Falken FK451's for track days?
 

So after about 22k miles and 1 track event my Kumho SPT's are pretty much done.

It looks like I'll be picking up some Falken 451's from my local America's Tire Co. Now My Kumho SPT's handled the track pretty well, but I was just wondering what are you guys opinions on the 451's for about maybe 1-2 track events a year?

Any body have any first hand experience using these tires on a road race track?

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Si Erik)
 

if they hold air, run 'em

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Evan55)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Evan55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if they hold air, run 'em</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for that...

Any one else have some REAL input?

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Si Erik)
 

No experience with them myself, but they have been known to be very fast in some of the ST* solo2 classes, including a championship won on them.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (ryan12321)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ryan12321 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No experience with them myself, but they have been known to be very fast in some of the ST* solo2 classes, including a championship won on them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I've heard that...but Autocross is a lot different than Road Racing...You think they will perform the same?

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Si Erik)
 

You're doing track events, not racing. Time doesn't matter. They should be about the same as your spt's if not better.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (ryan12321)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ryan12321 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You're doing track events, not racing. Time doesn't matter. They should be about the same as your spt's if not better. </TD></TR></TABLE>


awesome, thanks for this response...Makes sense...

Still, does any one have any first hand experience?

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Si Erik)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Si Erik &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


awesome, thanks for this response...Makes sense...

Still, does any one have any first hand experience? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I had them before. Pretty sticky for a street tire. I'de say they hold up as well as Yokohama ES 100s. I've ran both before and both are good. I think the Yokohamas might edge out the Falkens a tiny bit. Why not go with ES100s?

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (spankey167)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spankey167 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I had them before. Pretty sticky for a street tire. I'de say they hold up as well as Yokohama ES 100s. I've ran both before and both are good. I think the Yokohamas might edge out the Falkens a tiny bit. Why not go with ES100s? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Becuase I've had them before and I want to try something different. and the 451's are already ordered.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Si Erik)
 

The FK451 isn't as good as the SPT (and the SPT is better than the ES100)... But you've already ordered them, please tell us YOUR opinion after you start using them.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (nsxtasy)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The FK451 isn't as good as the SPT (and the SPT is better than the ES100)... But you've already ordered them, please tell us YOUR opinion after you start using them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have to completely disagree. The FK451 will grip better than either of those. There is a reason you see the FK451 being competitive in street tire classes while nobody will even think about running an SPT or es100.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (ryan12321)
 

i used to run fk-451. they are decent in the dry and excellent in the wet( mine were siped). one thing that happened to me a couple times with them on windy roads was that unlike other tires that lose traction progressively they will start sliding without much warning if you take a corner too hot. One sec. you will be gripping and then without warning sliding.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (ryan12321)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ryan12321 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There is a reason you see the FK451 being competitive in street tire classes while nobody will even think about running an SPT or es100.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmmm... Are you sure you're not thinking of the Falken Azenis RT-615, rather than the FK-451?

Falken Azenis RT-615:
http://www.vulcantire.com/graphics/t...is_rt61525.gif

Falken FK-451:
http://www.vulcantire.com/graphics/tires/45125.gif

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Si Erik)
 

I ran them on my NSX. They are ok, nothing special. Good enough for open track days, probably slighly better than Kuhmo 712s.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (nsxtasy)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmmm... Are you sure you're not thinking of the Falken Azenis RT-615, rather than the FK-451?

Falken Azenis RT-615:
http://www.vulcantire.com/graphics/t...is_rt61525.gif

Falken FK-451:
http://www.vulcantire.com/graphics/tires/45125.gif</TD></TR></TABLE>

nope he's right. the 451 is a decent tire for use in street tire classes.

they're usually shaved fairly low, but apparently they share a bit of the same compound as the rt215.

adn they come in a bunch of sizes, which makes them versatile.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Kenji M)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kenji M &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">probably slighly better than Kuhmo 712s.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's not saying much. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif

The budget performance tire world looks something like this:

Kumho SPT &gt; Yokohama ES100 &gt; Falken FK451 &gt; Kumho 712 &gt; BFG g-Force Sport &gt; Dunlop FM901

but the differences are relatively small, and the prices of all these tires are very similar. They're really designed to offer great value (bang for the buck) with fairly good performance. If you're really looking for performance for the track as well as the street, you're probably better off spending a little bit more for something significantly better, like the RT-615, Kumho MX, etc.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (nsxtasy)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That's not saying much. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif

The budget performance tire world looks something like this:

Kumho SPT &gt; Yokohama ES100 &gt; Falken FK451 &gt; Kumho 712 &gt; BFG g-Force Sport &gt; Dunlop FM901

but the differences are relatively small, and the prices of all these tires are very similar. They're really designed to offer great value (bang for the buck) with fairly good performance. If you're really looking for performance for the track as well as the street, you're probably better off spending a little bit more for something significantly better, like the RT-615, Kumho MX, etc.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ahhh this sucks. I Just had the SPT's and now I'm getting a shittier tire? Boo, I always read that this tire was awesome. Ah well I only do 1-2 track events a year and the way they are set up is that I wont do more than 20 minutes in one session...

and The reason why I didn't get the 615 or the MX's is first off...I needed a tire that would last longer than 6 months for the amount of miles I drive, and the MX's don't come in 235/40/17.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (bad-monkey)
 

Sorry, actually, I take that back... I run the FK451s on my Miata. I was thinking of the GR-Betas. I havn't run the FK451s on the track before.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Si Erik)
 

Facts:

The FK451's have good rubber compound from 4/32nds on down. The top tread is ok, but nothing fantastic.

The theory is consistant grip throughout the life of the tire. By the time you get to the last 4/32nds, that compound will be heat-cycled some and you won't notice a grip difference...but there should be grip for the life of the tire.

The guys running them at SoloII were shaving into the virgin last 4/32nds tread, which is very close to the compound used on the RT215's. And the reason the FK451's were being used over the RT215's is because they came in a ton of sizes, compared to like 8 or so for the RT215.

A shaved FK451 will hugely outperform a Kumho 712, ES100, etc. Full tread will be a wash.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Kenji M)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kenji M &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sorry, actually, I take that back... I run the FK451s on my Miata. I was thinking of the GR-Betas. I havn't run the FK451s on the track before.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I thought the GR-Beta and the FK-451 are the exact same thing (sometimes called the GR-Beta FK-451)...

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Todd00)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Facts:

The FK451's have good rubber compound from 4/32nds on down. The top tread is ok, but nothing fantastic.

The theory is consistant grip throughout the life of the tire. By the time you get to the last 4/32nds, that compound will be heat-cycled some and you won't notice a grip difference...but there should be grip for the life of the tire.

The guys running them at SoloII were shaving into the virgin last 4/32nds tread, which is very close to the compound used on the RT215's. And the reason the FK451's were being used over the RT215's is because they came in a ton of sizes, compared to like 8 or so for the RT215.

A shaved FK451 will hugely outperform a Kumho 712, ES100, etc. Full tread will be a wash.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Excellent information thank you!


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I thought the GR-Beta and the FK-451 are the exact same thing (sometimes called the GR-Beta FK-451)...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

They are the exact same thing! https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Si Erik)
 

hmm... I must have been on crack, I'll have to check what Falken tire is on the Miata then. I havn't tracked the NSX since late last year so my memory is a bit foggy.

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Si Erik)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Si Erik &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Thanks for that...

Any one else have some REAL input? </TD></TR></TABLE>
that was real input, moron.
you're doing a track event a year, not racing. The kuhmos you were using blow ass on track, and the 451s certainly arent any worse

Re: Falken FK451's for track days? (Evan55)
 

I have the 451s on my vr6 on 17s and they are pretty good for the money.

they seem pretty good in the rain but they do slide a bit without notice like stated above https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emwink.gif