For those who have new tires in their near future (like me) CAR & DRIVER magazine has published a summer tire test in the just out August 2012 issue.

They tested nine tires using Tire Rack's test track and two of their E92 BMW 328i coupes. All tires were 225/45R17s.

Finishing order was:

1. Michelin Pilot Super Sport
2. Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position
3. Yokohama ADO8
4. Hankook Ventus R-S3
5. Continental DW
6. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
7. Toyo R1R
8. Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
9. Pirelli P Zero

These tests are described fully in the article and helped me make my tire decision which had been wavering between the Bridgestone and the Conti.

Those that are contemplating a tire buy should pick up the magazine which should be available now.

No, there is no link to the article.

 

BUMP

 

Which one of those two did you finally select and why?

 

....

 

I went with the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. Reason being that they were inexpensive, liked the tread design, and had a variety of sizes. This is not my daily driver, so tire wear & wet performance were not a concern.

So far I am pleased with them. They are louder than stock but not to the point of being unbearable.

 

I'm not sure what that means?

 

This tire, introduced in 2009 and not updated since finished eighth out of nine in the C&D tire test.

 

Simply to get the post off of page 2. Common thing to do.

 

I ordered a set of Conti DWs from Tire Rack today and they will be mounted by my dealer on Thursday. They charge a bit more than the tire shops but they are less likely to damage a wheel and if they do it will be replaced. I'm hoping my service loaner will be a C250 Coupe.

As to why, I became aware of this tire here recently but needed much more information before buying anything.

First, I spent some telephone time with a Tire Rack salesman outlining what I thought my requirements were, namely a tire that was similar in performance to my outgoing Bridgestone RE050As. We agreed that the Conti DWS was not going to work. He then said that the Bridgestone SO-4 PP was very close to what I have now. We discussed the Conti DW and I was leaning more toward it, mostly at that point because the Bridgestone costs $130 more per set.

Then, the Car & Driver tire test was published which made a comparison with their top finisher, the Michelin Super Sport and they weren't that far apart with the Conti being quieter.

The decider was when my friend Steve D. who (along with his wife) is a perpetual class winning PCA autocrosser in his 997 GT-3 in addition to being a PCA Driver Ed. Instructor (www.pnwr.org) and lo and behold his wet tires are Conti DWs which he says are the best he's owned for that purpose. His dry tires are Hoosiers, of course.

Nothing further needed.

 

A quick comparison shows what I would have chosen. I either currently own, have owned or have driven on each of these tires. The UTQG rating, (Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG) Rating) is a fairly good grade marker if you're budget conscience. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Uniform Tire Quality Grade Standards (UTQG) were originated to provide consumers with useful information to help them purchase tires based on their relative treadwear, traction and temperature capabilities. So it's a good scale to compare the best bang for the buck, as this is more often the deciding factor.

Tread Wear - Traction - Temperature - Price/Tire - Consumer Rating (TRack)

1. Michelin Pilot Super Sport - 300 - AA - A - $177 - 9.2 Buyer Rating
2. Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position - 280 - AA - A - $162 - 9.1
3. Yokohama ADO8 - 180 - AA - A - $199 - 8.3
4. Hankook Ventus R-S3 - 140 - A - A - $141 - 7.8
5. Continental DW - 340 - AA - A - $136 - 8.6
6. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric/2 - 300 - AA - A - $149 - NA
7. Toyo R1R - 140 - AA - A - $177 - NA
8. Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec - 200 - A - A - $144 - 8.3
9. Pirelli P Zero - 220 - AA - A - $162 - 8.0

As you can see, the Michelins and the Conti's give you the best bang/performance for the buck, with the Conti's the obvious winner. I have them currently on my GT-R and I love them... my son has a summer set for his GTi, and he loves them... In fact he tracks his car on these tires and he still loves them, especially since they have fantastic grip and can maintain a 340 wear rating! I also love the Pilot SS's ! What a tire, and will most likely have them on my car next summer.

The Infamous Conti Extreme Contact DW



The Michelin Pilot SS



PS: Remember, the lower the tread wear rating, the better the grip in most cases. So even though the tires I've chosen may not have the best grip of the bunch, they still perform quite well despite that fact.

 

One additional factoid.

Tire treadwear ratings cannot be directly compared between manufacturers.

Each tire builder builds a reference tire which they rate at 100. The rest of their tires are rated higher or lower although I have never seen one lower, admittedly.

So, a Michelin (just one example) rated at 140 is not necessarily the same as a Bridgestone rated at 140. This info comes from my friend Tom B. who worked for Bridgestone and it's predecessors for 30+ years on the technical side.

 

No surprises there - Michelin PSS for me thanks!

 

Correct, there isn't a perfect way to compare. In fact, the tires are run on a standardized road course for 7200 miles or so and then measured. That's the standard, but as you rightfully mention, the tire maker has some wiggle room to rate their tires. All in all, it still has worked out for me. One more thing, the Michelin's have a wear rating of 300, not 140 in the tire size mentioned, 225-45-17

 

You misinterpreted my post. I was not referring to the Michelin Super Sport in particular but just used Michelin as a manufacturer. Lets say tire A vs tire B if it's less confusing.

My outgoing Y-rated Bridgestone RE050A tires treadwear rating is 140 (suggesting it's a soft compound but it doesn't seem so) and yet I could have eked out 40K miles from them had I been more conservative. And where's the fun in that?

I also looked at my V-rated Nokian WRG2 (mit snowflake, yet) winter tires and their wear rating is 400. Those ARE 225/45-17s.

All this illustrates my point.

 

My new Conti DWs were mounted yesterday by my MB dealer. Since I can't trust ordinary tire shops anymore to mount tires on my totally unmarked 18" wheels, I decided to pay a little more, knowing that damage will be unlikely.

With less than fifty miles on them, it's too soon to make any comparisons but so far I like them. What impressed me, which I found out today, was that the tire pressure matches what I had in my old tires and not what was standard. Recommended is 33/38 but I like 35psi rear to lessen thumping on tar strips and sure enough the new tires are inflated to 33/35psi.

For my overnight service loaner I had hoped to get their C250 Coupe but sorry to say it was wrecked the day before. I had to settle for a stripper 2011 C300 4-Matic, Silver & black.

I also had the brake fluid changed.

 

The day after my DW tire install, I saw some discussion on another MB list that I read everyday which were posts from people who had bought Conti DWs and the complaint was the very short tread life on the order of 12-14Kmiles. If this is so and I have no reason to dispute it, choosing these tires will more than double my tire costs since my just-removed Bridgestones lasted 34K miles.

At least they aren't DWSs.