To all Falken owners

[jerrym3]

Pricing out new ww tires from Diamondback, and the difference between Michelins and Falkens is extremely large. (Also pricing out Vogues, but I just feel that the gold stripe might clash with the Saddle interior.)

I'd like to get some opinions from you Falken owners (somehow, that doesn't sound right, does it?) either good or bad.

If you'd rather not go public with negative comments, please PM me.

Thanks

[DavidA]

Re: To all Falken owners

I came very close to getting the Falcon's but got a great deal on the Michelins. I haven't heard anything negative about them.

[Guest]

Re: To all Falken owners

Good question, Jerry... when I was shopping for wide whites, I got advice to go with the Michelins to offer maximum smoothness with my wire wheels. I have always liked Michelins with previous cars, so I went with my instinct. But also when I bought the whites, the price difference really wasn't as big a deal.

Very interested to hear from Falken owners as well. Especially if they are using wire wheels.

[ChromeDome]

Re: To all Falken owners

I have about 3000 miles on the Diamondback redline Falkens on my car. So far they have performed quite well. The ride is somewhat firmer at the recommended pressure. They grip the road as well, if not better than the OEM tires. The road noise seems to be about the same.

[timothy]

Re: To all Falken owners

I bought Falkens about 2 years ago and have been very happy with them.. My tire store owners told me they are great tires at a fair price w/ a good warrenty. I think they were way less $$ than Michelins. Good ride and absolutely no problems.

[justjon]

Re: To all Falken owners

AS far as I am concerned as an owner or as a potential buyer. Cars with cheapo tires (read Falken) are less responsive and handle perceptively worse then with OEM or BETTER tires. More importantly maybe, is the perception of my friends and admirers that i can't afford to maintain my extravagant vehicle/lifestyle so i'm a jerk and/or I compromosed on other replacements or maintenance and my car is not up to snuff. I would be very wary buying a neato used car with less the great tires, even worn out Michelins would say better care then new Falkins .... IMHO of course

[merlot4]

Re: To all Falken owners

removed

[eboose7]

Re: To all Falken owners

It occurs to me that Jon's point is based on perception, and to that extent, I have to agree with him. The perception is that Falken tires are not the equal of better known brands, such as Michelin. It may or may not be true, but perception is reality for most people. I know that Consumer Reports did a comparison test of tires a few years ago. The Falken 912 bested the field, although I don't remember a Michelin tire being included.

[jerrym3]

Re: To all Falken owners

It's really the LS that needs tires. I just figured I could kill two birds with one stone; get WWs for the Bird, and put the Bird's Michelin tires on the LS.

My other alternative is to buy the Vouges, try them on the retro, and, if I don't like them, put them on the Light Tundra Metallic Lincoln LS leaving the Bird as-is.

I think the ww/gold stripe Vogues would go well on the LS.

On the Marauder chatbox, the biggest Falken complaint is flexibility in the sidewalls.

Well, first, I don't drive the retro the way I would drive a Marauder, and second, the retro's lighter than a Marauder.

The 17" Falken Diamondback web page recommends 50 psi for the tires.

Holy high pressure, Batman!

[ChromeDome]

Re: To all Falken owners

Jerry, I was told by Diamondback to run 35psi on the Falken Redlines I bought. As a compromise between Fords recommendation and Diamondbacks, I run 33psi. The ride is a little firmer than the OEM tires, but it's not very noticeable.
The only tire failure I have had in several years was a Michelin LT on my Dodge Dakota pickup. Just over 8000 miles on the tire and the sidewall failed. The dealer gave me a new tire because there was no indication of an external cause for the failure.

[timothy]

Re: To all Falken owners

Oh Jon--You have brought up a point I have never really considered. Puchasing products based on the perception of friends and admirers. I have Falken tires AND a fake stick on hood bezel!!! Oh No!!

[Peterfurlan]

Re: To all Falken owners

I have a set of Vogue gold stripe white walls on my T-Bird. I have no problem with
the tires themselves but the white wall leaves a lot to be desired. They put a raised
design and a lot of raised printed data in the white wall area, dirt collector and a total
pain to keep clean. As far as the gold stripe I don't think it would look bad on either car.

[justjon]

Re: To all Falken owners

I didn't want to offend any independent free thinkers here and I completly agree with "doing your own thing' etc . But it seems to me that reality dictates that perception is nine tenths of the law so to speak. I am certainly no special fan of Michelin tiires and didn't buy them for 20 years after Vietnam because of all the blood lost in those protected plantations.

[merlot4]

Re: To all Falken owners

No offense taken, Jon, and I do see your point about perception. Nice Tbird you have there.

[04birdman]

Re: To all Falken owners

most people,see round black things on a car,know its a tire and thats it.what nobody mentioned is the fact that alot of the tbirds dont get driven very much,like mine..approx 4000mi per yr..same with my wifes caddy,and i replace tires more because of age than wear....so im a little bit frugle when i buy tires...$200 plus for a tire makes no sence to me...falkens/coopers/daytons..for my needs are plenty of tire....and if i put coopers on the bird this yr......i really dont think anyone is going to walk up to me and call me cheap because of it.....or am i going to reduce the resale value of the car.....