History

1983: The Falken Brand Is Born

Falken created as high performance brand of OHTSU Rubber & Tire in Japan. 1983: The First Falken Tire.

1984: The Introduction Of A Winning Brand

Falken followed a conservative marketing approach, introducing product slowly, winning races in its homeland which demonstrated the company’s technological capabilities early on, and then, when ready, expanding into new markets, launching tires that fit the personality of targeted drivers – those who relished the association with a winning brand.

1985: Started Falken Motorsports & U.S. Distribution

Started Falken Motorsports and began U.S. Distribution in Glendale, CA.

1988: Team Falken Won The Mirage Cup International Series

Hisa Yokoshima with Team Falken won The Mirage Cup International Series Championship. Falken teal and blue livery are first used in professional competition during The All Japan Dirt Trials, All Stars.

1988: Falken Introduces The Sincera Tire

A progressive touring tire that fits the needs of a variety of vehicles, Sincera Tires offer lasting confidence and comfort.

1990: The N1 6h Endurance Race

N1 6h Endurance Sugu 400km, GT-R32 Class Winner.

1991 Events

The Rallye de Portugal

Entered The Rallye de Portugal a mixture of asphalt and gravel the #30 Toyota Corolla AE92 of Mitsuro Hoshino and co-driver Takuya Sugimura finished 23rd with a time of 8:25:51

The Super N1 Taikyu Series

Falken supported BNR32 dominated Super N1 Taikyu Series in Japan.

Team Falken Participated in the Kenya Endurance Rally Race

Falken participated in the Kenya Endurance Rally Race with Nissan Motorsports Europe and placed 17th and 20th

Opened U.S. Headquarters

Falken Tire Corporation opened U.S. Headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

1993: The Paris To Dakar Rally

Paris to Dakar Rally Champions, 3 Classes.

1996: Ziex ZE502

The First Ziex branded Falken Tire is launched.

1998: A Successful Campaign

Began campaigning Mine’s Falken BNR33 which won the ’98 -’00 Class 1 Series Championships.

1999: The ADAC 24h Rennen Nürburgring

Team Falken began competing in the ADAC 24h Rennen Nürburgring (24 Hours of Nürburgring)

2000: Falken Tire Participated In Rally Australia 2000

In 2000, Falken partnered with well-known Subaru specialists MRT Performance Workshop, and former Formula 2 Champion, Brett Middleton, to campaign a Subaru Impreza WRX STi in FIA Group A’s Privateers Cup as part of the Australian Rally Championship. The Middleton Rally Team was at the forefront of the series throughout the season, pushing and challenging the WRC cars of their countrymen and other international competitors.

2001 Events

2001: AZENIS

AZENIS ST115 and the RT215 are launched.

2001: Series Champion Super Endurance Class 1

The #1 BNR34 Won Class 1 Championship.

2001: Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Sponsor

Sponsored Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

2003 Events

2003: Drifting Is Introduced To The U.S.

Inaugural U.S. Drift Event. The Drift Showoff in Irwindale, California

2003: D1 Grand Prix, The First Pro Drift Competition In The U.S.

The 2003 D1 Grand Prix hosted the first pro competition on the inner bank of Irwindale Speedway, located in Southern California, earning it the now legendary name as the “House of Drift.” With an audience as diverse as the cars and the sport itself, Irwindale quickly became the first true “mecca” of U.S. domestic drifting.

2005: Falken team driver Calvin Wan took 1st place in his Infiniti G35

At Sonoma (Infineon Raceway) Falken team driver Calvin Wan took 1st place in his Infiniti G35, the first import car to win a Formula Drift sanctioned event.

2006: A Consumer Reports Top Pick

Consumer Reports rates the ZE912 #1 Top Pick.

2007: New Corporate Office

Falken moved to Fontana, CA, 360,000 square foot building and west coast distribution center.

2010 Events

2010: First Drift Championship

First Formula Drift Championship, Vaughn Gittin, Jr.

2010: Falken Introduces The WildPeak A/T Tire

The WILDPEAK A/T reinvigorates the all-performance sport utility and light truck tire market through its aggressive stance and maximum traction. A symmetric five-rib pattern and rigid block design allows for ultra durability, exceptional on-road response and optimized off-road handling.

2011 Events

2011: Back To Back Formula Drift Championships

Falken repeats Formula Drift Championship with Daijiro Yoshihara.

2011: 2 ALMS GT Class Wins

2 GT Class Wins, Mid-Ohio & Baltimore.

2012 Events

2012: Team Falken Tire Takes The Podium At The Baltimore Grand Prix

Falken Tire makes it two years in a row with ALMS win at Baltimore Grand Prix.

2012: New FTC headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

2012: Falken / Savvy Off Road Takes The \nWin At The King Of The Hammers Every Man Challenge

Falken’s partnership with Savvy Off Road, received its first off-road win at the 2012 King of the Hammers Every Man Challenge, which many call the toughest stock class off-road race in North America.

2013 Events

2013: Conquers the King Of The Hammers Every Man Challenge AGAIN!

Falken / Savvy Off Road scores second straight win at the King of the Hammers Every Man Challenge

2013: Team Falken Takes First In GT At ALMS Petit Le Mans

Team Falken completed the ALMS season-ending Petit Le Mans on a high note, taking first place in the GT class. Falken’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, prepared by Team Manager Derrick Walker, was driven by Porsche Works and Falken team driver Wolf Henzler and his partner, team driver Bryan Sellers, and were again joined by Co-driver Nick Tandy of Bedford, UK, who previously ran with the duo at Sebring.

2014: Falken Launches the ZIEX ZE950 A/S Tire

Ultra High Performance, All-Season along with better tread life than the predecessor ZE-912.

2015 Events

2015: Falken Becomes the Official Tire of Major League Baseball

The new partnership represents a strategic expansion of Falken’s sports sponsorship program, marking the company’s first deal with a professional sports league after enjoying significant success in motorsports marketing for 30 years.

2015: Falken Introduces All-Star Lineup

Falken introduces its brand new All-Star lineup, unveiling four tires in what is the brand’s most significant launch ever. Tires include: WILDPEAK A/T3W, WILDPEAK M/T, AZENIS FK450 A/S, and SINCERA SN250 A/S.

2015: Smittybilt Every Man Challenge Dominance

Falken displays dominance with fourth consecutive first place finish in the demanding Smittybilt Every Man Challenge, partnering with Savvy Off Road / Currie Enterprises.

2016: First North American-Made Falken Tire

Sumitomo Rubber USA Begins Production Of First North American-Made Falken Tire At Buffalo, NY Plant.

2017: Yoshihide Muroya Wins Red Bull Air Race World Championship

Team Falken’s Yoshihide Muroya secures the title of Series Champion of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, propelled by four wins throughout the season.

2018 Events

2018: Falken Tires Takes First Place at King of the Hammers

Falken Tires, in partnership with Savvy Off-Road and team driver Dan Fresh, earn first overall in the Smittybilt Every Man Challenge.

2018: Welcome to Falken Academy

Falken launches its in-depth dealer training program

2018: Team Falken Sweeps Podium at Formula Drift New Jersey

James Deane takes first place, while Matt Field and Justin Pawlak finish second and third respectively.

2019: Falken Tires Take Class Win At Legendary Score International Baja 1000

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Falken Tires, a leader in high performance tire technology for both on- and off-road vehicles, and well-known among legions of off-road enthusiasts for its popular and widely successful WILDPEAK line, scored first in the 7F Class with Driver Dave Cole and Co-driver Bailey Cole in SCORE International’s Baja 1000.