 said:
Why would Bridgestone make a cheap tire while trying to get another brand out there? You sound like the Firestone techs I used to sell part to. If you asked them they're say everything but their Firestone or Uniroyal tires were garbage and cut you a deal to move their aging stock. Of course they parked in the back and had a nice mix of Falkens, Kumhos and Mastercrafts(bleh!).
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you know how many more people come in, asking for the cheapest tire available? major companies make these cheaper tires so they don't lose business to the chinese tire manufacturers
 
Black 98 CSVT said:
all of the customers who come in with prematurely worn fuzions. see it all the time.

you know how many more people come in, asking for the cheapest tire available? major companies make these cheaper tires so they don't lose business to the chinese tire manufacturers
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Tires wear prematurely all the time. The average person who goes to a Firestone probably doesnt check their tire pressure or alignment that often which can kill a tire.

I know people ask for the cheapest tire and thats part of why Cooper, Daytona, Mastercraft and other old school brands are still around. But the Fuzion tires arent cheaply made tires by any stretch of the imagination. Fuzion was their youth-friendly hip sporty division not their budget tire division.
 
On the tire, I found the following warning: never exceed 40 psi to seat beds.
What does that mean??

As for the quality of the Fuzions, dunno. On one of the tires, where they burned on the production date, they did a lousy job. They burned the date unevenly almost half an inch deep into the tire. I'll go to the Firestone peeps who did it and ask them if this is now a potential weak point or not.
 
That means dont use excessive pressure when they first mount the tire on the rim and use a quick burst to make it seat and hold pressure. It doesnt have anything to do with the pressure while driving around.
 
Fordwerke said:
On the tire, I found the following warning: never exceed 40 psi to seat beds.
What does that mean??

As for the quality of the Fuzions, dunno. On one of the tires, where they burned on the production date, they did a lousy job. They burned the date unevenly almost half an inch deep into the tire. I'll go to the Firestone peeps who did it and ask them if this is now a potential weak point or not.
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Seating the bead. Thats when you are mounting the tire on the rim, its when you are inflating the tire you need air pressure to squeeze the tire out onto the rim tightly.

half an inch deep? Shouldnt be a weak spot. unless it is actually half an inch deep. Its probably fine though.

As far as Fuzions quality, if its any consolation I never had to warranty one out of the ones I sold. I dont have Fuzions on my car right now cause I bought a huge pile of Nexens cheap for the shop before I moved, but I would put Fuzions on.
 
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