Who Makes Falken Tyres

18th February 2026/in All Falken tyre stuff/by Eric Roberts

Who Makes Falken Tyres

Who Makes Falken Tyres? The Brand Behind the Name – Explained by Pellon Tyres Halifax

One question we often get asked here at Pellon Tyres in Halifax is:

“Who actually makes Falken tyres?”

Some drivers assume Falken is just another budget brand. Others have heard the name through motorsport or performance cars but aren’t quite sure where it fits in the market.

So let’s clear that up properly.

The Company Behind Falken: Who Makes Falken Tyres

Falken Tyres is owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world.

Now that’s important.

Sumitomo isn’t a small operation. It’s a major Japanese engineering company with a long history in tyre manufacturing, supplying tyres globally and investing heavily in research and development.

In fact, Sumitomo has also had manufacturing links with Dunlop in various markets over the years.

So when you buy Falken, you’re not buying from an unknown factory. You’re buying from a serious global tyre group.

Who Makes Falken Tyres — Falken Tyres A Good Choice

Where Are Falken Tyres Made?

Falken tyres are produced in modern manufacturing plants across Japan, Europe, Thailand and other global facilities owned by Sumitomo.

For UK drivers, that means:

Strict quality control
European-approved standards
Modern production methods
Consistent build quality

This is not a “cheap import” scenario.

Why Falken Was Introduced: Who Makes Falken Tyres

Originally launched in the 1980s, Falken was developed as a performance-focused brand within the Sumitomo group.

Over time, it expanded into:

Family car tyres
SUV tyres
Van and commercial tyres
All-season ranges
Performance and track-inspired products

Today, Falken sits in what we call the upper mid-range sector.

That means:

Better quality than budget brands
More affordable than premium giants
Excellent value for real-world driving

And that’s exactly why we recommend it so often here in Halifax.

How Falken Performs in Yorkshire Conditions

Calderdale roads aren’t smooth test tracks.

We’ve got:

Steep hills
Tight bends
Wet conditions
Rougher surfaces
Stop-start traffic

A tyre needs to cope with all of that.

Falken tyres use modern silica compounds that improve wet braking — something particularly important when coming down steep Halifax hills in heavy rain.

We’ve fitted hundreds of sets over the years and the feedback is consistent:

✔ Good grip
✔ Even wear
✔ Quiet ride
✔ Strong value for money

Motorsport Heritage – Not Just Marketing: Who Makes Falken Tyres

Falken has long been involved in motorsport, including endurance racing and drifting competitions.

That motorsport experience helps shape:

Tread design
Compound development
Heat management
Stability at speed

Now, you’re not racing around Halifax town centre — but technology developed under stress usually benefits everyday drivers.

We don’t push tyres for the sake of margin.

We recommend products that:

We trust
Perform well locally
Deliver value to customers
Reduce complaints
Provide long-term satisfaction

Falken ticks those boxes.

For many drivers in Halifax and Calderdale, it offers the perfect balance between cost and performance.

Honest Positioning: Who Makes Falken Tyres

If you drive:

A high-powered Porsche
A brand-new BMW M car
A track-focused performance vehicle

You might lean towards Michelin or Pirelli.

But if you drive:

A family hatchback
An SUV
A commuter vehicle
A working van

Falken is often a very sensible and safe option.

Final Thoughts

So next time someone asks, “Who makes Falken tyres?” you now know.

They’re backed by a global Japanese engineering group with serious manufacturing capability and decades of tyre development behind them.

Here in Halifax, we see real-world results every day.

And that’s what matters most.

GT Radial Tyres

12th February 2026/in All Tyre Articles/by Eric Roberts

GT Radial Tyres

GT Radial Tyres – More Than Just “Budget” at Pellon Tyres Halifax

At Pellon Tyres in Halifax, we sell a wide range of tyres — from premium names through to value brands. One tyre brand that continues to impress us, and more importantly our customers, is GT Radial.

Now, GT Radial is often classed as a “budget” tyre. But if we’re being honest, we think that description doesn’t quite do it justice. In our experience here in Calderdale, it sits comfortably in that strong mid-range category — offering solid performance without the premium price tag.

And one model in particular that has stood out over the years is the GT Radial SportActive 2.

A Bit of Background – Where GT Radial Comes From

GT Radial is part of Giti Tire, one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world. While the brand name might not have the long European heritage of some premium manufacturers, it has been developing and improving steadily over the past few decades.

GT Radial entered the UK market in the early 2000s and gradually built its presence by focusing on:

Value for money
Modern tread technology
European testing and development
Consistent manufacturing standards

Over time, the brand gained approval as original equipment on certain vehicle models globally — always a good sign that a tyre manufacturer is taken seriously.

Unlike some very low-end imports, GT Radial invests heavily in research and European testing facilities. That makes a big difference in how the tyre behaves on UK roads — especially wet ones.

Why It Works Well in Halifax and Calderdale

Driving around Halifax and the wider Calderdale area isn’t always gentle on tyres.

We’ve got:

Steep hills
Tight junctions
Plenty of roundabouts
Potholes and patched roads
Wet weather more often than we’d like

A tyre here needs:

Decent wet grip
Predictable handling
Reasonable wear rate
Stability under braking

We’ve found that GT Radial consistently delivers on those basics.

GT Radial SportActive 2 – A Standout Performer

The SportActive 2 model is particularly popular with our customers running:

Ford Focus
VW Golf
Audi A3
BMW 1 Series
And similar mid-sized hatchbacks and saloons

It’s designed as a performance-orientated tyre but at a much more affordable price than the premium brands.

Some of its key features include:

✔ Strong Wet Grip

The SportActive 2 uses a silica-enhanced compound to improve wet braking performance. Given our Yorkshire climate, that matters.

✔ Responsive Handling: GT Radial Tyres

The tread pattern features wide shoulder blocks, helping with cornering stability — useful on Calderdale’s twistier roads.

✔ Reduced Road Noise

Modern tread design keeps noise levels reasonable, which is appreciated on motorway runs.

✔ Good Wear Rate: GT Radial Tyres

From feedback we’ve had, customers report decent mileage before replacement.

That’s important. A cheaper tyre that wears out too quickly isn’t really cheaper in the long run.

Customer Feedback Matters

One thing we always listen to at Pellon Tyres is repeat feedback.

GT Radial customers often say:

“Drives well.”
“Feels secure in the wet.”
“Can’t tell much difference from the more expensive ones.”
“Good value.”

Now, we’re not claiming it competes head-to-head with top-end premium performance tyres in every situation. But for everyday driving around Halifax, commuting to Bradford, Huddersfield or Leeds, and weekend runs across the tops, it performs more than adequately.

Budget Doesn’t Always Mean Cheaply Made

The word “budget” sometimes makes drivers nervous.

But modern tyre manufacturing has changed dramatically. Brands like GT Radial operate:

Automated production lines
Strict quality control
European testing standards
Global distribution networks

The gap between premium and mid-range tyres has narrowed over the years.

For many drivers who want sensible performance without paying top-tier prices, GT Radial hits a comfortable middle ground.

Who Is It Suitable For?

GT Radial tyres are well suited to:

Everyday family cars
Commuters
Drivers doing moderate annual mileage
Second cars
Younger drivers watching their budgets

They offer reassurance without stretching finances unnecessarily.

Final Thoughts from Pellon Tyres Halifax

We’ve fitted a lot of GT Radial tyres over the years, and the feedback speaks for itself.

Are they the most expensive tyre on the rack? No.
Are they the cheapest no-name import? Definitely not.

They sit nicely in that dependable, honest, value-driven bracket — which suits many of our Halifax and Calderdale customers perfectly.

And when it comes to the SportActive 2, we’ve seen consistent results in:

Wet braking
Handling stability
Customer satisfaction

Sometimes the sensible choice isn’t about the biggest brand name — it’s about the best balance.

audi-A1-dangerous-tyre

14th November 2025/in All Tyre Articles/by Eric Roberts

audi-A1-dangerous-tyre

Audi A1 with a Dangerous Tyre – A Busy Day at Pellon Tyres, Halifax

Yesterday was one of those proper busy days here at Pellon Tyres where the phones never stopped and cars kept coming through the doors one after another. Among the bustle, one chap arrived with a very smart-looking black Audi A1. Lovely little car, well looked after, and clearly someone’s pride and joy. But he wasn’t happy with how it felt on the road — especially at higher speeds.

He explained that the car seemed to wander slightly and didn’t feel as stable as it should on the motorway. When a customer says something like that, it usually points us towards the tyres, suspension, or alignment. So Dale got the Audi straight on the ramp to take a proper look.

A Dangerous Tyre Found – Breaking Up on the Outer Edge: audi-A1-dangerous-tyre

It didn’t take him long to find the culprit. One of the front tyres had severe damage on the outer shoulder, the sort of thing that makes anyone who works with tyres take a deep breath. The tread was starting to break up, and sections of rubber were beginning to separate. If the customer had carried on driving like that, especially on the motorway, it could easily have ended in a blowout. Halifax roads can be rough enough as it is—you don’t want a failing tyre on top of that.

The customer was shocked when we showed him the damage up close. From the side, the tyre looked fairly normal, but once you turned the wheel or looked from underneath, the problem was obvious. It’s a good reminder that tyre problems often hide where you can’t see them on the driveway.

Why Tyres Break Up on One Edge: audi-A1-dangerous-tyre

Damage like this usually comes from a mix of things:

Under-inflation, causing excess flex in the rubber
Misaligned wheels, wearing one edge faster
Potholes, something Halifax is full of
Old age or heat cycles
Or simply hitting kerbs while parking on narrow streets

This one looked like a mix of under-inflation and poor alignment — not helped by a few big potholes along the customer’s commute.

New Royal Black Tyre Fitted: audi-A1-dangerous-tyre

Once we’d explained the situation, the customer agreed that replacing the tyre was the only safe option. We fitted a brand-new Royal Black tyre, one of our popular mid-range choices. Royal Black tyres suit everyday Halifax driving perfectly — plenty of grip, comfortable, and sensibly priced. Once balanced and fitted correctly, it looked spot-on, and the customer was pleased to have a safe but affordable solution. He commented that it offered great value compared to some of the premium brands, especially just before Christmas.

A Quick Word About the Audi A1 in the UK

The Audi A1 has been a popular sight on British roads since it arrived in 2010. Small, stylish and surprisingly solid, they’ve always been a favourite with drivers who want a premium feel in a compact car. Around Halifax — whether it’s Savile Park, Siddal, or up the hills in Pellon — you see loads of them. Because the A1 handles so nicely, drivers sometimes don’t notice when a tyre is wearing unevenly. The car masks the problem until the tyre starts breaking up — which is exactly what happened here.

Alignment Sorted – Back to Driving Straight and True: audi-A1-dangerous-tyre

After the new Royal Black tyre was fitted, Dale carried out a full wheel alignment check, and sure enough, the front end was slightly out. Only by a small margin, but over thousands of miles that small misalignment had been enough to chew up the outer edge of the old tyre. A few careful adjustments later, and the Audi’s steering was sitting perfectly centred again.

Another Happy Halifax Driver

When the customer headed off, he immediately felt the difference — smoother steering, proper stability at speed, and no more wandering around in the lane. He thanked us for spotting the danger before it became something serious, and he left with peace of mind and a safer car. That’s exactly what we’re here for.

If you’re unsure about your own tyres, pop in anytime. A quick check only takes a moment and could prevent a serious problem.

👉 www.pellontyres.co.uk – tyres, MOTs, batteries, servicing and more.

And if you fancy a break next spring or summer, stay in our peaceful caravan over on the Yorkshire coast — perfect for a relaxing getaway.
👉 Take a look at our coastal retreat at Thornwick Bay (Lucky Paws – open spring to autumn)

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