Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

[SeaveeDSM]

Installed a set of these today on my 1998 Eclipse GST. Size are 225/40/18. What an incredible grip and traction compared to my old Nexxen N5000s - not even in the same universe!

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[DSMTyson]

How do they do in the rain?

 

[Twistaye]

Mine have never let me down, in the dry or in the rain! Hell I even had them on the snow one time.. Not fun to have a high performance summer tire on snow though but I had to get to work!

Excellent choice of tires OP

 

[Flash]

One more DSMer that has realized the benefits of dropping money on good tires. The majority of DSMer's are still in the dark about the benefits of buying good tires. Congrats on the purchase!

 

[CODE4]

What an incredible grip and traction compared to my old Nexxen N5000s - not even in the same universe!

Of course you are going to feel the difference! You are moving from a H rated tire with a 400+ treadwear rating (read: fairly stiff/hard) to a W rated tire at 200 wear rating.

Tires can and will make a car feel completely different. The Star Specs are a great tire. Another brand/model I have used for the past two tire changes is the Yokohama S.Drive - not quite as sticky but still great handling and street wear.

 

[SeaveeDSM]

How do they do in the rain?

Just this morning it was raining and while I am still breaking in the tires they were great.

Its hard to articulate just what a HUGE difference tires like these make - and this is the first time I've ever really put high performance tires on the car. After my recent full build I'm now making well over 400 hp at the wheels (see avatar and dyno results) and since I have a GST the traction with the old tires was frankly pathetic. I can still break these loose now in 1st and 2nd but at least I can now use more than 1/2 to 3/4 throttle and run hard. Even with bost by gear with the the EBC using ECMLINK to lower boost in 1st and 2nd the other tires just SUCKED.

Its not just on acceleration either, cornering is freaking incredible now and the benefits of my Eibach Pro-kit springs and the Tokico illumina shocks are really showing.

I wish I had learned the lesson of the worth of putting great tires on the car sooner - but at the same time I was not nearly making the power I am now.

BTW, I got these on Tire Rack. Ordered this past Wednesday at noon, paid just the regular ground shipping and they shipped from Georgia to Miami - arriving the next day at 6:00PM! My first experience with TR but the speed of service and price were pretty much incredible.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

I just recently got tires myself and was deciding between these and michelins. Ended up going with the new michelin pilot super sports.

I bought from tire rack also and it was a good experience. They have fast shipping and a good website to help you decide what tires will work best for your needs.

 

[snowborder714]

Glad to see another happy Star Spec user I got these for my Evo wheels in a 245 and man are they awesome on the autox and road course! You can definitely push these very hard and still have them grip.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I'd love to pick up a set but I can't take the treadwear. Is there a mileage guarantee with these?
I spent much time selecting an ultra-performance summer tire with good treadwear.

Anyone who has run these, What kind of mileage did you get?

 

[Silver99OZ]

I'd love to pick up a set but I can't take the treadwear. Is there a mileage guarantee with these?
I spent much time selecting an ultra-performance summer tire with good treadwear.

Anyone who has run these, What kind of mileage did you get?

My cousin had these on his STI and got a little more than 8k on them, daily driving on them with some drag stip passes.

 

[daren_p]

Its funny how many fwd owners complain about traction & are running junk all seasons The tire is the only thing holding you to the road, so yes a better tire defently makes a huge difference.

I was looking at these when I bought my last set. I too got them from Tirerack but I went with the Kumho XS's. They were abit cheepre but my main reason is they have asymetrical treads so you can properly rotate them vs a symetrical tread that you can only go front to rear, unless you have them re-mounted each time.

 

[CODE4]

they have asymetrical treads so you can properly rotate them vs a symetrical tread that you can only go front to rear, unless you have them re-mounted each time.

You are thinking of directional treaded tires bro. If you have symmetrical, non directional tread you can rotate to the opposite side. Same with asymmetrical as the outside/inside remains the same.

 

[DSMTyson]

Just this morning it was raining and while I am still breaking in the tires they were great.

Its hard to articulate just what a HUGE difference tires like these make - and this is the first time I've ever really put high performance tires on the car. After my recent full build I'm now making well over 400 hp at the wheels (see avatar and dyno results) and since I have a GST the traction with the old tires was frankly pathetic. I can still break these loose now in 1st and 2nd but at least I can now use more than 1/2 to 3/4 throttle and run hard. Even with bost by gear with the the EBC using ECMLINK to lower boost in 1st and 2nd the other tires just SUCKED.

Its not just on acceleration either, cornering is freaking incredible now and the benefits of my Eibach Pro-kit springs and the Tokico illumina shocks are really showing.

I wish I had learned the lesson of the worth of putting great tires on the car sooner - but at the same time I was not nearly making the power I am now.

BTW, I got these on Tire Rack. Ordered this past Wednesday at noon, paid just the regular ground shipping and they shipped from Georgia to Miami - arriving the next day at 6:00PM! My first experience with TR but the speed of service and price were pretty much incredible.

Good to hear, Once I find a set of rims I like to replace my stockers, I will probably try them out.

But by looking at the tread pattern I was worried about how they would grip in the rain. Thanks

 

[bvass]

I run through 2 sets of these tires and they are great in both dry or wet. My only complaint is that their performance start to drop off a bit if you get them too hot. I like the stiffer sidewalls too for Auto-x and road racing.

 

[snowborder714]

My only complaint is that their performance start to drop off a bit if you get them too hot.

I would agree with this. I noticed their performance starting to drop off during my 2nd 20 minute session on the road course. The grip just wasn't as good, and even my instructor noticed and asked what tires I was running. He had agreed they were a good tire, but not really road racing worthy, and that he'd highly recommend switching over to slicks when I could. I will probably run these until they're bald and then switch over to racing slicks for the road course. But if anyone is looking for a great autox and street tire, these will work very nicely.

 

[romeen]

I've been looking at the Star Spec's for some time but just recently I've been hearing great things about the Hankook Ventus RS3. In the current issue of GRM they were rated above the Star Specs. A google search of Star Spec vs RS3 revealed that most people who have used both prefer the Hankook's although the Star Spec's appear to do better in the rain.

Nonetheless, great to hear about your results coming from another FWD guy.

 

[dsmpat95]

Its funny how many fwd owners complain about traction & are running junk all seasons The tire is the only thing holding you to the road, so yes a better tire defently makes a huge difference.

I was looking at these when I bought my last set. I too got them from Tirerack but I went with the Kumho XS's. They were abit cheepre but my main reason is they have asymetrical treads so you can properly rotate them vs a symetrical tread that you can only go front to rear, unless you have them re-mounted each time.

I'm also running the Kumho XS. Not a bad tire, with the LSD. My Fwd does alot better of the line than before.

 

[knochgoon24]

The Star Specs are one of the best performing summer tires for a DD. You can't ask for better in the rain. They do get a bit slippery when you get them really hot, but how often do you do that unless you road race? I've only had it happen twice during autox and it was on a skid pad in the middle of the course.

Why only 225s?

 

[_Madman_]

How do they compare to Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric (1 or 2)?

 

[gixxerdrew]

Those are one of the best tires in the segment! Enjoy them!

 

[brandonwh64]

WOW! nice tires! I bet they cost a pretty penny but well worth it!

 

[ViciousLord]

WOW! nice tires! I bet they cost a pretty penny but well worth it!

for 235/45/17 they run about $600 per tierack, which IMO is not a bad price. I'm sure we can find them cheaper. Once you've driven on "real" tires, it's kinda hard to go back... With my evo I was going through a set of 4 every 6 months or so but those were the old Falken RT-615 which were about $500 a set.

 

[knochgoon24]

I'm on my second summer with my set. I'm probably near 15k miles on them now. I think I'll get another 10k out of them if I don't keep shredding them autoxing. Keep the toe in check and they'll last.

I'll be buying these again once this set wears out. I might try and go a tad wider than the 245's I'm running now.

 

[TWOpointFORliter]

I also run these tires and I LOVE them!!! They are great in the wet or dry, straight line or curves. I have been running them for 10k and will get another set when these are worn out.

Anyone who is considering buying these tires should check out the car and driver comparison article which these tires out performed all others. Tire Test: Nine Affordable Summer Tires Take On the Michelin PS2 - Comparison Tests

It is a long read but you can skip straight to the Dunlop review.

 

[123abc]

I have these tires (although way wore down) on my 91 awd in a 245-45 size and love them. So much grip and are perfect for autox.