Possibly the most crucial component of a car is the tires. As the only component that touches the ground, tires should come from a reputable manufacturer. Today, we’ll contrast two well-known tire manufacturers: Falken and Yokohama. Keep reading to find out more about these two companies and which tire is best for your vehicle.
Contents
Falken vs Yokohama overview
Two outstanding tire companies with a long tradition of innovation are Falken and Yokohama. Both Yokohama and Falken were founded in Japan, Yokohama in 1917, and Falken in 1983. As a result, both companies have a lengthy history and a solid reputation for producing high-quality tires.
High-performance tires were Falken’s primary focus when it was created. Falken is still best renowned for its high-performance versions, despite having a wider selection of tires than ever before. Yokohama is renowned for using its own technology in the manufacture of tires that offer outstanding performance at competitive levels and safety.
Falken focuses on tires for cars, SUVs, vans, and trucks while cars, SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks are Yokohama’s primary product lines.
Tire Models
Let’s look at some of the well-known model lines from Yokohama and Falken.
Falken Models
For the summer, winter, and all-seasons markets, Falken produces a number of well-liked models. Some of the most well-known Falken models are listed here.
Sincera: The standard all-season touring tire from Falken. A great tire if you’re looking for a quiet, stable, and comfortable ride. The Sincera has a unique groove pattern that offers excellent traction in dry conditions, wet conditions, and even light snow.
Azenis: The Azenis is the performance model offered by Falken. Available in all-season or Summer, the Azenis is a great tire for sporty cars.
ZIEX: The Falken Ziex is a crossover/SUV touring tire. It provides everything you’d expect from this type of tire, including a quiet ride, great traction, and excellent braking.
WildPeak: One of the greatest all-terrain tires made by the company, including silica tread, huge tread blocks, and biting edges along the shoulder for optimal grip.
Yokohama Models
AVID: The Yokohama AVID tire is their standard touring or passenger tire. The AVID delivers a quiet and comfortable ride in all weather and is intended for drivers of sedans, coupes, crossovers, and minivans.
ADVAN: The performance line for either the summer or all-seasons is the ADVAN. The ADVAN series includes a wide variety of models. For sedans, coupes, and even sports vehicles, these are high-performance tires.
Geolander: The light truck and SUV tire range from Yokohama is called the Geolander. The Geolander offers excellent grip and a smooth ride in variants built for summer or all seasons.
Comparing Specs
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires all tires be rated for treadwear, traction, and temperature. Tires are also rated for a load index and speed rating. We compared each of these ratings, plus the manufacture warranties for comparable Falken and Yokohama tires.
Let’s look at tires from the grand touring all-season category, the Falken Sincera SN250 A/S and the Yokohama AVID ASCEND GT
| Falken FALKEN SINCERA SN250 A/S | Yokohama AVID ASCEND GT | |
| Treadwear | 720 | 740 |
| Traction | A | A |
| Temperature | B | A |
| Warranty | 80,000 miles | 65,000 miles |
| Price | Check Amazon | Check Amazon |
The Yokohama rates higher for both treadwear and temperature. However the warranty for the Falken is 15,000 miles longer than the Yokohama.
Fuel efficiency
The fuel economy of a car can be significantly impacted by its tires. According to studies, tires account for between 20% to 30% of fuel usage. Tires that can help you obtain the most miles per gallon are produced by Yokohama and Falken, respectively.
Let’s contrast two comparable models, the Yokohama ADVAN Fleva V701 and the Falken Azenis FK510, to see which is superior. On the same car, Tire Rack tested these two tires.
According to the test, Yokohama used 1.7% less gasoline than Falken. Based on driving 15,000 miles a year, that is a difference of 9 gallons of gas.
Fuel economy will vary between brands and models, so check the specs before you buy.
Longevity/Tread life
Depending on the kind of tire, tire lifetime varies. A tire’s warranty is a reliable indicator of its predicted lifespan. The Yokohama warranties are valid for between 25,000 and 85,000 kilometers. Falken warranties range from 55,000 to 70,000.
Technology
The top tire companies are always enhancing their goods with new technology. Typically, improved traction, reduced noise, higher fuel efficiency, or fewer flats are the objectives. These particular technologies come from Yokohama and Falken.
Noise reduction
For noise reduction, some Yokohama models have an exclusive “offset” design and a five-block pitch sequence. The revolutionary “Silent core” created by Falken’s experts lines the inner of the tire and reduces drive-by noise output by up to 10 dB.
Traction
Many Yokohama tires are made of Yokohama TriBLEND material, which has a greater silica concentration for enhanced traction.
Most all-season Falken models have a unique groove pattern, using polygonal-shaped inside grooves. That translates to excellent traction in varying conditions, including light snow.
Puncture sealing
Falkens’ “Runflat” tires have thicker sidewalls that prevent deformation in the event of damage or a puncture; as a result, they can be driven for at least an additional 80 kilometers at a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
Reputation/popularity
Yokohama and Falken have a stellar reputation, especially for performance tires. Their long-term involvement in motor sports accounts in part for their appeal. Falken is the official partner of the Nürburgring Endurance Series while Yokohama tires are used in the Super GT category.
Cost
The brand and tire style affect the tire’s cost. In general, performance tires are more expensive than regular all-season tires.
Comparing similar models, we discovered that Falken is often more costly than Yokohama. Of course, prices will vary based on models and where you’re looking. We’ll share some tips for tire buying later.
Warranty
The duration and conditions of a warranty differ between tire brands and models as well. Let’s examine the Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S and the Falken AZENIS FK450 A/S side by side for comparison’s sake. The 50,000-mile guarantee for the Falken AZENIS FK450
A/S is just a little bit less than the 55,000-mile warranty provided for the Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S.
The Yokohama warranty range is from 25,000 to 85,000, as was previously noted. Falken offers guarantees between 50,000 and 70,000.
Frequently, the warranties will specify what is not covered. A brief list of what most warranties don’t cover is shown below:
- Damages caused by obstacles or debris
- Improper inflation or repairs
- Using a tire that is not the correct size
- Improper mounting or balancing
- Improper storage
You should become familiar with the warranty of your specific tire, ideally before purchasing, as details differ by brand.
The final verdict
You really can’t go wrong with either kind of tire because they are both excellent. Falken often costs a little more, but it also provides superior overall quality. Falken would be our choice among the brands if we had to choose.
Yokohama’s are also of a high caliber. There are many vehicles on the road that have Yokohama tires, yet complaints about them are quite rare. So, if you discover a great offer on any brand, take advantage of it!
Next we’ll talk about how to read tire sizes and share some advice on how to get the best price on tires.
Reading tire sizes
If you look on the sidewall of any tire, you’ll see a series of letters and numbers that indicate the type and size of tire. It looks confusing, but is actually pretty simple once you know what each letter or number refers to.
In the image above, you can see 225/65 R 17. Let’s break that down…
The first number is 225, which refers to the tire width in millimeters.
The number after the slash refers to the aspect ratio, which is the ratio between the tire height and width. In our example, the tire height is 65% of the width.
Next you’ll see a letter which describes the tire construction. The ‘R’ in our example means the tire layers are constructed radially (across the tire). Other letters you might see here are ‘D’ for diagonal construction or ‘RF’ for run flat construction.
Next we have the wheel diameter, in our case the 17 means the wheel has a 17” diameter.
Where to find the best prices on tires
It’s always a good idea to shop around when buying tires. Your options for buying tires fall into two main categories: in a store or online.
Tire stores
There’s a variety of national brick and mortar tire chains, like Mavis, Tires Plus, or United Tire. These stores will almost always have a sale on some model of tire that will fit your vehicle. You may even find a special promotion, like buy three tires and get the fourth free.
Online
Like most things, tires can be purchased online and these days it’s easier than ever. Two of the main online tire shops are Tire Rack and Amazon. You can easily compare prices online and find some good deals. Plus you’ll typically find a larger selection than you would in a store. Keep reading for some online tire buying tips.
Tips for buying tires online
If you’re new to buying tires online, here are a few tips:
- Determine the right size tire for your vehicle. Most tire sites have a tool that will help you do this based on the year, make, and model of your vehicle.
- Shop around! There are a bunch of online tire retailers, so check a few to make sure you’re getting a good price
- Look for free shipping. Otherwise, shipping can be pretty expensive.
- Have the tires shipped directly to your installer. Most mechanics are happy to have tires shipped directly to them, but check ahead. You can then set up an appointment to have the installation completed.
Check out our online tire buying guide for more tips.
Thanks for reading!