Tyre approval needed!

[zd210]

Guys I need some re-assurance.

I'm looking for something with all year round use, not extreme driving but something that handles well and can actually stop the car without causing a lock up.

I found these and wanted some opinions on whether to go for them or not?
They're going on a mk2 with no abs.


Fronts
FALKEN 195/55R15 85V ZE912

Rears
FALKEN 225/50R15 91V ZE912


Going to be about £200 delivered.

The falkens are meant to be good all round tyres for wet and dry. Plus the added bonus is the pricing

comments if you please.

[booch]

I've falken ze912's. I've had no probs with them, i've no abs either. There a good all weather option.

[zd210]

Cheers booch.
They do seem to be best tyres for price range.

Just had a look in your garage, see you paid £150 for them from blackcircles was that a full set?

[Peter C]

Some people here will say that you must have decent (expesive) tyres to make an MR2 handle as it should.

I have over 6 years of experience, having owned five different MR2s, all of which were fitted with budget tyres of one sort or another and I never felt the need to spend more on rubber. On my Rev1, (no ABS remember), I went through three sets of rear tyres and one set of fronts in five years (approx 60k miles). Each time I fitted Nankang budget tyres and the car felt just fine.

I'm sure the Falkens will be just fine.

[HighwayStar]

As far as I know the only other options are Toyo T1-Rs or Yokohama AO-22s at the higher end and possibly Fuldas at the 'lower' end. I've tried the first 2 and prefer the Toyos.... especially in the wet. Toyos were about £360 fitted last time I changed (earlier this year).

R.

[zd210]

I think I'm going to settle on the falkens.

blackcircles website is being weird and telling me they don't have any tyres for the rear wheel sizes?

Going to speak with them tomorrow and see what they can do for pricing including fitting for me.

I found tyretraders.com are offering the full set for £237 fully fitted, I'll give them a call tomorrow and try and negotiate for an IMOC member discount.

[mattcambs]

The 912 is the replacement for the 512 and is supposed to a much better tyre.

However, both are designed for saloon cars with comfort/ride quality in mind and, as such, have a very soft sidewall.

My boss just bought some 912s for his Omega and I had a feel of them confirming that the sidewalls are indeed very soft.

Now here's the bad bit: I currently have 512s on the rear of my MR2 and they are dreadful. There is so much tyrewall flex that it makes the ride bouncy and the handling a bit dodgy. [I'm changing soon, by the way]

I have very stiff suspension which makes it worse. Stock suspension probably masks tyre differences a bit more.

In my opinion you should not get these tyres.

If you can find any, Dunlop SP9000s are supposed to be excellent and come in front and rear sizes. They ain't cheap though!

For your fronts go for 205/50 R15 - gives better turn-in, less understeer.
http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s93p0
The Avons and Vredesteins Sportracs are probably very decent

For the rears:
http://www.tyretraders.com/SearchType/D ... =50&Rim=15

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?d ... =So&Achse=


I give up! You have no choice at all if you want to keep the tyres all the same.

I'd get the T1-Rs and make sure the rears are pumped right up (something like 36 - 38psi). Lots of people on here with them on 15s and complain that at standard pressure they are a bit soft.

Good luck

[dan1]

i have had falkens 451's/452's on my turbo for 4 years trouble free driving, i find them superb value tyres for grip in wet and dry.

[mattcambs]

i have had falkens 451's/452's on my turbo for 4 years trouble free driving, i find them superb value tyres for grip in wet and dry.

On 15in wheels?

Agree, good tyres. My pals with 16in wheels run these Falkens too

[zd210]

yeah I really wanted the 452s but they don't do them in 15, and not prepared to up the alloys yet.

thanks for the help though Matt you've certainly changed my mind, now I just gotta warrant spending so much before christmas.

Think I'll get the Vredesteins Sportracs for front (although apparently quite prone to wear) in the increased size and T1-Rs for rear, seems most of you seem to like the toyos as an mr2 rear.

£330 including delivery and fitting through tyretraders.

I may have to cut back on the booze for christmas

[marc GT Turbo]

i had toyo proxies on mine ( i thought they were ok ) i know have budget tyres ! i have kumho ku31's on 17" wheels . i rate these much higher than the proxies . and the proxies didnt have anywhere near as much grip in the wet than the kumho's

[mattcambs]

yeah I really wanted the 452s but they don't do them in 15, and not prepared to up the alloys yet.

thanks for the help though Matt you've certainly changed my mind, now I just gotta warrant spending so much before christmas.

Think I'll get the Vredesteins Sportracs for front (although apparently quite prone to wear) in the increased size and T1-Rs for rear, seems most of you seem to like the toyos as an mr2 rear.

£330 including delivery and fitting through tyretraders.

I may have to cut back on the booze for christmas

If you're going with the Toyos on the back, I'd get them for the front too. It's not always possible, but it is definitely advisable to run all 4 tyres the same.

I know how you're feeling though. I have 16s and the tyre choice is pretty bad (not as bad as 15s).

If and when you go up to 17in wheels (make sure the widths are staggered) suddenly the world is your oyster when it comes to tyre choice!

i've driven MR2s on 17s and what the handling loses in feedback and progressiveness is made up for in HUGE amounts of grip (assuming something like 245 or higher width rear tyres), and a much more planted feel.

[redmr89]

ive always found toyos to be a decent tyre. and they arent cheap either. when i changed i was advised by my garage to go for a cheaper brand which i wasnt sure of, but i put them on along with a 4 wheel alignment, and there good. hold the road well in the dry, in the wet there as scary as my other tyres. but boost does that. im nt sure any tyre is gonna keep the turbo on the staright and narrow on boost.. my tyres are marangonis a little known italian manufacturer who supply some bigger cars.

[Taylor]

i've got the same falkens on the front, and gsd3's on the back.

perfect setup imo. i've had several mr2's now over the last 2 years, all with different tyre setups on.... 1 of which was nankang's and IMO werent the best if im being honest.

spend the money and you'll see the difference

[booch]

Cheers booch.
They do seem to be best tyres for price range.

Just had a look in your garage, see you paid £150 for them from blackcircles was that a full set?

Yes mate that was for a full set, unfitted. They gave me free delivery for buying 4. Mine are 14" though. Theres even less choice for my rears. I wanted all the same rubber on all corners.

[RobCrezz]

Some people here will say that you must have decent (expesive) tyres to make an MR2 handle as it should.

I have over 6 years of experience, having owned five different MR2s, all of which were fitted with budget tyres of one sort or another and I never felt the need to spend more on rubber. On my Rev1, (no ABS remember), I went through three sets of rear tyres and one set of fronts in five years (approx 60k miles). Each time I fitted Nankang budget tyres and the car felt just fine.

I'm sure the Falkens will be just fine.

How do you know how it should handle if you have never had anything but budget tyres?

[Lauren]

How do you know how it should handle if you have never had anything but budget tyres?

DING. Decent tyres cost money. You get what you pay for and that's it really. I wouldn't consider Falkens or Toyo's in all honesty. Prefer decent Yoko's or Bridgestones. Eagle F1s are a good road tyre too.

[Peter C]

Some people here will say that you must have decent (expesive) tyres to make an MR2 handle as it should.

I have over 6 years of experience, having owned five different MR2s, all of which were fitted with budget tyres of one sort or another and I never felt the need to spend more on rubber. On my Rev1, (no ABS remember), I went through three sets of rear tyres and one set of fronts in five years (approx 60k miles). Each time I fitted Nankang budget tyres and the car felt just fine.

I'm sure the Falkens will be just fine.

How do you know how it should handle if you have never had anything but budget tyres?

Well, on the basis that the car steered straight, went round corners without drama and generally behaved itself, I presumed the tyres worked ok.

[BenF]

How do you know how it should handle if you have never had anything but budget tyres?

Well, on the basis that the car steered straight, went round corners without drama and generally behaved itself, I presumed the tyres worked ok.

It all really depends on how you drive the car, what your level of car control is ( can you recognise / catch / correct a skid ? )

I've used lots of different tyres on a Mk2 ( many different types of cheap tyres used on trackday rims, good tyres on road rims ) and I have to say the difference between good and bad is huge especially in the wet.

Doing an emergency stop, they could easily make the difference between stopping in time.... or not.

I'm spending ~£500 a set on Lotus Advan Neovas for the Roadster, and for the grip and feedback they're worth every penny - I do make use of the car's full performance.

I swapped back to some Toyo T1-Rs for a trackday recently and ran those on the road for a few days, and found myself needing to take a few roundabouts with some unexpected opposite lock on - and the T1-Rs are good tyres.

[Poohbear]

i had toyo proxies on mine ( i thought they were ok ) i know have budget tyres ! i have kumho ku31's on 17" wheels . i rate these much higher than the proxies . and the proxies didnt have anywhere near as much grip in the wet than the kumho's

Another vote here for Kumho Ecsta KU31's I've had 2 sets on my 17's and can't fault them wet or dry, they don't last very long....5K typically but I'm happy because of the grip/confidence they give.

Bob