Combination of reasons, but must admit never having even seen a Falken tyre
;-(
First of all, all cars are set up by the factory to a certain tyre, and
Falken is certainly NEVER been used by Alfa.
Traditionally, Alfa's are set up to Michelin, Pirelli and Goodyear, although
(mainly in the lesser powered modells) they also put Firestone (brrrrr) on
the cars.
Secondly, the test further down in this thread, is for an 18" tyre size.
Don't make the mistake many people make by thinking that all other sizes are
equally good or bad. Not only the type/modell is important, but within a
type/modell the various sizes are important as well as is the period they
are made. A 2004 production tyre may well be quite different than the 2005
one because of small design/production changes.
Thirdly, search i.e. Google for tests of tyres. You will find many many
sites with "independent" tyre tests that include user comments. The referred
test above is published on the Falken website; they will hardly publish a
test with bad results. What I have found about the FK451 is almost for 100%
for 17"/18" and 235 and wider and not for your size. And the tests show it
to be a middle of the road tyre with very few users that would buy the tyre
again!!
When comparing, try to get testresults made with front drive high HP cars
like the 2.5V6. Don't bother looking at a test featuring rear wheel drive
M*** of B** when you want to compare handling, comfort etc. You may compare
them for noise, wear and comparison in respect to aquaplaning and braking
(wet/dry)
Forthly, it does matter how you drive. If you drive like my 93 year old
neighbour, get some cheap covers. Good enough. When you think you're Michael
Schumacher, do your self a favor and go for a good tyre. But think of it
this way, even the best tyre is the best because of a combination of factors
in relation to another tyre as well as in relation to the way yuo use them.
So if you live in a Mediterenean area, why bother comparing tyres on
aquaplaning and braking in the wet; go for the best "dry" tyre. But never
let you decision be based on price. Even the most expensive tyre (i.e.
Michelin) will cost you very little per mile and when you compare the price
per mile, the cheapest tyre may well be more expensive than the Michelin!!

Combination of reasons, but must admit never having even seen a Falken tyre
;-(
First of all, all cars are set up by the factory to a certain tyre, and
Falken is certainly NEVER been used by Alfa.
Traditionally, Alfa's are set up to Michelin, Pirelli and Goodyear, although
(mainly in the lesser powered modells) they also put Firestone (brrrrr) on
the cars.
Secondly, the test further down in this thread, is for an 18" tyre size.
Don't make the mistake many people make by thinking that all other sizes are
equally good or bad. Not only the type/modell is important, but within a
type/modell the various sizes are important as well as is the period they
are made. A 2004 production tyre may well be quite different than the 2005
one because of small design/production changes.
Thirdly, search i.e. Google for tests of tyres. You will find many many
sites with "independent" tyre tests that include user comments. The referred
test above is published on the Falken website; they will hardly publish a
test with bad results. What I have found about the FK451 is almost for 100%
for 17"/18" and 235 and wider and not for your size. And the tests show it
to be a middle of the road tyre with very few users that would buy the tyre
again!!
When comparing, try to get testresults made with front drive high HP cars
like the 2.5V6. Don't bother looking at a test featuring rear wheel drive
M*** of B** when you want to compare handling, comfort etc. You may compare
them for noise, wear and comparison in respect to aquaplaning and braking
(wet/dry)
Forthly, it does matter how you drive. If you drive like my 93 year old
neighbour, get some cheap covers. Good enough. When you think you're Michael
Schumacher, do your self a favor and go for a good tyre. But think of it
this way, even the best tyre is the best because of a combination of factors
in relation to another tyre as well as in relation to the way yuo use them.
So if you live in a Mediterenean area, why bother comparing tyres on
aquaplaning and braking in the wet; go for the best "dry" tyre. But never
let you decision be based on price. Even the most expensive tyre (i.e.
Michelin) will cost you very little per mile and when you compare the price
per mile, the cheapest tyre may well be more expensive than the Michelin!!