Hey guys, my POS Michelin XGT V4 (stock on some tegs) were down to the bone so I finally bought some new tires. It's hard when you just bought an engagement ring and a new house

So I recently bought some Falken 512s (not my first choice, but for $88CDN a shot and free installation I couldn't pass it up). Reviews seemed positive.

But I'm finding that the rear feels very squirmy even compared to my bald Michelins (which were actually quite stiff).

Do all new tires feel squirmy until they are broken in? If not, I'm pretty disappointed with the tire's stability.

TIA!



http://www.1010tires.com/tire....E-512

 

I have no experience with those particular tires however, I do have a bit of experience with the older Azenis'. They did in fact have a film or coating over them that had to be worn away before the tire was "ready" for full use.

I believe it may be some type of protective coating on them to help keep them fro m dry rotting etc.

Describe squirmy? Did you go up in size?

 

It could be either of two things.

1. The Falken Ziex ZE-512 is an all-season tire. It's not going to be responsive like a summer tire. All-seasons just don't handle very crisply. Then again, your former Michelin XGT V4 was also an all-season tire. (One which I didn't like a whole lot, when it came from the factory on my GS-R.)

There are some excellent values in summer tires that perform WAY better than the crappy Ziex's. For example, right now you can get the Kumho Ecsta SPT in 195/55-15 or 205/50-15 for USD48-52 per tire from the Tire Rack, thanks to a rebate that runs for the next couple of weeks. For more recommendations of summer tires for the ITR, click here.

2. New tires do need to be broken in, and they have a mold release lubricant that Opie was referring to. Here's what the Tire Rack website says about it:

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

Tires are comprised of many layers of rubber, steel and fabric. Due to these different components, your new tires require a "break-in" period to ensure that they deliver their normal ride quality and maximum performance. As tires are cured, a "release lubricant" is applied to prevent them from sticking in their mold. Some of the lubricant stays on the surface of your tires, reducing traction until it is worn away. Five hundred miles of easy acceleration, cornering and braking will allow the mold release lubricant to wear off, allowing the other tire components to begin working together. It is also important to note that your old tires probably had very little tread depth remaining when you felt it was time to replace them. As any autocrosser or racer who has tread rubber shaved off of his tires will tell you "low tread depth tires respond quicker." Don't be surprised if your new tires are a little slower to respond (even if you use the exact same tire as before). Their new, full depth brings with it a little more tread squirm until they wear down.

NOTE: Be careful whenever you explore the capabilities of your new tires. Remember that every tire requires a break-in period for optimum performance.
</TD></TR></TABLE>



Modified by nsxtasy at 9:55 PM 8/1/2006

 

If they feel worse than those Michelins, they must be awful

How many miles on the new tires? Pressures good? Same size as the previous?

 

Blech, I wish the Wheel and Tire forum had existed before I purchased my 512s.

I've driven on my 205/50/15 512s (I effed up again, should have gone with 195/55/15) for about 15k miles, and the "squirminess" has remained. This is at the stock pressure of 35/33.

Compared to the summer tires on my other set of wheels, the best way to describe the feel of these all-season tires is to imagine that your car is driving on a set of sticky balloons

The response isn't very sharp at all, which probably annoys me the most. Other than that, it's a decent daily driver, as it is quiet (it only begins to develop a VERY light hum after about 12k miles).

Ahh I just remembered, my sister's integra has Michelins. They're definitely more responsive than these Falkens. But, at the same time, hers are nearly bald (and loud as fark)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ericlee303 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do all new tires feel squirmy until they are broken in?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's not unusual. I've never run on Falkens, but the Kumhos I've had (SPT, unshaved V700) felt very greasy initially. Give 'em a few miles to break in before you write them off.

On the other hand, the Bridgestones I've had (RE010, S-03, RE71) always felt pretty good right out of the box.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by That’ll Leave A Mark &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
On the other hand, the Bridgestones I've had (RE010, S-03, RE71) always felt pretty good right out of the box.</TD></TR></TABLE>

God I'm still pissed off at Bridgestone for discontinuing the RE010 Great tire, and my R is an OEM *****.

And Jeez XGT V4s suck

 

I've had those tires. They will be squirmier at first because of all the tread, but on top of that, they dont really have very stiff sidewalls so the tires could be bending over.

 

you'll be alright... the 512 is a good all season tire... bang for the buck! don't expect the greatest, though... if you did... go with the falken azenis next time!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">2. New tires do need to be broken in, and they have a mold release lubricant that Opie was referring to.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have used the 512's. They are very squirmy when new due to this lubricant.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 330R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">God I'm still pissed off at Bridgestone for discontinuing the RE010 Great tire, and my R is an OEM *****.</TD></TR></TABLE>

See my sig...

 

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

...They are very squirmy when new due to this lubricant. </TD></TR></TABLE>

x2

I recently got the 215/40-17 version of the 512 and they were a bit slick at first. I quickly removed the slippery part of the tire with a little excess driving. IMO a good all around tire for the money.

BTW... $55 each including mounting and balancing.

 

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

See my sig...
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Doesn't it suck that I'm also broke?

(I may be in touch within the month )

 

Awesome information as usual guys. Thanks alot. I'll keep you updated as to how they turn out.

Like I mentioned, the ratings seem to be OK for this tire. Maybe the kind of ppl that usually buy this tire don't have magical cornering machines like we do

To clear things up, I did go from 195/55 to 205/50. The old Michelins were actually strangely stiff...not the best grip in any weather, but stiff. I could really feel and predict what the car was going to do. I really felt like I had alot of control over the car.

Also, unfortunately, us Canadians don't seem to get the same tire deals as you Americans do. Go to any given shop and you'll find here that the tires are much much more (e.g. Yoko ES100 is like $125CDN here typical compared to typical $78USD). So I wish I could of bought something like that, but alas, out of my budget right now

Thanks again!

 

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

There are some excellent values in summer tires that perform WAY better than the crappy Ziex's. For example, right now you can get the Kumho Ecsta SPT in 195/55-15 or 205/50-15 for USD48-52 per tire from the Tire Rack, thanks to a rebate that runs for the next couple of weeks.
Modified by nsxtasy at 9:55 PM 8/1/2006</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ecsta SPT

Great value for the money. The only thing I have against them is that they're a chunky tire and fling tire shine all up the side of my doors when I wash them. Great grip though.

And I had the 512's on my stock ITR rims and had a similar experience with them as the OP has. It's an all season daily driver tire.

 

Its called tread walk. All new tires have this, because the blocks of tread are so big, they move around. As you wear them down a lil, you will be fine. Its normal.

 

ive driven a few customer cars (mostly civic's and interga's) with 512's and have never liked them. they always had a squirmy and bad feel to them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Downey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ive driven a few customer cars (mostly civic's and interga's) with 512's and have never liked them. they always had a squirmy and bad feel to them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't know why the reviews tend to be so positive

Maybe cus I neglected to check which part of the country they were coming from

 

i have them on mine and i love them for the price they do pretty good

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 98 ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ecsta SPT

Great value for the money. The only thing I have against them is that they're a chunky tire and fling tire shine all up the side of my doors when I wash them. Great grip though.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm getting a set of SPT's put on my daily driver this Thursday and look foward to reviewing them.

Kelley's Tire and Service Center in Grove Hill, Alabama is giving me a BRAND NEW set of SPT's MOUNTED AND BALANCED for $100. Yeah you read that right.

Ok so my dad owns a few tire shops and is giving me the hookup. I can still rub it in everyones face.

Oh and BTW like others have said you can expect the tires to feel crappy for the first few days or so. I always remember thinking something was wrong when I'd get a fresh set of S03's put on the car but it always went away after a few hundred miles if not less.

 

0y use to feel like that but i just put 40 -42 psi and they feel great now....

 

I have a set of the Ziex 512's on my car and I hate them. "Squirmy' is a good way to describe the feel of these tires. When pushing the limits of traction in corners these tires are unpredictable and unsafe. I was running Dunlop SP9000's before and the car was much more predictable.

 

Why would you put minivan tires on an ITR? You should be shot.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by M3BimmerBilly &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why would you put minivan tires on an ITR? You should be shot. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The main reason people might consider all-season tires for an ITR is if they need to use the same tire all year round, including snow and frigid cold in winter, as well as in moderate to warm temperatures the rest of the year. They are a compromise, though, and don't perform as well in winter as true winter tires, and - as we all know - don't perform anywhere near as well as summer tires the rest of the year.

However, in practice, the reason why some people actually put all-season tires on their ITRs - especially in areas that never experience winter type weather - is that some guy at their local tire store talked them into buying cheap, crappy all-season tires that he happened to have in stock, instead of high-performance summer tires that are more suitable to their needs and priorities (and in many cases might not be any more expensive than the all-seasons anyway).

 

i have those tires too. they are broken in and they are still booboo. for the ziex's. but if you are looking for tires for around town then they are cool.