[doughboy]

This morning I had a full set of Fk452s put on my 330i, Z rated staggered M sport 18" sizes for £406 all in, fitted at work in the car park.

Just been for a 10 mile drive and I can safely say I am now the owner of a competely different car.

Despite the new tyre greasyness (which will go on a 300 mile trip tomorrow) the feel of the car is transformed, it's like its now attached to and following the contours of the road rather than trying to bounce off it all the time. You can't notice how hard / bouncy the RFTs are until you try normal tyres - I'm converted in 1/2 an hour.

We have a potholed / cobbled up hill access road to work and the suspension can now show its firm compliance rather than smashing my teeth out on the steering wheel, sure it thwumps into dips but there is no more 'crash' on the way out of a hole. A lot less stress on the car too.

The steering feels lighter (not overly assisted light, just less friction light with a smaller dead zone around straight ahead) and more communicative with a more nimble feel to it, this in turn makes the car feel lighter too.

There seems to be no loss of turn in due to soft side walls (running 35/38psi f/r) and the outside road noise with window open is much much less. Inside road noise seems less also (only up to 40/50 mph though so far)

Sounds promising, I'll report back after my trip to Elstree tomorrow. Must get a can of Tyreweld tonight!

I'm tempted to get the RFTs off my new 335i when it arrives and fit a set of these - then sell the RFTs on fleebay.

[creepy coupe]

How does tramlining compare? (if you've had a chance yet) I find new tyres always make less noise than worn out one's

[PhilR]

Good write up.

I am definately moving away from RFT within the next few weeks

Who did the supply & fit for you. Seems a very good price.

I rang a tyre company requesting a quote for Falken FK452's. They didn't have them in stock but would get hold of them for me. They were pushing the Toyo Proxes (probably got a deal going with the supplier) if I was moving away from the RFT. They are similarly priced - about 450 all in on 18" M Sports too.

Anyone had the Toyos fitted and how do they compare to the Falkens?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by PhilR

Good write up.

I am definately moving away from RFT within the next few weeks

Who did the supply & fit for you. Seems a very good price.

I rang a tyre company requesting a quote for Falken FK452's. They didn't have them in stock but would get hold of them for me. They were pushing the Toyo Proxes (probably got a deal going with the supplier) if I was moving away from the RFT. They are similarly priced - about 450 all in on 18" M Sports too.

Anyone had the Toyos fitted and how do they compare to the Falkens?

Creepy, I'll check for tramlining and noise etc on my long trip tomorrow. The tread blocks are markedly softer on the FKs, you can leave a dint with your finger nail, whereas the PS2's just breaks your nail off!

Phil R

www.event-tyres.co.uk

You can price up online and they do 5% off if you have 4 changed at once (staggered or 4 the same). Competent, polite fitters with tidy vans kitted out with full size fitting and balancing machines. Credit card payment after fitment too. They didn't have them in stock, but got them in overnight.

The Toyo Proxes r888 are pretty hardcore track day type tyres IMO with a poorer cold/wet rating. You see them on modded Evo 9's and Impreza's with chunks of rubber hanging off the edges :-))

The T1-Rs seem well reviewed but similar to the FKs, more expensive though....

[RCUK]

camskill have a gurantee that they will be the cheapest for falken tyres - might be worth giving them a shout.

Once ive finally managed to get some new alloys im def going 452's

[booforty]

Great write up! I take it the Falken's are non-RFTs?

Isn't it amazing how the whole feel of the car can change significantly just by changing the tyres...

[BigDman]

Great write up ..

Will consider these in the future.

With no space for a spare what are people doing if they get an unexpected flat tyres with non RFT's ?

I assume its one of the aerosol sprays to repair a puncture or if its really bad call the breakdown service ?

Does BMW breakdown that comes with the car, cover you if you've changed the tyres to non RFT ?

[xenon]

FK452s are great and I have them on the Porsche. Great tyre. I shall fit them in place of my RFTs on my e92 when the RFTs wear out - just means getting a mobility kit and upsizing slightly to 235/35/19 and 265/30/19.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by xenon

just means getting a mobility kit and upsizing slightly to 235/35/19 and 265/30/19.

Why upsize Ian?

[xenon]

Last time I looked you couldn't get 452s in 225/35/19 and 255/30/19. Perhaps that's changed now.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by xenon

Last time I looked you couldn't get 452s in 225/35/19 and 255/30/19. Perhaps that's changed now.

Reet, I thought you had a plan.

[booforty]

Seems you can't get the Falkens in 265/35/19

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by BigDman

With no space for a spare what are people doing if they get an unexpected flat tyres with non RFT's ?

Any new Honda / most toyotas / many others now come with no spare and non RFTs, so if its good enough for sensible honda its good enough for me!

The BMW mobility kit is a sure buy, with the jack kit too.

jack kit: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...00&hg=71&fg=95

mobility kit: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...34&hg=71&fg=95

Maybe splash out on the proper BMW spacesaver and keep it in the garage to put on if you need to wait for a new tyre to be delivered. (put it in the roof box when going on holiday!)

spacesaver http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...74&hg=36&fg=95

[xenon]

@ booforty ^^ the size you need is 265/30/19

[creepy coupe]

I have to say after slightly kerbing one of my fronts at the weekend, I would definitely go for something with rim protectors next time, as I found no damage after a heart stopping inspection

[G33]

Originally Posted by xenon

@ booforty ^^ the size you need is 265/30/19

boof has an M car, think he needs a 35 profile

[xenon]

Originally Posted by G33

boof has an M car, think he needs a 35 profile

Ah right - seems strange that the M has a taller profile than a none M.

[booforty]

Yeah M has 35 profile, strange I know!

[Hotcoupe]

I'm running Falken 452's - 235/35/19 (front) & 265/30/19 (rears)

Great tyres for the money.

Paul (Boof), you can get 275/35/19's (Falken) for the M, although you need to check regarding clearance (rubbing), I don't think you will have a problem though, as others are running 275's (on an E92 -non M) without a problem

Ian (xenon), Your right, you can't get 255/30/19 Falken 452's.

For a spare I chuck one of my 225's in the boot on longer journeys, with a E46 jack I got s/hand from Fabdirect (£15.00 if memory serves)

[Steve748]

I'm using non rft's at the moment, bought tyreweld, plug kit and compressor to repair tyre at the roadside. Think a jack may be useful as well.

[hmi1750]

Also ensure that when the car is serviced you check the tyre pressure after.

Mine is on no-RFTS and the fronts were at 42psi and the rears on 44psi (well the passenger side, the drivers side was on 36psi!

The dealer idiots must have just got distracted and not filled that last tyre.. and clearly didn't check if they were RFTs or not.

So I spent a week thinking the car was very harsh and could feel the lack of air in one tyre.. so I reduced them all to a more reasonable 37psi front and 39psi back. And loveing the handling.

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by hmi1750

Also ensure that when the car is serviced you check the tyre pressure after.

Mine is on no-RFTS and the fronts were at 42psi and the rears on 44psi (well the passenger side, the drivers side was on 36psi!

The dealer idiots must have just got distracted and not filled that last tyre.. and clearly didn't check if they were RFTs or not.

So I spent a week thinking the car was very harsh and could feel the lack of air in one tyre.. so I reduced them all to a more reasonable 37psi front and 39psi back. And loveing the handling.

what tyre size are you running mate? ....I've got 18inch wheels...and i've put 40psi for the fronts and 44psi for the rears...