[Sid 6.7]

So since I have now gotten these tires I figured I would give my initial impressions and as I rack up the miles I will update this thread to include a much more thorough analysis of it's performance.

Now I wish to make very clear that I am not speaking about the older Dunlop Direzza DZ101 tire, which was an Ultra Performance tire, but I am talking about the brand new Star Spec tire, the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Extreme Performance tire.

Old version the DZ101: Dunlop Direzza DZ101
Newest version the Z1 Star Spec: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

This tire is as close to a DOT "R" compound tire that you can get, and yet still have amazing wet traction.



Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

The Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is Dunlop's Extreme Performance Summer tire developed for serious sports car, sports coupe and performance sedan enthusiasts looking for race tire-like traction on the street or for use in autocross, drifting and track events. The Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is for drivers who don’t want to wait as long for their tires to come in during initial runs, as well as drivers of lighter weight vehicles who are often confronted with the task of working tire temperatures up to the point of generating peak grip.

As an evolution of the Direzza Sport Z1 and continuing to use the same tread design, the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tread compound helps provide faster lap times from the start by developing more traction in temperate temperatures along with consistent grip on subsequent laps when the tires are fully warmed up. While this means the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tread compound accommodates a wider operating temperature range than the original Direzza Sport Z1 and reaches its maximum grip level faster, Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec summer tires are not intended to be driven through snow, on ice or in near-freezing temperatures.

Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires confirm their “Star Spec” identity in the form of a 5-pointed star symbol branded adjacent to the Direzza Sport Z1 name on the sidewall. However, this 5-pointed star should not be confused with the same symbol often branded by tire manufacturers on the sidewalls of Original Equipment tires for BMW vehicles.

The Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tread compound is molded into a directional design featuring notched, continuous shoulder ribs, large intermediate shoulder blocks and a wide center rib to deliver consistent contact with the road and enhance grip during cornering. Two wide, circumferential center grooves, wavy shoulder grooves and multiple lateral grooves provide water evacuation to enhance wet traction. The tire's internal structure includes two wide steel belts reinforced by JointLess Band (JLB) Technology spirally wound polyamide to provide strength, uniform ride quality and high-speed capability while steel cord reinforced, 2-ply polyester sidewalls help resist lateral deflection to provide responsive handling and cornering stability.

NOTE: The Tire Rack recommends installing Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires in sets of four to fully realize the benefits of the Star Spec tread compound. While the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec can be mixed with its predecessor in axle pairs if necessary, it is recommended that the treads be shaved to the equivalent tread depth of the existing tires.

Dunlop Launches a New Star in Extreme Performance Summer Tires







And yes I know I am missing a center cap. They are hard to find since this wheel has been discontinued for years.



So here is my initial assessment: So far I have noticed a couple of very important differences between this tire and the tires I just removed, which were 205/50/R15 Hankook Ventus HRIIs.

The Z1 Star Spec is a VERY quiet tire. This is most noticed when I was slowing down to a stop at a traffic light. I had thought my engine had died. It just got so quiet all of the sudden. But no, the engine was fine.

This happened for the next 3-4 lights. I seriously thought the engine died. Then I realized, that what I was missing was the thrumming of the tire tread from the Hankooks. The Z1 is very quite at city speeds, and a lot quieter at highway speeds.

The other thing I noticed was both a slight sharpness that has been given to initial turn-in and a confidence in hard, fast corners that I had never had with the Ventus rubber before.

There are a series of 90 degree switch-backs near my house that are a total of four lanes wide. The curves are nice, level, new, smooth asphalt that have constant radius corners.

Tonight, a couple hours after I had the tires mounted, I went through them with my wife, so needless to say, I did not take the tires to the limit. But I was able to take the corners at an entry speed of 55-60mph, and right near the apex, I was able to go WOT for the rest of the corner and exit. Throughout the run, the Z1s had an almost uncanny smoothness and rock-solid stability. I know it's an overused cliché, but this car really did feel like it was on rails.

Side note: (True, I do realize this is a 100hp rice-burner. But with what I am talking about, 0-60mph times mean nothing. This is about how it handles at speed, regardless of how long it took to get there. Now the fact that it is underpowered, means that I can go WOT in the middle of the apex and enjoy the results, instead of finding myself in Deluth.)

There was absolutely no wiggle to the tires. No break-away, no sliding. They just went exactly where I pointed the wheels. I described it to my wife like this: With the old tires, I could have gone just as fast. But it would have taken a good chunk more of my concentration, and more steering input to keep myself going where I wanted to go. The Ventus rubber was unsure of itself, wiggling around under the load, and I would have to give a good deal more correction in the steering to keep it in the groove.

With the Z1s, I had three fingers on the wheel and just held it in one spot once I had set the groove. It was a no-brainer.

So far, I am VERY pleased with the initial response these tires have given this car. It really is like driving the car for the first time, all over again.