Maxnut

I just had the Falken Ziex 512's (225-50-17) put on my GLE yesterday. I replaced the stock Turanza's (215-55-17). I really do like the new tires, I have only driven about 100 miles. Very quiet and smooth. I have not been able to drive in the rain yet, so I cannot comment on the wet traction. The dry traction is pretty good, but it seems easier to burn out than with the Turanzas. Can anyone with the Falkens comment to this? Do they have as good dry traction as your stock tires? I have also heard of guys complain of the soft side wall while cornering. I do not notice this, but maybe that is because I went to a lower profile tire than stock. Most of the other guys complaining of this had SE's with the 225-50 Potenza's, so we are compairing two different tires. Don't know if anyone cares, but I will post more of my opinion after I have more drive time on the Falkens.

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

You will find the falkens have "good" cornering rain grip and "excellent" start/stop rain grip...I just bought my 2nd set...veryhappy with them and good bang for the buck. Yes, though, they are softer sidewalls than the OEM Craptenza RE92's...

Andrew

iTrader: (5)

Whats the road noise like on these? I've been hearing different things.

scopium

they are overall good wheels for the price you pay..i'm really satisfied with mine
road noise minimal

my next set is gonna be the falken radials.. those stick like glue.. literally

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

irish44j, did you get em locally? or over the internet? i'm looking for some myself and i see you're in northern va area....

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

I originally thought they were noisy (when I got the 2nd set) but it turns out one of my bearings is bad, making the noise. I'll let you know about noise with new bearings on Friday.

I got the first set at Sears at Fair Oaks (sears is a Falken dealer)....Had to special order them because that's before the 512's got popular. My buddy got his in stock size at Sears a few months ago. I destroyed the right side tires on road debris last month....and I got the second (new) set at Merchant's on Burke Rd....they didn't have stock size in stock and I HAD to have new tires to replace the destroyed ones so I got 235/45/17's all around. Merchant's did it all for $400 installed. 235's are cheaper than the stock size, beleive it or not...

where you at in fairfax? I used to live on Gainsborough and then off of Tapestry back in the college days....

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Thanks Irish... I'll give em both a call, both places are close by... I used to be in Alexandria off S. Glebe, but I've gotten married since and am off Waples Mill now...

maxiiiboy

They are nice tires but I am wondering about the wear.

I have got 7,000 miles on the set of four I bought in January from Discount Tire Direct. They seem to be wearing fast - quite a bit faster than the Potenza's.

Anybody else with the same experience ?

desperado_45

maxiiiboy - are your rotating them every 3,000 miles. Directional tires should be rotated every 3k front tires to back. Or your driving like speed racer, I havent had this problem, even though they are a 30k tire.

Gooey

iTrader: (8)

omg merchants charged me like 600+ for all 4 with warranty

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Which Merchants?

Maxnut

I got mine at Discount tire for $120 each with warranty.

Virus

iTrader: (1)

I also live in NOVA and have the Falkens. Merchants wanted over $600 at 3 different locations. Sears matched an internet price I found which was $98 a tire. It was just a tad over $400 for install and everything. I went to the Dulles Corner Sears. They are never busy and get the job done quickly.

With regard to the sidewalls, they are too soft. I compensated this by putting tire pressure up to 34 psi which seemed to take care of most of the soft feel. They have fantastic wet traction and dry traction. The 512's do seem to wear quickly around the outer tread, but the inner tread seems to be wearing normally. They are very quiet tires. I would definately recommend them.

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Yeah I found an offer at www.edgeracing.com and the Falkens are $97 each there... will def bring that up with Sears when I get em.... so you're saying 34 PSI COLD right? Is the manufacturer's recommendation 32?

maxiiiboy

No, I have not - I just rotated them at last week, after 7,000 miles.

Thanks for the advice !