Falken Ziex ZE-512 mounted

[KenC]

I just got home from a spirited drive on my new Falken Ziex ZE-512s. I got them in 205/60R14s, which look just a tad meatier than the 195s. Overall I'm very impressed with the initial ride quality of them compared to the Dunlop Sport A2s I had on there. They also grip the road MUCH MUCH better than the Dunlops or the Toyo TPTs I used to have.

They're $49 each shipped from tires.com. I just brought in a printout of the online price and the store (America's Tire Company) matched it.

Two Thumbs Up

[Mystikal]

I'll add my two cents. The ZE-512's were about the best tires I have ever experienced in the rain, also very good dry traction, but soft, stupid sidewalls. That gave them the great ride quality, but the turn-in was depressing compared to real summer tires. Completely acceptable at the price point though, and their intended market. I'll also add that they were wearing down abnormally quickly, and I was driving very lightly the entire time they were on (terrified of bending one of the 17" BBS', plus I had blown dampers for a while). They were wearing at the exact same rate that my old RT-215's did, and those had a 200 treadwear rating versus the 360 of the ZE-512's. Odd.

I did auto-x the crap out them once. One of my best days ever:



Overall, if you're on a budget these are excellent tires, and by far the best bang for buck value out there. But if you can afford more and don't care about a choppy ride, get something more aggressive.

[Stu]

Jay, noise/wet traction aside, is this a better tire on the track than a ES100?

[Mystikal]

Never driven on ES100s. But from good sources (not the dumb kids on here that say whatever other guys say), the ES100s have very, very solid sidewalls and great dry traction. I'd much rather be on those than ZE-512 on the track, by FAR.

[Jarvis]

Never driven on ES100s. But from good sources (not the dumb kids on here that say whatever other guys say), the ES100s have very, very solid sidewalls and great dry traction. I'd much rather be on those than ZE-512 on the track, by FAR.

I am pro ES100s. I bought them new in 225/45-16, and only used them for a year. By the time the tires were all used up (only about 8K miles) I was taking apart the car they were on so I didn't care about needing replacements.
Yes, they wear out abnormally fast, especially on lowered cars with a lot of negative camber. But I didn't mind the extra road noise, and I loved the turn in. I never had problem in the wet with them (at least when they had tread). ES100s only get sketchy when you wear them down smooth. No tire is going to be safe at that point.
Now I know that you can get a better tire for the money. Or for a little more money, a considerably better tire overall. But they're not as crappy as some people here make them out to be. Just my 2 cents.

Back on topic... Ken that sounds like a great deal. $49/each shipped for 205/60-14 grippy summer tires is perfect for a daily driver on stock wheels. They're tall, narrow tires anyways. I personally wouldn't care if the sidewalls were soft, especially with the roads I have to drive on. I'll definitely be considering these next time I buy tires for my daily.

[KenC]

Back on topic... Ken that sounds like a great deal. $49/each shipped for 205/60-14 grippy summer tires is perfect for a daily driver on stock wheels. They're tall, narrow tires anyways. I personally wouldn't care if the sidewalls were soft, especially with the roads I have to drive on. I'll definitely be considering these next time I buy tires for my daily.

Yeah, they're definitely not a track tire at all. I bought them because I had read that they're one of the best ALL-SEASON (read: LOTS of rain in Oregon) performance tires. I don't track my car, and do like one or two auto-x races per year. Thus far they definitely kick ass as a daily driver tire; and at $49 each for 205, you can't go wrong.

[MR 325]

Never driven on ES100s. But from good sources the ES100s have very, very solid sidewalls and great dry traction.

Quoted for truth my man, that's what i had on my 17's

[///M42 sport]

http://www.vulcantire.com/cgi-local/tiresearch.cgi

Theyre $41 at vulcan. I forgot how much shipping was.

[KenC]

http://www.vulcantire.com/cgi-local/tiresearch.cgi

Theyre $41 at vulcan. I forgot how much shipping was.

They're $43 each in 205/60R14 and shipping is $42 for 4 tires.

Cheaper through discounttires.com.

I just drove with them in the first of the Oregon winter rains and they have superb wet traction.

[StereoInstaller1]

Ken, I am glad to hear more positive things about these tires. I have a set of 215/40/17 ES100's and I hate them for wet weather. They are also NOISY!!!! I am gonna give the 512's a shot, having been impressed by other Falkens I have had.

Don't wanna be slip sliding away!

Luke

[KenC]

Ken, I am glad to hear more positive things about these tires. I have a set of 215/40/17 ES100's and I hate them for wet weather. They are also NOISY!!!! I am gonna give the 512's a shot, having been impressed by other Falkens I have had.

Don't wanna be slip sliding away!

Luke

You won't be disappointed. I had America's Tire Co. (same company as Disount Tire) just price-match Discount Tire's online price. They wanted like $62 each for my 205s at the store.