Falken Azenis FK520 review

There’s no doubt the Sumitomo Rubber brand would be hoping for a better result for the new-for-2022 Azenis FK520. It uses technology from Falken’s motorsport programme to deliver a tyre that is stiffer and lighter than the FK510 we have tested previously.

The positives Falken can take from this test are the new design’s performance in deep water, where it took two podiums in the aquaplaning assessments, although it’s a step behind the pacesetting Goodyear, which is also new for this year.

The FK520 started to drop behind the front runners in shallower water, with a wet-braking result some 20 per cent and more than four metres off the winner. It was closer around the handling track, but that lack of grip could be felt through the turns, where you needed to be patient with the throttle to maintain the line. Direction changes would provoke the rear to move, but generally you needed to wait for the front to grip. That braking result meant the Falken was only in front of the Pirelli and Austone tyres across the wet tests.

It fared better in the dry where it was third across the two tests, but a decent result for fuel economy was not enough to make up for those shortcomings in the wet.

Blackcircles.com says…

"We are unable to provide any insight into the tyre’s popularity or performance with our customers, although its predecessor scored 4.6/5 from more than 130 reviews."

Figures