I'm looking at some Falken Ziex 512

[KarateBoy]

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...%2FPerformance

I still have the stock alloys on my S13.

My current plan is to order these tomorow but I wanted a 2nd opinion (or multiple opinions) on my tire choice.

For $57 I can get 205/50/15.

I'm looking for the best all-season tire up to $60/tire and from all the reading I did these are one of the best.

Let me hear your comments

P.S. I live in Chicagoland so the weather...is not normal. Sometimes we have no winter sometimes we don't have enough plows.

[ALTRNTV]

They're decent tires. They last awhile, they don't grip as well as the other tires Falken carries though. They're cheap though!

[Rennen]

I have these on my car now...


General grip is amazing for an allseason, however the sidewall is so worthlessly soft, I am unable to use any of the grip. The damn things just fall over on the sidewalls even at 40+ psi. We had monsoonish rains here the last couple days, and I discovered another unique design trait: there is a radial wear bar running through every single water evacuation groove. So when you wear them down, all the water gets trapped under the tire, and they hydroplane everywhere in standing water. As cheap as these tires were, I'll be buying something else next time.

Pros:
cheap
great grip


Cons:
soft sidewalls
hydroplaning with thousands of miles of tread left



-Matt

[Andrew Bohan]

i had some once. they would squeal on every corner up in the mountains. then i got some shitty used bridgestones and they never squealed in the mountains. so i pushed harder and they didn't squeal. they gripped better and it was $80 mounted and balanced for the set.

[A Spec Products]

good tire for daily drive

treadlife and price, good deal

[publicenemy137]

what's the ideal all-season tires to get then? Since these hydroplane, not making it a very ideal for all-seasons

[Var]

they are the worst tire i've ever used to date besides the Kumho Ecsta 712

edit: i cant decide which one was worse.

[Rennen]

Originally Posted by publicenemy137

what's the ideal all-season tires to get then? Since these hydroplane, not making it a very ideal for all-seasons

They were great in water... until they hit the wear bars, and at full tread depth, they did alright in snow as well. I am just irritated that I cannot use the last quarter of the treadlife.


As far as ideal all-season, I have heard nothing but good things about the Continental Extreme Contact, or the Kumho Ecsta ASX... but they don't make either of those in a close to stock size, and they are more expensive.

I might go back to the tires I had before, Dunlop SP Sport A2s. They had much less ultimate grip, but far better sidewalls for crisper turn in. In my opinion, that is more important for performance street driving. Snow performance was slightly worse than the Ziex, but wet performance was on par. Not much of a performance tire, but just fine for daily driving, and very predictable when/as they let go. Treadwear wasn't fantastic, but then again, I am hard on tires and these saw a few of my first autocrosses.


Oh, here is a good place for relevant tire reviews: http://www.miata.net/products/wheels/

-Matt

[DaPCWiz]

I personally love the Falkens. Bite hard, grip good in rain... I have 225/50/16. They have soft rubber tho, and I always find rubber dust on my back fender. I used to have some firehawks, and the falkens grip way better.

[North240]

All season tires suck at everything, it's deffinitly worth if you live in a snowy area like myself to just purchase snow tires, or score a used set somewhere.

I has these tires and really wasnt imppressed at all, grip was decnet but the sidewall rolled over so much it felt like poo everytime i took a corner. Deffinitly would NOT purchase again.

[KwKouki]

I just bought a set *not mounted yet* and the first thing I noticed was the flimsy sidewall. I hope I dont regret buying thses.

[orion::S14]

I HATE 712s...HORRIBLE tires. I guess they're OK for daily driving, but not sporty in ANY sense of the word.

711s are a little better...still not performance tires, though.

MX's = The sh!t. Love 'em...on the track, and the street.

Good and cheap: Dunlop FM901. Sidewalls are a little soft, but the tread compound is good and soft.

...

Don't regret buying 712s if you intend to just drive from A-to-B...but if you aspire to auto-x, or do any real track driving...sell them now, get something decent.

- Brian

[KarateBoy]

This forum > other 240sx forums

Thanks a lot of the numerous responses guys.

I didn't want to consider Kumho because of the many many thread about their sidewalls bubbling and their quality of tires over the years deteriorating.

I'd consider the MX if it wasn't 2x what I can afford to pay for a tire and the fact that it's a summer tire and summer tires and snow don't mix.

Any experience with BF goodrich Traction or Radial T/A? Or any other $60 allseason tire?

I realize that All Season and Performanc don't max but I'm trying to make a smart buy here.

Thanks again for the replies

[KwKouki]

From what I have read the 512 are decent DAILY tires. Almost every review has said the same thing (quiet ride, very soft sidewall) If your driving is a bit aggresive, I would step up to a better seasonal tire.

[KarateBoy]

Originally Posted by KwKouki

From what I have read the 512 are decent DAILY tires. Almost every review has said the same thing (quiet ride, very soft sidewall) If your driving is a bit aggresive, I would step up to a better seasonal tire.

Such as?

BF Goodrich Traction T/A? Radial T/A?

Yokohama Avid H4S?

[KwKouki]

I just paid 360 for a set of rt-615s in the size you wanted. If you want monster grip, I would suggest looking into a set.

[KarateBoy]

Originally Posted by KwKouki

I just paid 360 for a set of rt-615s in the size you wanted. If you want monster grip, I would suggest looking into a set.

Thanks for the suggestion but there is no way that tire can ever handle snow. And the price issue again.

I'm a poor high school kid AKA not sponsored by Parents Inc..


So for I got that

512s
Pros = decent grip
Cons= weak sidewall.

Other ones I'm considering and I'm looking for a few opinions

BF Goodrich Traction
Pros = Good dry/snow/wet (or so I read)
Cons=?

I know nothing about Yokohoma Avid H4s
Pros = ?
Cons = ?

Fuzion HRi
Pros = Manufactured by Michelin/ cheapest/ Good wet traction
Cons = Very Noisy/ anyone know about the sidewall?

I just need a tire to get me through winter and that I can have some fun on the twisties. Biggest factors are Price, then Performance. Least important factor is tread wear.

Thanks again, I'll shut up now

[KwKouki]

I know 2 things about snow

1) do not run in wearing only boxers
2) need a seperate set of tires just for snow.

I would do what I could to buy a set of snow only tires. I wouldnt compromise safety bro.

[KarateBoy]

Originally Posted by KwKouki

I know 2 things about snow

1) do not run in wearing only boxers
2) need a seperate set of tires just for snow.

I would do what I could to buy a set of snow only tires. I wouldnt compromise safety bro.

That's a good idea about the seperate tires. Expecially if I can get them cheap.

[kazuo]

Poor student? Used tires are your friend.

Anyway, obviously he cant get RT615 or RA1's or similar rubber cause it doesnt fit into the category of what he's looking for. Pricewise and usability-wise in adverse weather conditions.

I currently have Ziex 512. First time running them, yeah the rubber's soft and theyre noisy as hell, but they work. And at $200 mounted/balanced for four brand new, I can't complain.

You may want to look into some offerings by Toyo.. Proxes 4 or T1R... The T1Rs are like brand new, and I dont know much about em, but a friend has 'em and he says theyre not bad. (I usually tend to trust his word on things like these as he's pretty competent when it comes to car stuff.

Proxes4 are basically all-season tires.

Good luck