Falken Ziex ZE-512 opinions

[RyanDunn]

I am getting tires this weekend and was wondering what ya'll think of these for my SVT. I live up in the mountains of NC, visit the dragon on occasion and drive pretty hard but am on a pretty tight budget. These come with a $50 rebate so im liking them quite a bit.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireDetail.do?rc=NCRINT&yr=2003&cf=false&c=2&s w=false&pc=28750&tc=FALHZ7&rf=true&cs=215&dVeh=dVe h&rd=17&vid=007964&ar=45



My other option is

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireDetail.do?rc=NCRINT&yr=2003&cf=false&c=2&s w=false&pc=28210&tc=DUNHZK&rf=true&cs=215&dVeh=dVe h&rd=17&vid=007964&ar=45

or

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireDetail.do?rc=NCRINT&yr=2003&cf=false&c=2&s w=false&pc=28713&tc=FALHZ6&rf=true&cs=215&dVeh=dVe h&rd=17&vid=007964&ar=45

[sleeperlove]

I have heard awful things about the 512s Handling wise.

I have haerd some good things about the St115s

and I don't know anything about the dunlops

[brads03zx3]

The 512 tires have a discount for a reason. They have been discontinued and replaced with the 912. I am happy that my ziex 512 tires are finally done. They are good for the freeway, and that's about it. I didn't like their dry traction, I didn't like their wet traction, and they were noisy, I just didn't like them.

I have liked my BFG g-force sports. I have liked my Nitto NT555 set. I have gotten decent mileage out of them even with a bit of abuse. I am getting ready to mount a set of Yokohama Avid H4S all seasons, but these will be for commuting. I plan to get ~50k miles out of those bad boys.

[MichaelXi]

Another "HELL NO!" for the 512's.
I Know the Dragon.
I would NEVER take 512's there unless it was to drive Grandma through at Her Pace.
I've HAD Them, and HATED Them.
They are Very Unpredictable.
The depth of their Circumferential Grooves makes the tires VERY "Squirmy" (No Matter How much you do with Air Pressure). Despite the depth of those grooves, Hydroplaning Resistance is only Average.
The Two "Commuter/Touring/ Mountains of East TN and West NC" All-Season options that I would recommend are the BFGoodrich Traction T/A-V and the Pirelli P-Zero Nero M+S.
The Pirellis Handle at Least 3 times Better than the 512's AND they Last as long or longer.
The BFGs are about 2.5 times as good as the 512's, with ever-so-slightly longer life.
There are More Expensive Options, and there are Less Expensive Options, but To ME, for What it sounds like you Want, they Are the Perfect Blend of Price/Performance/Mileage/All-Season.
They cost a little more than the 512's, but the difference is Negligible Compared to the Difference in Performance.
They Aren't Snow Tires, but they'll do in the Light to Average Stuff.
Sorry I can't say anything about your other two posted options, but I feel Strongly about my Recommendations for your roads.

[bustonit]

General Exclaim UHP's are the best cheap tire out there. They also have a $50 visa gift card rebate.

[SVTADAM]

I have run the 512s and the ST115s. I thought the ST115 was replaced by the 512, and that got replaced by the 912.

If you can get the ST115s, I have to say though they wore pretty fast for my liking. They were decent tires. Very quiet compared to the stock Continentals. I woulnt drive them as all seasons though.

I am on the fence about the 512s. They lasted me a while, but I didnt drive them hard...except one autox. I was unimpressed. Most driving was highway, or spirited fun. I would shy away from them since they are discontinued. If you get a bad tire, and need one replaced...it will turn into a mismatched set for you in the end.

[rosko311]

if you want handling and dont mind how long they last get the st115. if you want good drivability, a quiet smooth ride at the expense of a little bit of handling get the 912. go to the discount tire store on ebay for the best deal from discount tire on these.

[RyanDunn]

Originally Posted by rosko311

if you want handling and dont mind how long they last get the st115. if you want good drivability, a quiet smooth ride at the expense of a little bit of handling get the 912. go to the discount tire store on ebay for the best deal from discount tire on these.

I would get them online but i would really just rather go get them and an alignment after i get the suspention put on the car...The general's are a good option i will have to look into those. Any other suggestions around that price range would be appriciated. Thanks for everyone's help and ideas

[rosko311]

Discount Tire doesnt do alignments so you'd have to go elsewhere anyways for that. Just a thought. I mean I got my 912s for my SVT off of the ebay store for 300 shipped and that was before I worked there.

[MichaelXi]

Both the BFG's and the Pirelli's are Worth the Difference, ESPECIALLY if you'll ever take them on the Twisties Such As the Dragon.

[RyanDunn]

Originally Posted by rosko311

Discount Tire doesnt do alignments so you'd have to go elsewhere anyways for that. Just a thought. I mean I got my 912s for my SVT off of the ebay store for 300 shipped and that was before I worked there.

Did you say you worked at Discount tire?!

[MichaelXi]

Originally Posted by RyanDunn

Did you say you worked at Discount tire?!

I Re-Read and I didn't See it...

Either way, it's the modern version of working at Sears' Tire Center.

[rosko311]

i do work at discount tire and no its not the modern version of a Sears. I've worked for both companys and Discount Tire is light years ahead of the tire business as Sears is as far as employees go. Sears will do what ever you want to a car as long as its what they recommend. Discount Tire will do what ever you want as long as the tires are bald or dangerous. But anyway I digress, to answer your question i do work at discount tire. and I'd go with the 912s and if you wanna see how they ride and handle on a SVT Ryan, come by the store in wake forest when you come down to get your kit put on and you can make your decision from that.

[RyanDunn]

so i was looking around and found these

potenza re760 sport

[Zx311]

I had the 512....terrible tread wear and life....wouldnt buy them again...and def not that great grip..

[RyanDunn]

well i thank ya'll for the help i did end up getting the General UHP's and they are working out really well so far

I just hope i dont torch them down in 20k like my last set of tires

[RyanDunn]

Originally Posted by rosko311

i do work at discount tire and no its not the modern version of a Sears. I've worked for both companys and Discount Tire is light years ahead of the tire business as Sears is as far as employees go. Sears will do what ever you want to a car as long as its what they recommend. Discount Tire will do what ever you want as long as the tires are bald or dangerous. But anyway I digress, to answer your question i do work at discount tire. and I'd go with the 912s and if you wanna see how they ride and handle on a SVT Ryan, come by the store in wake forest when you come down to get your kit put on and you can make your decision from that.

I wish i would of saw this before i got my tires put on...I would of definatly came to your shop but i ended up going to the one almost in Downtown i guess...not real keen on the are my gf told me how to get there.

[brads03zx3]

Originally Posted by Zx311

I had the 512....terrible tread wear and life....wouldnt buy them again...and def not that great grip..

That's surprising. I don't drive like a maniac on the road, but I got 2 track days, 15 autocross runs, and about 40k miles out of my tires. I pretty much hated them from day one. They behaved nicely on the freeway though which is where I do 75% of my driving. I still didn't like them though.

[jerkeesvt]

HORRIBLE tread wear!

They were very unassuring in any condition, and I will NEVER buy junk like these again! For the money($66 a piece), I guess you get what you pay for.

Got Eagle F1 all seasons now, and they are sweet!

Get anything but the 512's!

[hatched]

I've owned three sets of 512s and currently have 912s on my Yaris (we also currently have the 512s on our Civic).

Granted, i haven't put a lot of miles on any of the sets before selling (less than 10,000), but I was always happy with them as an all-season daily-driver tire. Quiet, decent handling, and affordable.

I'd buy them over the crap-tastic Kumho ASTs I had on my Yaris for a while. Just my two cents.

[focuspl99]

too much hating for the 512's

i had them and can say they are fine for a "daily drivable" tire

obviously you have to pay more to play harder

[MichaelXi]

Originally Posted by focuspl99

too much hating for the 512's

i had them and can say they are fine for a "daily drivable" tire

obviously you have to pay more to play harder

Not Really.
They SUCK ASS Plain and Simple.
There is SO MUCH Void in those Circumferential grooves that even a MILDLY Spirited Backroads drive is akin to trying to play basket ball on a polished wooden court in brand new turf cleats.
Pumped to Ridiculous Air Pressure, they are TOLERABLE.
There are many better tires for the money, and for only a small bit more money you can have MUCH Better tires.
I Refuse to buy "High Dollar" Tires, as I cannot afford them and I can have so much for reasonable money. I'm not being elitist in my Complete Dissatisfaction with the 512's. It's not about price, it's about "Bang For The Buck".

[rosko311]

the 912s are leaps and bounds over the 512s they are replacing. granted there are better tires out there for more money but the 912s are the best tire ive put on my car yet.

[MichaelXi]

Originally Posted by rosko311

the 912s are leaps and bounds over the 512s they are replacing. granted there are better tires out there for more money but the 912s are the best tire ive put on my car yet.

Depending on the price, I might Give them a chance on my wife's stock '03 ZTS and check them out.
They HAD TO be Better. The 512's were only decent once they were over 1/2 worn down, and they NEVER had the Hydroplane Resistance that their DEEP Circumferential Grooves Implied.
If the price is right, I'm willing to use my wife's car as a guinea pig.

[RyanDunn]

yeah i dont know about these things but the generals i got work pretty good...i still think the Kuhmo's i had awhile back were my best tire yet but they didnt have the rebate