Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
This is a non-directional tire with a silica based compound, and I have them mounted on the stock "Daisy" rims. They also have rotation indicators on them. I purchased these tires for daily driving use on my 1990 Miata on dry or wet roads. My driving style is mostly conservative, but occasionally spirited through twisty turns.
These were a recent purchase, so I can't provide feedback on wear. However, my first impression of these tires for handling is that they are very responsive with impressive grip. I am running them at 32psi for now and the ride is quiet and smooth. I had my alignment done at the same time of purchasing these tires, and there is no shimmy whatsoever. The car handles amazing even with old struts, and the car is completely stock. So far these seem to be a good tire for the early Miata.
Current alignment settings are: *FRONT* Camber -0.1, Caster 4.4, Toe 0.12, SAI 11.9, Included Angle 11.9, Cross Camber 0.1, Cross Caster 0.1, Cross SAI -0.5, Total Toe 0.26 *REAR* Camber -0.9, Toe 0.21, Cross Camber -0.1, Total Toe 0.40, Thrust Angle 0.01
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99-'05
Falken Ziex 912 195/50R-15
I decided to upgrade my 2000's 14" tires to 15" and was looking for a versatile tire on a budget. I drive fairly aggressively and use my car for pleasure. I couldn't believe the improvement the Falkens made over my old Dunlop Sports--better ride, more solid feel and less tread noise. I'd never had Falkens before, but reviews were very positive and I can see why.
I got these tires at Discount Tire for $62ea. You can't beat them for the money. While they're not an aggressive tire, they fit my overall needs, and I love the way they improved the feel of my Miata. I'd buy them again.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99-'05 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Falken Hanabi 15x7 light weight alloy wheels.
These wheels are great, they are light, not "uni-lug" and so far strong!! They were under $100 each and in the dark bronze finish against my 97 M's green paint look great!
Some people dont like that they are a directional spoke wheel but are only sold in one direction, so on one side of the car they look backwards, it doesn't bother me and no one has pointed it out in the 1+ year Ive been running them. The finish is great and so far have held up great.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '99-'05 1.8 liter
Falken ZE 912 205-45-16 tires
Have had them for about 200 miles and find them to be good riding, very quiet and they grip well within the needs of my driving style. They are used only for highway driving, mostly 2 lane curvey Ozark roads.
The tires only took 1/2 Oz to balance for three and one took 1 Oz. They look good and were a good dollar value. I'd buy another set without hesitation as well as I would recommend them to others.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '99-'05 1.8 liter
Falken Ziex ZE-512 195/50/R15 tires.
I've done about 2000 miles on these tires, which were mounted and balanced on new Chaparral rims from R-speed. At first, I thought there was a problem. After mounting the wheels and tires, the car pulled quite fiercely to the left under acceleration, and then pulled right under decelleration. A full 4-wheel alignment and chassis alignment revealed no problem with the car. However, after rotating the fronts to the rear, the problem has seemed to disappear. Miatas are sensitive to tires & alignment/balance issues, and my mechanic thinks there may be a tiny fault with one of the tires. For now, they are performing great. Aside from that, they have proven to be a pleasant surprise for the price. Fantastic wet weather performance, and impressive dry weather performance. Make no mistake, these tires are NOT Toyo T1-R's or Azenis in the dry. Don't try autocrossing on them. But for real world cost-effective everyday performance, they have certainly satisfied me (in spite of the problems I have had with them).
Great tire for the money, but not up to the standard of Toyo T1-R or Azenis.
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99-'05 '06+ 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
My experience with the Falken Azenis RT-615 has been amazing. Compared to the traction that was offered by my old Yokohama AVS ES-100's, the Azenis RT-615 are on a whole new level. The grip that they offer is almost unbelievable. I have not tried out the grip in wet conditions, but really, you will never be disappointed with the grip that they offer. Even in extremeley tight, "15 mph" corners they provide amazing grip that continues to blow my mind. Truly amazing and HIGHLY recommend these tires to any true enthusiast willing to deal with the stiffness and price, which was actually LESS than my smaller Yokohama ES100's! In addition to the amazing limits of adhesion that these offer, the breakaway is amazingly predictable which makes me very comfortable pushing my car.
Buy the Falken Azenis RT-615, and you will not be disappointed. They look awesome, and would guess that they outperform any tire that is not an R-compound. My car is lowered with the Eibach pro-kit springs and they have never rubbed. They are mounted to 15x6.5 Konig Heliums at +40 (stock) offset. Get them. :)
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Falken Azenis Sport TR-215 & 615 tires are aimed at the intersection of high performance tires and R-compound DOT legal race tires. Miatas can rarely heat up large tires enough to benefit from tires wider than 185 for the 1.6, 195 for the 1.8, and 205 for more recent and higher powered cars.
These are far harsher than regular street tires, and noisier than all but mud tires (on a Miata?) They grip better than all high performance street tires. They last longer on my (near spec) 90 Miata than any street tires [28K miles C/W about 20K for most street tires] on a car which goes to about 4 driving schools / year as an instructor car.
The new RT-615 tires are quieter, and handle standing water better than the older design. They are slightly more expensive but still a bargain if you want cornering performance. Club driving school instructors have taken to these to avoid hauling tires to the track.
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
195/60-H14 all season performance tires
Very Very nice tires for the $$ I got mine through Edge Racing for $35 each plus $30 for shipping.. I use them on my winter wheels "stock 99 Enkei" 14". I had bought some really really cheap Kumho's through the tire rack that were dangerous on a car this light! The Falkens are by far the smoothest, most quiet tire I’ve used on any of my Miatas to date. The wet grip is great, dry grip is great and I had them out in 4" of snow with no problems at all. I actually was very surprised at how well they did! I will buy these again!~
Very Very Very good tire for the $$.. You really cannot go wrong with these if you are looking for a good all around performance tire! Quiet, good looks and great handling! Not a true performance tire but for most people and daily drivers these cannot be beat for the $$! I almost forgot to mention that they balanced perfectly with very little weight!!!
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Falken Ziex ZE-512 185/60 14 All-season, high performance tires
These Tires provide excellent characteristics in wet and dry driving. Outstanding grip. Very little,if any road noise and reduced harshness from road iregularities.I am completely satisfied with these tires.They have enhanced my Miata's cornering ability to the point that I can now feel the car leaning.(Suspension upgrades to be looked into!). On hard corners they break away, oversteer, in a very predictable manner.Unfoutunately the grip is of such a high standard that it exposes the lack of torque from my 1.6 engine and I have to really push to induce an oversteer situation. My only critizism is the overly soft sidewall on the 14 inch tire.I wanted to use the stock Miata alloys and found very little options for a performance all-season tire.These tires are "H" rated. This is likely not a problem on the 15 inch or larger Z rated tires? Playing with tire pressures has reduced the roll from the side wall but I have increased it beyond the Miata's design spec. Over all an excellent value. My cost was $440 Cnd. installed balanced and roadside warranty included.The 14 inch tires also have a 100,000 km. prorated wear warranty from Falken.Incredible!
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Zeix 512 Size 195/60/14
New Set with approx 2000 miles. Very Smooth Ride, excellent Grip Wet and Dry on the Dragon and Cherohala plus others during MATG IX. Previously had used set with approx 20K and put at least 10k more on before switching to new.
At cost of $40.00 with Road Hazard Warranty, will be very hard to beat. Will have to wait to see what it does with snow, but should handle light snow ok. Will definitely purchase again.
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
I had the tires for a week now. I take my car to the mountains and canyons and the tires will not let go. They have excellent dry traction. I haven't been able to test them in the rain yet. I purchased them from a local motorsport shop for $50/tire. Mount and balance for an extra $50. I love the tires and when they wear I WILL get them again
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Stiff sidewalled unidirectional tire.
Exceptional grip on dry road, and not too shabby in the rain, either. They do, however, tend to hydroplane in standing water, possibly because they're a big footprint on such a light car. I have 8000 mi on them and the fronts have worn more than the rears, even with regular rotations. I got them online for $63 ea., which is a great price for this quality tire. They're a bit noisy, but man, do they grip. Very predictable in dry and wet, but not in standing water as above. Stay out of the snow with 'em, too. I can pull over 1g on them all day until I'm dizzy, and they just hang in there.
They're a great improvement over stock, and with coilovers and heavy sways, they're a perfect match. I run them at 28psi all around. Pretty tough on frost heaves and squirrels in the road.I will buy another set when these wear out.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Falken Ziex ZE-512 185/60 14 All-season, high performance tires
I have had these tires on my car for two days now and I am totally taken back on how smooth they ride. Very little road noise if any at all. The tires I had on before you junk tires that started to dry rot. The tires are directional, with deep tread grooves to shed water. Haven't had the chance to drive in the rain yet, that will be the big test. Main reason I got new tires in the first place, cause I couldn't drive in the rain worth a damn with the old tires. If you are looking for a smooth ride, quiet ride and a nice looking tire on top of all of that, I would suggest the Falken Ziex ZE-512.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Falken Azenis mounted on 14" OEM "flower" 7 spokes. Tires are nearly new and picked them up for a great deal (Thanks Terry!)
I've had the tires on for about 3 days now, and wow what a difference. I found an ad in the classifieds section for these and theyre great on my '99! The difference is phenomenal, its just what my Miata needed! Theyre grippy in the dry, decent in the wet (almost useless in pools of water). They are a bit noisy but nothing unbearable. I will definitely buy more sets in the future!
Great Product, does exactly what it was intended to do: Grip ! Will buy again, cant beat nearly 200 shipped to your door for a set of 4!
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '99 + 1.8 liter
ZX-512's are all season, high performance (H rated) tire replacements for M2's. They can be purchased online for $57 each (May, 04) or in my case mounted, balanced, taxed, etc for $76 each in Raleigh.
The OE tires on my Miata were the Toyo Proxes. They featured excellent dry traction and due to their V speed rating a stiff sidewall for great handling. Interstate cloverleafs sweepers at 60+ mph were the order of the day. The bad news was traction in the snow was non-existent and the ride was a bit harsh. Since my 'fleet' has no 'snow queens', after 17,000 miles the Toyos had to go. After several hundred miles with the Falkens I can report the following: 1. Ride comfort and noise is improved. 2. Dry traction and handling are reduced. That Interstate cloverleaf sweeper is now at 50-55 mph due to the softer sidewall. It feels like the back-end wants to step out. 3. Examination of the tread and other reviews indicate that snow traction will be there - we'll see how much.
If your Miata is not a 'snow queen' and your driving style is not 'full bore', Falken Ziex ZX-512's are a medium priced alternative. If you are a hard core handling junkie (and I must admit, I really love those high speed sweepers), stick with a V rated tire and get a set of winter tires and rims.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
A high performance all season tire in OEM size.
I installed these tires in 1999 (see review below) and put 48000 miles on them. I was very pleased with them and all my original comments still apply. I add these notes: - Given the high traction and 30000 mile warranty I did not expect them to last so long. I did drive them at or above their limit fairly often. - In the last 3000-5000 miles the traction in the wet was very poor, and not so great in the dry. I should have replaced them at 40000. - I let the alignment go out and "cupped" them causing increased noise, mostly when the top's up. My fault totally. - I never did use them in the snow but I doubt they would really perform well as an "all season" tire.
Although Falken still lists these on their web site I found them to be unavailable, at least in the OEM size. I would buy them again if I could. I recently replaced them with a set of Goodyear Eagle GT HR. Will review the Eagles as soon as I have more miles on them.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Falken Azenis 195/60/14 tires on a stock 90 miata.
The Azenis is an great value in tires for the agressive driver. I autocross and enjoy spirited drives in the Texas hill country. They have plenty of grip (I am used to the Yoko AVSi) on a wide variety of road surfaces. I have no experience with rain yet, but on dry pavement they are equal to a set of AVSi's with a few heat cycles. They seem to have a bit more compliant ride than the AVSI and less road noise. I purchased mine at a local Discount Tire store and the cost was $285.00 mounted and balanced.
Given the performance level, I think the Azenis is an unbeatable value. We'll see how they hold up...
Not an installed item
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Falkens version of a truely sticky rubber, while keeping it DOT legal.
Got them at edgeracing.com for about $250 shipped in a 195/60R14 sizing for the stock alloy wheels I have on currently. Your probably looking at $300 to have them on with the installation of balancing. If you plan on having them fit in your NA without someone helping you to get them mounted and balanced that day, then be aware it will be smelling like fresh rubber. I stuffed all four tires in there, 2 in the passenger seat and 2 in the back of the seats. You'll be squashed in there is your a 5'7 160 lb. human being ;). Once they were on I made sure of the PSI and had them set at 35 all around. Took it out to one of my favorite corners near home, and no slipping at all. About 1.5 months later they are still set at 35 psi cold, and just a tad bit of slipping, but maybe it's me who is trying harder to make them slip. Overall the tread is still going good right now. Even my water traction has improved over my old Federals.
If you want to have fun, and not worry of slippy off the road or losing control on a tight corner, then get some. They're only $41 a piece. I made a Jag owner cry when he heard of that price, as his big 18" wheels cost a fortune on rubber. Go get some, and just have fun. Also good to have an extra $300 on the side just in case the fun runs out :D.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
High performance street and autocross tire.
I picked up my Azenis sized P195/60R14 for $52/ea including shipping from Discount Tire Direct. They were the same price after shipping from Vulcan Tire, but DTD had them in stock and ready to go. They are phenomenal tires on dry asphalt, with awesome grip, great sidewall stiffness, and they look damn cool. In other conditions they can get rather sketchy. They're much more prone to hydroplaning and grip levels are severely reduced when the road is wet. I've unintentionally broken them loose into moderate oversteer on a few wet exit ramps before. Also, while moving slowly up a hill in a grass parking lot I had some major traction issues. I had to lug my car in 1st gear to get up the hill without tearing up the grass. I don't mean to imply that these tires are dangerous in anything other than ideal conditions...they're not. You just need to be less agressive than you normally would with a change in surface.
Overall, I'm very pleased with these tires. They do wear rather fast, but if I can get 10k miles out of them, including a several autocrosses, then I'll be more than satisfied. At $52 each I can afford to buy a new set every year. Reccomended if you want enourmous grip out of a street tire in limited conditions.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
The Tires are Gorgeous, i Ordered 205/15 from Tire.com and they look beastly on the miata.
Great traction!! Low Noise compared to my all seasons
Will Buy AGAIN!
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Falken Azenis Tires 215/45-16
I installed a set of Falken Azenis on MOMO Sport wheels size 16" x 7 1/2". Immediately I noticed the traction was an improvement over previous brands (Yoko A520 and Kumho Ecsta). After 500 miles of aggressive highway driving the grip improved. I now have 14k miles on them, still a good amount of tread wear, maybe another 5k(?) I run them at 26psi on a 96 JRSC Miata, no autocross or track driving, more canyon carving style. Wet weather driving has been limited but earlier experiences with full tread provided good wet traction. These are the grippiest street tires I have ever owned. At the price I am prepared to buy a new set every year just to keep that smile on my face. In fact, I just purchased another set to be installed probably by late spring when the current ones are finished.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
A/R 185, on 14" OEM alloys--'91 NA
I cannot compare the noise level. (The original tire "assortment" included a studs-removed retread and THREE OTHER DIFFERENT makes of tires, for heavens sake!!!) Compared to THEM, these tires are like floating on a cloud! Interestingly, the 65mph shake disappeared--immediately at install. Imagine that......(and see above!) Let me be very clear: I did not buy these as performance rubber. I do not autocross or race on them. These are on a commuter. I wanted a set of tires that I could rely on not to go flat--that's all. However, I really like them! They are sticky enough for my stock suspension in any weather. Yes, the sidewalls are softer than a perfomance tire. Yes, the rubber compound is likely harder than a performance tire. But they are ABSOLUTELY predictable--all the time.
I LOVE these tires! I wanted a basic "all season" tire--these are perfect. I'm likely to buy another set. They stick when I need them to, slide when I want them to, and have no bad habits that bug me. Depending on the service offered by the tire shop, these can be a real bargain. I bought from Les Schwab (they have great service--and will replace things WAY beyond the call--IMHO--but they will also try to sell you a new battery pretty regularly!) I have @ 1500 miles commuting on them now--in dry and HEAVY Oregon Coast Range rains. I LOVE the rain perfomance--zero hydroplaning. Very confidence inspiring. In the dry, there is nothing bad to report either. It has not yet snowed or been icy--I'll try to update when it does (it's rare for my area to get anything but nasty freezing rain).
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
205/50VR/15 Ziex ZE326 All Season Blackwall
I purchased these tires after replacing my Original Bridgestones and an attempt at a Remington tire. I had the Falkens on my car for a total of 5 minutes. That's all it took to realize that I already have a boat, and I certainly don't need to try and turn my 96 Limited Miata into another one. Mushy, Soft, and Boating around any corner. Do not equip your Miata with these tires.
I switched to a Pirelli 700 Z. The Pirelli's don't seem to be any better than the original Bridgestones, but at least I got a great deal on them.
Not an installed item
Applicable to '90 - '97 '99 +
Falken Ziex H rated
I sent in a product review last month that needs to be rethought. I said the tires went from quiet to very noisy. I found that I had an alignment problem causing uneven tire wear thereby causing my noise problem.
My appologies to anyone that I may have misled. My appologies also go to Falken Tires, they were very cooperative with me in the diagnosis of the tire noise I was experiencing.
Not an installed item
Applicable to 1.8 liter
Falken ZIEX ZE-502 205-60/14" Tires
I was looking for a low cost/high performance tire. I found these falkens to be a good buy. I was going to be auto-xing on them and wanted to give them a try. If anything, there were cheap enough to burn up on auto-x. I got them from a local shop and my friend mounted them for free. (thanks!) I got them put on, mounted on my car for $185 total. My first ride with them on, it was pouring rain very hard. A huge downfall. My car only hydroplaned 3 times in very deep run-off over a 60 mile trip and then back home. Even today it was pouring rain, and I was wondering why everyone was frenzied over it. These tires gave me a great confidence in the ability to grip in wet conditions. I have used them twice on the weekends for auto-x. The first times I raced I got 2nd place out of 14 entrants.
I am really pleased with the quality of tire I got for my money. I would recommend these tires highly. Better than other similar tires I've tried. These were even less in price and of the same, if not better quality.
Not an installed item
Applicable to '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
H rated OEM sized tire- all season high performance
20,000 miles the tires have hardly any wear. the first 10000 miles - completly satisfied. after 10K miles they started to increase in noise until now they almost unbearable to ride with. I am considering about anything else. I like the ride and they wonderful in the rain. they are just deafening.
I don't recommend them because they went from silent to very outspoken.
Bought the tires (Falken Zeix) at NTB in Virginia - good price and looks. They did have a 30 day ride guarantee and came in around $59 each. $320 installed with puncture insurance (4 tires).
Great grip on dry road. I have not driven them in snow yet - though I expect to pretty soon. My major concern is wet handling - Under heavy first gear and second gear acceleration these tires have a tendency to spin-out. This happens on tarmac'ed city streets.
My only advice is to test them well in the 30 day period if you choose them. Otherwise I consider them a good buy for the cash.
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
A high performance all season tire in OEM size.
Features:
- originally designed for high speed V and Z ratings, now in H rated sizes
- a purposeful, square sholdered look
- large, deep tread blocks
- "V" formation tread to promote water evacuation
- central ribs for continuous road contact
- a tread pattern randomly shaped to reduce noise
- high-tech dual compound rubber
- jointless belt and bead to improve roundness
- construction claimed to produce a lighter tire
- none of those little siping cuts needed on "sedan" tires
I purchased the Falkens at National Tire and Battery in Maplewood MN. The $54 price was competitive with the "sedan" alternatives. I made sure they understood the Miata's need for perfect wheel balance.
My impressions of the Ziex after 1000+ miles:
- a very quiet tire, the silence is almost eerie
- no 65 mph shimmy, completely gone!
- great ride, blends the smoothness of a touring tire with the stiffness of
a performance tire
- improved dry cornering, I experience more body lean now, indicating higher
cornering speeds
- very predictable at and above the limit
- much improved wet grip
My red '93 has factory alloys and (had) a mild case of 65 mph shimmy. The only modification is an aftermarket front chassis brace. I decided on tires with the original equipment size and speed rating to preserve the Miata's finely balanced handling. I wanted a "modern" high performance tire, one using the latest in tread design, rubber compound, and construction. Most of the tires available in the stock spec are ancient designs meant for sedans. The rest are near-racing models which have a very shallow tread, high wear characteristics, and greater potential for hydroplaning.
In all, I'm more than pleased with my selection. I'd rate the ZE502 very highly for use on a Miata.
A high performance tire that is M @ S rated, with VR and ZR speed ratings.
I bought a set of the Falkens when I changed my stock wheels to MSW Type 33 16". Oddly enough I haven't seen many Miata owners got to 16", but these worked out well. The tires are 205/45ZR16, and are slightly bigger than stock diameter. They do make many other sizes (including 15" models) and are reasonably priced. At the shop I bought them from they were about 150.00 a piece. Not too cheap, but well worth it. The stock Bridgestones I had were horrible in the rain with many near spins during regular driving! Being in MD, I encounter rough weather all year round with its erratic weather patterns. these tires have worked extremely well through all the conditions and I have been very happy.
I tend to drag race my car (yes, DRAG RACE) a lot. These tires hook up incredibly well even when dumping the clutch at 4500 rpm. I also am a spirited driver in the corners, and using a G-Tech meter I have recorded .95 g's consistantly through corners with little squeal or loss of grip from the tires (also have Eibach lowering springs and Tokico HP shocks). For all around performance I would highly recommend looking into the Falken's (it is a division of Dunlop as well....) tire line.
| Back to Product Reviews | 12 August, 2012 |
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