Going to get 225/50/16 tires for the Max. I just can't decide on the 512's or the Toyo Proxes 4, so you guys based on your personal experience are going to have to help me decide. All opinions are welcomed.

 

This will probably get moved to the Tires and wheels forum where you'll see a few comparisons between these two, I went through this myself and have personally tried both, I went with the Proxes4 with no regrets, they performed better on all fronts: noise, wet traction, dry traction, sidewall flex etc, good luck.

 

falken's 512

 

i have a 5th gen with 512's and also my 4th gen with Fuzion ZRi, both are 225/50/17's and the fuzions by far are the best tires i have ever put on either of my cars. i reccomend them and you will probably end up saving money. take my word for it

 

A choice between the Falkens and the Toyos, is a no brainer. Forget about the Falkens if you like driving your car.

 

Huh? Aren't you the guy that works for Bridgestone that was pushing the Fuzions when they first came out? If so, are the Zris coming out in 225/50? That's news since I just put on a set in 235/45 and 225/50 wasn't a choice.

In any case, Camry don't waste your money on the Falken 512s.

 

I'm curious as to why you have limited your choices to these two tires only when there appear to be much better -or at least more highly-rated- tires available in this size and relative price range, tires such as the Yokohama Avid V4 or the new Avon 550....

 

I am looking for the best of both worlds in one tire. Good traction on dry and wet with occasional snow and good tread life. Plus these are within my budget.

 

512's in 45 series have only 30,000 mile limited warranty. After two years I've got about a 1/4 left in them. My next set will be the Toyo Proxes 4.

 

I have had 2 sets of 512s on the max and currently have the Proxes4. I've driven both tires in pretty much every condition.... Here are my thoughts:

Dry accelleration grip: slight edge to Falkens
Dry cornering grip: tie
Dry braking grip: tie
Wet accelleration grip: slight edge to Falkens
Wet cornering grip: moderate edge to Toyo
Wet braking grip: tie
Snow/ice accelleration grip: moderate edge to the Falkens
Snow/ice cornering grip: slight edge to Toyos
Snow/ice braking grip: moderate edge to the Falkens
Ride quality: moderate edge to Toyos, and keep in mind that's my 40profile toyos vs. 45 and 50 profile 512's...
Sidewall roll: advantage to Toyos, less sidewall roll.
Noise: this is the kicker...the falkens are very loud. The Toyos are pretty damn quiet

Treadwear: I got about 25K out of the Falkens (rated to 35K), and that was driving hard, cornering hard, etc. The Toyos are only rated to 30K, so i'm not expecting any better.

Price: Falkens are about $20/per tire cheaper

Value: Edge to the Toyos, which are the best all-season tires I've ever owned. I liked the Falkens, and they are great bang for the buck...but I like the Toyos much better.

 

Best post of the thread... ^^^^

I have 512s and I like em for the driving that I do. I'm happy with the dry, wet, snow traction and most of the cornering characteristics, except for maybe short, sharp turns, where they do feel kinda soft. Other than that, I like em a lot, but they are getting kinda loud.

At the time, the 512s were much cheaper than the Proxes... so that was another consideration for me... but just cuz I like em doesn't mean I'd get em again... it'll be time to try something else when these are done....

All the best on your decision...

 

I wouldn't buy a tire that was only good for 30 or 35K. You have to pay again and again for installation. I am limited in choice with my 15" sawblades but am going with either BF Goodrich Traction TAs or Yokohama Avid H4s, both 60K H-rated all-season tires.

 

The 512 in the 60/65 series are rated for 60K. The lower profils are rated for 30K

While not on a Maxima a co-worker had the Yokahama Avids on his Accord and said never again. He said they suck in the rain. Remember not my experience

 

Yeah, find a 60,000 mile 19" H rated tire and I still won't buy it. People that want the high performance tires understand they're giving up some tread life. Now that doesn't mean I'm buying a semi slick 5,000 mile race tire, but I'm not expecting > 40,000 miles on my tires.

 

I think Sears Guardsman rule all


























I have the Falkens and have no complaints....

 

As mentioned in another Falken thread I now dread highway driving in the rain due to the 512's hydroplaning.

 

People who defend the Falken 512s think "denial" is a river in Egypt.

 

215/60/15 512s put on 2 weeks ago and i'm happy with 'em. i really like their grip especially from a dig. nothing to complain about with a soft sidewall since i'm on probably the factory stock suspension. Got a great deal on them through my job so i couldn't go wrong with these tires.

 

I'd go with the Proxes 4

 

Toyo's are better in every catagory.No question about it.

 

Just to add my $.02...Consumer Reports rates the 512's as the top tire in its class. I know that CR is not the be all end all, but it is a good place to begin consideration. I have not had Proxes, but I have had Toyos and they were great tires. The treadwear rating on the Falken 512's is 360 and Toyo Proxes 4 is 300. This should mean the Falkens will outlast the Toyos in a head to head comparison with the same driving style. Like I said, just my $.02.

 

OK let's take a Tires 101 course here.

Comparing tread wear rating between different tire makers is meaningless. You can compare tread wear within a brand, but saying that a Falken 360 is better than a Toyo 300 is nonsense. Case in point, the 225/50R17 crapenzas tread wear rating is 260, and are rated as 40K mile tires. The Michelin Pilot Sport A/Ss are rated 400 and are 60K mile tires, however, the Falken 512s, rated 360, are only 30K mile tires.

As for Consumer Reports, I have bought two sets of tires per them and both times have been burned badly. A few years back they recommended the Dunlop A2s and they sucked. Last year it was the Falken which were even worse. I will never again follow the advise of lab rats with English minors who have no concept of what a tire should be and more than likely recommended them because they were a "good value". Fool me twice, shame on me.

 

Hmmm...let's see here. Did I say either tire was the better of the two? NO. I simply shared some found information with people in my post. You don't need to take things so personally. I, too, have been burned by CR ratings at times. At other times they have been dead on. Take my post for what it was, sharing, not gospel. And again, NO, I did not tell anyone here one tire was better than the other. Read a little more closely before you start telling people they know nothing and/or are wrong. You have experience with the tires in question, so you have legitimate concerns and opinions, no doubt. You must be in the tire industry since you are now teaching Tires 101 to us.

 

Not taking it at all personally. Just sharing an opposing view from many years of experience.

 

In that case, point taken. But, if you read my original post more carefully you will see I did not take a side on this issue. I only shared some information to be taken for what it was worth, if anything. I, too, have many years of experience with tires from a consumer standpoint being that I'm now a ripe 41 yrs. old. You will hopefully note I did support Toyo tires in my thread, just haven't had experience with the Proxes.

 

I read you post and basically disagreed with the statement you made (your 2 cents) that the higher tread rating "should mean the Falkens will outlast the Toyos in a head to head comparison with the same driving style". That is not always true and in my opinion wasn't a good assertion at all.

The CR rant was just a rant, but too many people fall for thier recommendations as "gospel" (and yes, I do use them for other items, just not tires ever again).

 

True about the wear. Wear ratings are quite subjective and tire companies use many different compounds which leads to differing treadwear among their own products which does not translate to comparison between different makers. Understood. My assertion there was off base. Also agreed on the CR thing. I pick and choose carefully what I trust with the reports. Did you get my PM? I have no experience with tires in the higher performance category, so I thought I'd ask you for your thoughts.

 

go with the toyo's if you love your max!

 

Falken 451's > 512's anyways...