Falken 512 vs Kumho ASX

[pappaf2]

Well I popped a kumho 711 (came on it when I bought it) yesterday so I need some new tires. I was planning on getting something all season rated. It doesn't snow where I live but I drive up into the mountains to go snow boarding during the winter, so something that has decent snow/ice traction is a plus. If it gets really bad snow there will be chain controls in effect so getting a set of snow tires isn't worth it.
After searching for a while it seems most people seem to like the Falken 512's and more often then not people seem to be happy with the kumho ASX.
If I get the falkens I'll go 205/50x16 -$94 (discount tire)
If I get kumhos I'll just get the 195/50x16 -$79 (discount tire)
Price difference is about $15 a tire between the two.
Which of these will last longer? No sense in spending less on the kumho if they don't last as long as the falken.
I plan on getting both at discount tire so I can get a replacement warrenty. (I am hard on stuff sometimes (doh) )
Thanks

 

[Matrix]

If you want my opinion, get the Falken 912 instead of the 512.
The 912 is the longer-lasting replacement to the 512.
I only got about 20k out of my set of 512 tires and I was supposed to get 30k. Most people have similar complaints. It's a great tire while it lasts, though.

 

[pappaf2]

If you want my opinion, get the Falken 912 instead of the 512.
The 912 is the longer-lasting replacement to the 512.
I only got about 20k out of my set of 512 tires and I was supposed to get 30k. Most people have similar complaints. It's a great tire while it lasts, though.

I haven't seen much info on the 912's. The tread looks quite abit different, I wonder if it would still have as good wet/snow/ice traction as the 512.

Strangely I now that I've gon back to check the prices at discount tires, they are not the prices I wrote down. Either I am crazy or they changed them...(hand)

 

[Matrix]

I haven't seen much info on the 912's. The tread looks quite abit different, I wonder if it would still have as good wet/snow/ice traction as the 512.

Strangely I now that I've gon back to check the prices at discount tires, they are not the prices I wrote down. Either I am crazy or they changed them...(hand)

Yeah, I thought there was a big difference in tread patterns also. Nonetheless, Falken is hailing the 912 as the replacement to the 512, of which they have ceased (or are ceasing) production.

Not just that, but the sidewall ratings are different as well. The 512's have a sidewall rating of 87 (softer) whereas the 912's have a sidewall rating of 91 (stiffer).

Go figure. (scratch)

Anyway, I'll be buying a set of 4 Falken 912's this September. I hope they last longer than the 512's. That stiffer sidewall rating makes me think I might lose a little bit of ride comfort, though.

 

[zoom 79gc]

i had kumho's on my car already and just bought some falken 452 about a month back, i much more prefer the falkens to them !!!!!!

 

[theEZV]

i have the asx's on my car now. i like them

 

[pappaf2]

i have the asx's on my car now. i like them

Hows the tread wear? That is the biggest complaint I've heard about them.

 

[JoshP5]

I have 512s--awesome in wet, decent in dry and snow. Rim protection ridge works well but makes them look a little goofy, though. I'll do ASX or 912s next. They're on opposite sides of the A/S spectrum, though.

Why do you need A/S tires in the bay area?

 

[pappaf2]

I have 512s--awesome in wet, decent in dry and snow. Rim protection ridge works well but makes them look a little goofy, though. I'll do ASX or 912s next. They're on opposite sides of the A/S spectrum, though.

Why do you need A/S tires in the bay area?

What makes the ASX and 512/912 on opposite ends of the spectrum?
True in the bay area you don't really need a all season tire. It does rain pretty good in the winter, I want a tire I feel comfortable about cruising the freeway in a downpour. With the 711's I could feel the tires loosing grip (tiny hydroplaining) a bit changing lanes in a heavy down pour. Plus I go snowboarding up in the Sierra (Lake Tahoe area) and even when there is know real snow on the road I want a tire that will have some traction coming accross the ice, slush, etc thats is on the road. If it is snowing enough they'll have chain controls up so it doesn't really make sense to get a set of summer tires and a set of winter tires.

I just want a tire that is versitle.
Do you have another tire you'd recomend?

 

[JoshP5]

ASX has a lot of fine grooves which grip on snow and ice. 912 has almost solid circumferential strips which are better suited for dry performance. Like a previous poster, I also wonder how well it does in the snow. But it only snows here a few times a winter so I'm willing to risk it.

You might also consider the Toyo Proxes 4. They're A/S, I heard they're very good in dry and wet, not as good in snow.

 

[pappaf2]

ASX has a lot of fine grooves which grip on snow and ice. 912 has almost solid circumferential strips which are better suited for dry performance. Like a previous poster, I also wonder how well it does in the snow. But it only snows here a few times a winter so I'm willing to risk it.

You might also consider the Toyo Proxes 4. They're A/S, I heard they're very good in dry and wet, not as good in snow.

SO it sounds like maybe the 912 will be a better tire for my needs.
What bout these options?
Kumho Ecsta SPT
Kumho Ecsta AST
Yokohama YK520

 

[pappaf2]

From reading around it seems like most of these high performance all seasons have at least some complaints about them wearing to quickly. It seems around 30,000 is all I can realistically expect from any of these tires. I am starting to look more at the Kumho AST. They have a great price and most all the reviews I have seen have been positive. The Falken 912's still seem like a good tire, but they have not been out long so I am somewhat worried about their longevity. I don't mid dropping the $100 extra for the 912's if I knew they were going to last a good bit longer than the Kumhos.
Just spouting off my thoughts. (direct)

 

[Simply Silver]

My vote would be for the Kumho AST. I have them on my car currently in 205/45/17 size. Great tire for the price. I read bad reviews on the Falkens when I was looking. But some of the reviews on Tire Rack/ Discount Tire or useless, Some people reviews say some tires are great and then other people say that the same tires are horrible.

 

[ProFiver]

I'm looking to replace tires too...Falken 512 n 912 look like good tires. a lot of people do say the 512 doesn't wear as well as its rated for....

Vulcan has the Falken 912 for $83 / tire
http://www.vulcantire.com

DiscountTireDirect has it for $97 / tire

Tirerack doesn't even carry the Falken brand

anyone know where else to get tires?

 

[Simply Silver]

Just another side note, I falken on my F250 and a band broke inside the tire on my way back from vacation. Never hit any real bump anything to cause it, Poor quaility(dunno)

Tirerack doesn't even carry the Falken brand

anyone know where else to get tires?

There is probably a reason why.

 

[JoshP5]

Sucks you had a bad experience, but one isolated incident doesn't make for poor quality. s*** happens.

You can get good prices on Falken tires at www.edgeracing.com. I noticed 205/45-16 is cheaper than the more popular 195/50 and 205/50 sizes, so if you need to save some cash it might be better to go with 205/45s.

EDIT: you can also go to www.falkentire.com and click on "locate dealers".

 

[pappaf2]

Well I got a set of Kumho AST 205/50x16 this morning. Thanks to all who had suggestions. I'll try to remember to add some feedback to this thread after I put some miles on them.

 

[zoomzoom 333]

Got a Mazda Protege5 2002.. finally the Dunlop stock tires are off ( did get 71,000 kms on them tho) and purchased the Falken Ze 912 yesterday.. definaly a quieter ride.. smoother.. so far so good.. Got them due to the many great reviews of the 512's..(the gread dry/wet handling) but with the improved tread life, then i think we are gonna have some fun driving.

Did look at the Michelin Pilot Exalo A/S, the Toyo Proxes 4 too, but one was super expensive and the other i heard sucked in snow. I need good snow traction if we get a freak snow fall here in Vancouver like we did a couple of yrs ago. Will Keep u posted. (drive2)

 

[JoshP5]

Thanks for posting about the 912s--I'll be interested to hear your take on them in the future. No doubt they're better than the stock tires, they suck badly.

And welcome to the forum!

 

[Rotary_Powered]

Has anyone used Sumitomo HTR 200s?

BTW: http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/home.do Good place for cheap falken tires.