This is a little early to be thinking about this, but by the end of winter, I'll
be looking for another set of summer tires.
My priorities are excellent dry and wet performance, so I usually look at
extreme performance or max performance summer tires, and I'd like to
stick to 205/50/16 (I'd consider 215/50/16, but there are only a couple
not so great choices there, and I'd rather not go to 205/55/16 or 215/45/16).

Currently I have Dunlop SP SportMaxx, and had Bridgestone S-03 Pole Positions on before that.

I'd like to hear other people's opinions on this.

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec - these are being discontinued in this size
and supplies are running out, otherwise would be near the top of my list.

Dunlop Direzza II - not out yet in USA, may be available by early spring?
They look like they're better in dry and not quite as good in wet as their
predecessor judging by the tread pattern.
http://tyre.dunlop.co.jp/tyre/lineup...ger/direzza/z2
http://translate.google.com/translat...ed=0CDMQ7gEwAA

BF Goodrich G Force Sport Comp-2 - another new tire so not that much
known about it, but I've seen a couple of good reviews online.
Stiffer sidewalls, said to be surprisingly sticky for a mere UHP summer tire.

Continental ExtremeContact DW - supposed to be great in wet, pretty
good in dry. A light tire with softer sidewalls than I usually like.
The current offerings from tire rack say 2009 production, which is a little
old for a tire I plan to run for another 4-5 summers.

Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport - looks ok, but somehow I think one of
the above would be better.

Toyo Proxes R1R - not really looking at these for several reasons. They look
to be really cold temperature unfriendly, which would shorten the useable
season, it has a 140 tread wear rating, which is a little lower than I'd like,
it's too new to know much about yet, and I think I'd have a hard time
checking toe-in with the tread pattern it has.

 

If you are limited to 205/50-16

Then I'd pick-
1. Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec- $152, 200 treadwear, 22 lbs
2. Continental ExtremeContact DW- $99, 340 treadwear, 19 lbs
3. BF Goodrich G Force Sport Comp-2 (UHP) $102, 340 treadwear, 22 lbs

If I was picking a tire for a stock 16" wheel on an MC then I'd consider-
Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position
205/55-16 $135 each, 280 treadwear, 24 lbs, 24.9" tire diameter
A darn good tire.
Tirerack test result-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=162
Note the other tires in this test don't come in 16" sizes. Too bad

Not sure about your reasons for not wanting to consider 205/55-16,
maybe you are lowered?
If not then also possible is 225/50-16
As in-
Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 (Extreme Summer)
205/55-16 $160, 180 treadwear, 21 lbs
225/50-16 $173, 23 lbs
Or
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11
205/45-16 $182, 22 lbs
205/55-16 $164, 180 treadwear, 23 lbs
Tirerack test results-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=118

These Extreme Summer tires have stiff sidewalls even if some are 55 series sidewalls and the quality of the rubber compounds used for the treads is very grippy

 

cristo
Imho ultimately your choice should rely on your intended purpose for tire selection. I was running Mich pilot sport PS2's on the stock GP wheels which I liked a lot for spirited street use. At the time I was in need of tires the size of 205/40/18 was discontinued in that brand. I aquired some SSR comps in 16x7 and from all the reports put on a set of Dunlop Star Specs. I absolutly hated this tire for my use. They were extreemly noisey, probably due to the lack of reduced sound insulation in the GP, and were very harsh on the roads that I drive. I ended up removing them and installed Conti DW's. For my use this has been a much better choice. FYI this tire seems to have a much longer break in period than most tires that I have used to rid itself of the mold release. Once broken in and going through many tire pressure settings I am very pleased with it's performance. These tires are almost silent, give a very nice ride, and have very good ultimate grip. By experimenting with tire pressures I have found what works for me for the slightly reduced feel on turn in due to the softer side wall.
One often overlooked feature of this tire is the 19 lb overall weight vs most others at 22 lbs in this size. This 3 lbs per corner is always a good thing. In my case going to the SSR's and DW's I lost 12.5 lbs per corner vs the stock GP rims and the Mich. Another plus I had was a slight drop in tire diameter which lowered my gear ratio.
All said and done spend some time contemplating (usually behind the wheel on roads that you drive) what is going to be your best option. For every tire there are some compromises. Only you can decide which is the best alternative.
Steve

 

I ran a set of the Conti DW in 205/55/16 on my MINI. I thought the wet and dry grip was quite good, so consistent with the other feedback you have found about them. I have not tried any of the other tires you mention.

 

I was avoiding 205/55/16 because of the combination of higher/less stiff sidewall and higher weight
compared to 205/50/16, but that isn't written in stone when you're comparing apples to oranges,
so I'll take a look at the Bridgestone RE-11 and Yoko Advan Neova AD08 and the Bridgestone S-04.
I'm not lowered and don't plan to, either, but 225/50/16 just seems too big for my justacooper.

I have the SSR 16x7 GT1 (Integra) wheels, which are only 15#, and the light weight
of the Conti DWs does appeal to me quite a bit, as well as their claim to performing better
than they feel like they're performing. I really liked my PP S-03s for their performance
and crisp response even though they were heavy (24#) and a bit harsh. The SportMaxx's
lower weight (21#) was welcome, and although the sidewalls were much softer and
overall grip less than the S-03s, I think they were my best choice at that time (2007),
and I can't say I've been disappointed with them.

I appreciate the feedback about the Star Specs, and since they're pricy
and no longer readily available, that's another strike against them.
The new Direzza II (if they even decide to put 205/50/16 into the US market
next spring) may be better suited for those doing autocross events, which
I stopped doing a couple decades ago. This is my daily driver, after all.

I guess my top choices at the moment are between the Conti ExtremeContact DW
and the BF Goodrich G Force Sport Comp-2, which are actually a bit different
from each other, so it's a hard choice, and you can't have everything you want in
a single tire.
Fortunately, I have a few months to think about it.

 

+1 for the Conti

I tried a set of Hankook Ventus R-S3, 225/50 R16 for track and autocross. They don't work well on my R-53 due to significant rubbing on the rear wheel arches. They are also tall enough to hurt the gear ratio. After one autocross and one track day, I'm planning to sell them.

PS I've had the Bridgestone S03 and liked them a lot as I recall (it's been awhile). I also liked the Dunlop Star Specs.

 

Nitto Neogen. 205/50/16.

I would not use it as an all season tire. It's has the stickiest compound next to racing slicks yet quiet on the roadway and wears like a 350 when it is rated less.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. It's good to know where on the spectrum the various
all season tires lie (some are more all season than others), but I do want to go with
a true summer (extreme, max or ultrahigh performance) tire, and have dedicated
winter tires for mid-November to mid-March.

Hey, we just had a Samhain service at our church last Sunday (Unitarian Universalist)!