Falken RT615K Tyre Review
I'd been told that the best bang-for-your-buck mod to improve lap times was better tyres - I didn't realise just how huge a difference they make until this week.
Coming from the Michelin Exaltos, which are pretty good for a road tyre, I didn't know what to expect with a street legal semi-slick.
I went with the Falken RT615K, in 215/40R17, based on recommendations and the excellent reputation of Falken Performance Tyres. As these tyres were made in japan i knew they would be top quality.
The first thing I love about these is the appearance. The Falkens are 10mm wider than the stock Exaltos and it really helps fill the wheel well, but without protruding. They don't look "wide" and in normal circumstances won't rub. The tread pattern looks more aggressive, it is obvious this is a fast street / track tyre.
First impressions driving on the road, there is no appreciable difference in noise, the steering might have felt a touch heavier but a subtle difference.
Get these rubber beasties in to a fast corner and under hard acceleration - my God these things have grip. Where I'd have wheel spin, understeer, or both, it held on to the road using some sort of black magic.
The real test was a track day at Marulan - conditions were ideal for the engine, but not so great for grip. It was cold, the track was a little bit icy, and most parts of Marulan don't get good sun. There were no other cars out, so the track wasn't being warmed by anyone else either.
A couple of warm up laps and THESE THINGS ARE FAST. I was able to hold speed in to and through corners that was hugely surprising. That 3rd gear corner before the back straight was problematic for me before - tyres squealing, chronic understeer, general unpleasantness and frustration - all gone. Braking was much more confident, I was able to get on the power earlier, and at a much greater slip angle than I could previously.
I really started noticing more my limitations as a driver (yep, I hit that apex way too early again) or of the car (yep, I could be putting down much more power out of that corner) rather than hanging on while speed was scrubbed off and the car went in to understeer again.
I was consistently doing 0:50s and made a best of 0:49:06, which is a general 1 and a half second improvement. I put this down nearly all to the tyres (i had made some minor suspension changes as well). In such a short track, that is a massive gain.
Back to the street again, and I've had the Falkens on for a few days now, including in heavy rain. No perceivable difference from a street-only tyre. Of course, if you're pushing it in the wet you're an idiot, but I didn't have to adjust my driving style at all for the rain. They felt very grippy in normal driving.
I've been very impressed with the RT615Ks, and will certainly be buying them again.
