Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Eastern Canada Flaken tires

I believe there's a couple people here running on Falken ZE 512 tires. How many Kms to they have and how has the tread wear been so far? I'm not posting in the tires section since I'd like local responses with our local climate and weather. Have you tried them in the snow at all?
Thanks

I've put about 30,000 on mine and I love them. I didn't use them in the winter. I don't think the would do so well. I can get another year out of them.

Great grip, quiet. Would definitly buy them again.

I think you mean Falken Tires

On Focus forums, they are okay. I wouldn't run them all year...they don't have a good track record in the snow in all the posts I have read on them.

Yes Falken, not Flaken, slip of the keyboard haha. I seem to read mixed reviews of them in the snow.
Seeing as some people have read this thread I might as well ask about Nokian WR tires. It doesn't look like anyone here uses them. Anything on the Focus board? I'd be looking to use them all year.

OK, with the Falkens and the WRs, if I am not mistaken, you are talking about a summer tire, and a winter tire. You will give up the ability to steer, stop and brake if you use a summer tire in the winter, and using a winter tire in the summer is a detriment to your handling, stopping, et al, but also to your tire wear, as winter tires us a much softer rubber compound.

If yu can find a way to get summer tires for summer, and winter tires for winter, you will be much happier. And you won't need your next set of tires as soon.

If that's too hard to swing, a decent all season is OK, but is still a compromise. In Ottawa, there is no way that I would risk it, but you would have fewer problems in your neck of the woods.

Actually both the Falken and Nokian are all season tires. I'd love a set of both summer and winter but it's not possible for me right now. Unfortunately the tire that I'd most be interested in (Goodyear Tripletread) is not available in my size. I've driven for several years on all seasons. I know they're not great in the winter but I can manage ... especially since I don't drive large distances now. I'm also not concerned about a very long treadlife since I don't know if I'll keep the car for very long. But I don't want it to wear out extremely fast.
Thanks for your advice

The Nokian WR's are a TRUE all-season tire. Actually, they lean more towards a winter tire because they do carry the Severe Service, snowflake/mountain logo on the sidewall. That's a sign put on to all tires that meet the definition of a winter tire by the Rubber Manufacturers Association of Canada. They are great in the wet and slush. For dry weather, I found them okay, but slightly squishy when driving a bit spirited. For ice and snow, they were good.

You may also consider BF Goodrich Traction T/A's or even Pirelli P-Zero Nero M+S. I have heard good things about them, even though they are all season tires.

Been running my Falkens for about 20k, and I must say that I am very happy with them. I will be needing to replace a pair, cause I was a total idiot and let the bad alignment chew them up. My fault, not the tires. They do ride very well. Steering response is not incredibly quick, due to the ride friendly soft sidewalls, but otherwise no complaints. They rock in the rain too!
Erik

Thanks for everyone's input. The Pirelli that Richard suggested aren't available in my size (P195/65/R14) ... very few tires are. I've decided on the Falken if I can actually find them in my size. If not I'll either order off of tiretrends.com (cost me a bit more but still a good deal) or I'll try to find some Yoko H4S, which should also suit me fine.