Who's running Falken's..??

[mtechnik]

Also more specifically in the E30 standard 205/55 size?

I used to run a set of ZIEX's but those were 195/45 on another car. Overall i was more than satisfied.

What is your opinion or review?

thnx
Mtechnik

[e34john]

never ran the ziex. I love the st115 that they used to make and now I have the 452 I think on both bimmers. they are great on the e34 but the ones on the e30 has some weird rough spots in a few patches so I gotta take them in to get checked out.

[mtechnik]

hmm

[BUDNUNTA]

Ive got a set of Ziex 512s, 225-50-15.
They have a lot of grip and do well in the rain and not bad in the snow. The only complaint I have is they are a bit loud. At highways speeds thay sound like a BFG All Terrain.
Over all I like them.





Hunter

[sticksdaman]

yea they are real grippy i have to actually put in effort to break traction

other than the noise which really doesnt bother me as much as it used to they are perfect.

id buy them again

and again

[mtechnik]

Hmm decided to ask here about the Ziex 512 becuase I kept coming acorss mixed reviews online. Also TireRack doesnt carry the brand, I sort of trust their reviews/test most.

So..is the Ziex 512 really a high performing all-season?

[Mystikal]

The 512 was the highest rated all-season out there a few years ago. It is now rated #4 overall, but its replacement, the ZE-912, is #1. Can't go wrong with that one.

I ran the 512 is 215/40/17 and 225/50/15 on the E30. I might be running the 912 on the M3 this spring.

Jay

[mtechnik]

Ahh Mystikal the resident wheel expert! just who i need.

So the ZE-512 and even more so the ZE-912 is enough to tame a 325i twitchy rear end..?

I dont track or anythging, i just want good straight line highway stability and no unwanted shrieks from people when i go around a wet corner at 30mph.

Fishing for info on the Falken cause.. i wanna make my end decision between the Michelin Exalto PE2.

Price vs. overall performance plays a role in my decision.

Thnx again all.

[Al Canuck]

I need to chime in here. I HATE the Falken ZE-512. I used to love them, when they were first available. They had so much going for them; great reviews, good looking tire, and cheap. How could you go wrong? We sold many many sets of them at the shop, and most people were happy with them for a while. I put a set on my E28 535i.

The front ones on my E28 lasted about 3000km, before they were completely bald! Yup, 3000km. My alignment was in spec, all front end work done, and I mainly commuted with the car. 3000km!!! Back ones lasted another 5000km, and then I threw them out. We had similar mileage stories with these tires on 2002's, and E30's.

Beyond the mileage stories, about half the cars we put them on, developed shimmies in the steering wheel. The shimmy problem was prevelent in E30's, and to a car, was cured when winter hit, and we mounted the snows back on.

My final gripe with them, is that they barely stick to the road in hard cornering. They screech, squeel, and scream their way around hard corners, especially as they become worn. Total garbage tire, although my mom seems to the love the ones I put on her Jetta.

All that said, I still love the higher end Falken's. Had a set of the old 451's on my 533i, and my 633csi. Also ran a set of 452's on my 06 Volvo, and recently replaced some 512's with 452's on another E30. The car is vastly improved now.

I'm hoping for good things from the 912, as I Still have faith in Falken tires. Just put a new set on a customers 325e, so we'll see how they do over the long haul.

Oh, and I also love the Azenis, but they're a different animal all together.

Al

ps- I just installed a set of Yokohama S.Drive 205/55/15 on my 325is. LOVE them so far.

[mtechnik]

Say what 3000KM..
That's why i can't make up my mind on the 512 starkly different reviews..

[Al Canuck]

Say what 3000KM..
That's why i can't make up my mind on the 512 starkly different reviews..

Yeah, 3000km. I Was so pissed off. They were completely wasted. In a similar vein, customer of mine has Sumitomo HTR's on his E30. Front ones last him 4 months, not sure on mileage. Sumitomo makes Falken tires.

If you're thinking of Falken, go for the 912. I've mounted both tires(I own my own tire equipment), and they FEEL vastly superior.

Al

[fretburnr]

put a set of 512s on a friend's AWD Eclipse, great tires, showed no signs of wear at all after 5000mi or so. You sure you're not thinking of the older 502s? That, or maybe Falken supplies Canada with a different 512 than we get here?

[Mystikal]

Ahh Mystikal the resident wheel expert! just who i need.

So the ZE-512 and even more so the ZE-912 is enough to tame a 325i twitchy rear end..?

I dont track or anythging, i just want good straight line highway stability and no unwanted shrieks from people when i go around a wet corner at 30mph.

Fishing for info on the Falken cause.. i wanna make my end decision between the Michelin Exalto PE2.

Price vs. overall performance plays a role in my decision.

Thnx again all.

Yes, definitely enough tire to tame a 325i. I couldn't spin the wheels in the wet without clutch antics.

The Exalto isn't really comparable though, it is a better tire for performance. I recommend the Exalto to many, if they can afford it. It will also have much longer treadlife than the Falken, so the price difference becomes less important.

Jay

[Mystikal]

I need to chime in here. I HATE the Falken ZE-512. I used to love them, when they were first available. They had so much going for them; great reviews, good looking tire, and cheap. How could you go wrong? We sold many many sets of them at the shop, and most people were happy with them for a while. I put a set on my E28 535i.

The front ones on my E28 lasted about 3000km, before they were completely bald! Yup, 3000km. My alignment was in spec, all front end work done, and I mainly commuted with the car. 3000km!!! Back ones lasted another 5000km, and then I threw them out. We had similar mileage stories with these tires on 2002's, and E30's.

Beyond the mileage stories, about half the cars we put them on, developed shimmies in the steering wheel. The shimmy problem was prevelent in E30's, and to a car, was cured when winter hit, and we mounted the snows back on.

My final gripe with them, is that they barely stick to the road in hard cornering. They screech, squeel, and scream their way around hard corners, especially as they become worn. Total garbage tire, although my mom seems to the love the ones I put on her Jetta.

All that said, I still love the higher end Falken's. Had a set of the old 451's on my 533i, and my 633csi. Also ran a set of 452's on my 06 Volvo, and recently replaced some 512's with 452's on another E30. The car is vastly improved now.

I'm hoping for good things from the 912, as I Still have faith in Falken tires. Just put a new set on a customers 325e, so we'll see how they do over the long haul.

Oh, and I also love the Azenis, but they're a different animal all together.

Al

ps- I just installed a set of Yokohama S.Drive 205/55/15 on my 325is. LOVE them so far.

Al,

I got 24,000km out of my 225/50/15's, and that included HARD driving and even an auto-x championship. On that note, I placed first in class and third overall in that said championship, despite running on all-season tires that are supposedly "garbage".





Plenty of grip. You're seeing that much bodyroll with GC coilovers! I am a huge fan of the 512's, I will say that their only downsides are treadlife, sidewall stiffness at typical PSI, and winter traction. But then again, 24k in my driving is actually quite good.

Jay

[Mystikal]

put a set of 512s on a friend's AWD Eclipse, great tires, showed no signs of wear at all after 5000mi or so. You sure you're not thinking of the older 502s? That, or maybe Falken supplies Canada with a different 512 than we get here?

It's the same tire.

Jay