Alex,

First, thanks for your part at Tire Rack and input here. I've bought my tires exclusively from Tire Rack for the past 15 yrs. and couldn't be happier as a customer.

That being said, what can you tell me about the new Dunlop Direzza DZ102. I know their new and Tire Rack has a handful of reviews but not much more at this time.

I have an 06 JCW, lowered about 1.5" that I've been running the previous version of 205/50/16 Extreme Contact DW Contis on. I've worn out two sets and overall been pleased with them. I live in central Florida so the Contis dry and wet characteristics have been a plus, however, I only get about 20-25k out of a set. I know this is pretty typical but I would like to get 30k out of the next set if I could and need to order some new tires fairly quick.

It seems from my research the DZ102 could be a equal tire to the Contis for less money.

Any thoughts?

Bruce

 

When you are looking at tires that offer more treadwear you'll likely give up something for it. Handling, cost, comfort, etc.

The Continental ExtremeContact DWS has a treadwear rating of 540 so I doubt that the Direzza Z102 will do better with treadwear rating of 480.

As a class, Ultra High Performance All Season tires offer good handling in dry or wet with better than Summer tire treadlife.

Grand Touring all Season tires offer a blend of comfort for street use with decent enough handling and sometimes much longer tread life.

Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus
205/50-16 $109 each, 700 treadwear
Tirerack test result-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=188
P7 AS is not as good in wet but is comfortable and good in dry.
Another new tire is-
General Altimax RT43
205/50-16 $89 each, 700 treadwear

Note that all of the mentioned tires come new with 10/32' tread depth while the Dunlop Direzza Z102 comes with 9/32" tread depth.

 

Thanks for your response Minihune,

Point of clarification my Contis have been EC DW 340 treadwear not the DWS with the 540. So the Dunlop treadwear should be somewhat better than what I experienced with the ECDW.

I've also read some review about the DWS being worse in the rain than the DW. Do you know if that is true for them in a Mini application?

I appreciate your knowledge and advice. I hesitate with the P7 because of the amount of rain I drive in here in FLA. Experience has taught me its a whole lot easier and less forgiving to overdrive a mediocre rain tire than a mediocre dry tire.

I'll look into the Generals.

Bruce

 

I have been frantic on tire search for my R50 Mini and ALL responses from "tire specialists" have told me ALL weather tires are a bad call for Minis cuz the heavy hard ride and all weather are a HARD ride. Soft summer tires reduce noise, besides in a big snow storm my Mini doesnt go anywhere (too low to the ground)!!!

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Have you considered the Michelin Pilot Sports A/S 3? 45k treadwear warranty and excellent handling. In fact the A/S 3 was quicker than the DW in the dry at the release events. Nothing streetable is quicker in the wet than the DW per extensive autocross testing unless I've missed something newer.

 

Did you select a tire yet?

If so what did you choose?

What size wheel and suspension do you have? OEM 15" or 16" and stock suspension?

What is your budget?

If you live in an area that has snow then you get cold temperatures. You can't always be home or put on winter tires when a cold spell appears without notice. All Season tires make more sense than Summer tires since you don't want to drive on hard summer tires in cold weather.

Are summer tires more comfortable for street use than hard All Season tires?
Only if you buy HARD all season tires. Fortunately there are many classes of All Season tires and it is the individual tire that makes the most difference on whether it is hard/harsh riding or comfortable and quiet.

If comfort and low noise is important to you then for an R50, a Grand Touring All Season tire makes the most sense. You still get good handling for your R50 but its very easy to live with for daily commuting and usually lasts much longer than any summer tire (which means you can spend a little more).

I'm not sure who these tire specialists are but they may not carry a good selection of tires in various classes but they may want to sell you tires that they stand to profit on.

 

OK, one priority for you is wet handling and stopping.

One thing about driving in the wet. Even if you do have good handling with your tires, what about the people driving around you. Can they keep up with you? The answer is no, all traffic will have to adjust to the weather conditions and it's usually the guy in back of you that can't stop in time that ruins your day. If it is just you on the road then good rain tires help a great deal for your confidence and safety.

Continental ExtremeContact DW (Max summer tire) 340 treadwear
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=148
Overall dry track rating 7.94
Overall wet track rating 7.64
Lap and slalom times were better in wet than in dry
Stopping distance (50-0) 97.4 feet
ave. cornering g-force in wet 0.93

Continental ExtremeContact DWS (ultra high perf All Season tire) 540 treadwear.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=177
Overall dry track rating 7.45
Overall wet track rating 7.54
Lap and slalom times were better in dry than in wet
Stopping distance (50-0) in wet 107.2 feet
ave. cornering g-force in wet 0.77
The DWS has better ride comfort and lower noise with longer treadwear than the DW. The DW is better in wet for sure.

However in High Perf All Season tires there is the previously mentioned
Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3
205/50-16 $133 each, V speed rated, 500 treadwear
This has much better wet handling and stopping ability.
Note that there is a Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3 that is in UHP All season tire class with W and Y speed ratings which tested well in the wet but it does not come in 205/50-16. I think you can assume that wet handling is very good for the H and V speed rated version in High Performance AS tire class.

Looking at your priorities the Pilot Sport AS/3 is a winner if your budget allows.

 

Thank for your posts and advice.

No I haven't made a decision yet. I put 400 more mile on my DW yesterday in the dry and thought again how much I like these tires. At the end of their life they are getting louder but that's what's the radios for - right?

I'm tempted buying the Dunlops just to satisfy my curiosity and generate some real world experience for all them Cooper drivers on the forum - at the price they would have to be pretty bad to consider it a mistake.

Bruce

 

Have you tired-

email to Alex@tirerack.com

or calling him at extention 4294?

He's pretty good about calling back if you leave a message.

 

I have had them on the road and the wet test track. They are a big improvement over DZ101, but not in the same league for grip. The DW is a very fast and predictable wet tire. For a very long time we used that tire as a wet max performance benchmark. On the road DW's ride better as well.

 

I'm sorry to see the disappearance of the DW tires in 205/50/16. I hope I don't get a
unrepairable hole in one of mine before their time. (just got 4 DW this year and already got
a 3/16 - 1/4" bolt-hole in one - just repairable with a plug and interior patch).
I know they're still available in 205/55/16, but then I'd have to get 4 for the flat tire monitor
and ABS to be happy, and in that size, I'd be really tempted by the BS RE-11A.