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[sameh]

I got my M3 a year ago with Conti 3 tires..I liked them except when it’s raining, this car had no grip. When it got in the 30s last winter I also noticed unpredictable slippage. But overall for summer performance tires they were good. I just swapped to Conti extreme contact DWs (275/255)..immidiately I felt a refined ride, meaning the car feels like on EDC comfort when it’s on normal, I like the improved take off grip but I don’t like the steering feedback at all, the car goes where I want but I lost a big chunk of the road feedback, My M feels more like a Lexus and I don’t like that, anybody experienced this? Will it get better? I put 300 miles on the new tires so far.

[ben@tirerack]

Response always gets a little better at lower tread depth, but the sidewalls on those are a little softer.

Things like steering feel often come down to personal taste. Those who like a stiff sidewall and lots of road feel, take note.

[sameh]

Originally Posted by ben@tirerack

Response always gets a little better at lower tread depth, but the sidewalls on those are a little softer.

Things like steering feel often come down to personal taste. Those who like a stiff sidewall and lots of road feel, take note.

thanks for the advice Ben, so could you please rate the M tires (Contis3, Dw, Ps2, PSs, etc) according to sidewall stiffness so I know what to buy next time?
I can't find this rating

[pbonsalb]

I am curious also, since I will be buying tires in the next year. The Conti DW are lightweight and relatively cheap and I like that, but I would not want to be unsatisfied with tires for two years every time I drove on them.

I know the popular ones are Star Spec and Advan 08 and now the new Super Sport. Anything else worth considering?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by sameh

I got my M3 a year ago with Conti 3 tires..I liked them except when it’s raining, this car had no grip. When it got in the 30s last winter I also noticed unpredictable slippage. But overall for summer performance tires they were good. I just swapped to Conti extreme contact DWs (275/255)..immidiately I felt a refined ride, meaning the car feels like on EDC comfort when it’s on normal, I like the improved take off grip but I don’t like the steering feedback at all, the car goes where I want but I lost a big chunk of the road feedback, My M feels more like a Lexus and I don’t like that, anybody experienced this? Will it get better? I put 300 miles on the new tires so far.

Try a higher air pressure.

I used to have the DW in my old M3 and it felt like that when they were below 38psi... 41psi was perfect to me.

[ben@tirerack]

Originally Posted by sameh

thanks for the advice Ben, so could you please rate the M tires (Contis3, Dw, Ps2, PSs, etc) according to sidewall stiffness so I know what to buy next time?
I can't find this rating

There is really no 'rating' for sidewall stiffness. The closest you might come as far as our customer survey data is the 'cornering stability' category. Survey data is nice, but not all customers rate in the same way, so keep in mind that the numbers attained are aggregate opinions.

In general extreme performance tires like the AD08, RE-11, Z1 Star Spec will have the stiffest sidewalls.

In the Max Performance category, which would include the OE tires, Pirelli P Zero is probably the stiffest, then Michelin PS2, then Conti Sport 3, and Conti DW.

Michelin PSS should be stiffer than PS2, but not sure by how much. We will be taking that tire on the track soon, along with the new Bridgeston S04 Pole Position.

Sidewall stiffness, as discussed before, is somewhat subjective, but that should give you a decent idea. By the time you're ready for the next set, some of the newer models will be more thoroughly tested.

[JCtx]

Wish you had compared the DWs with the PS2s. I even want to try the DWSs first. The PS2s are noisy as hell, at least over the rough asphalt prevalent in the desert southwest.

OP, if you're not happy with them, just sell them and get something else. Good luck.

[SonnyJack]

Originally Posted by sameh

I got my M3 a year ago with Conti 3 tires..I liked them except when it’s raining, this car had no grip. When it got in the 30s last winter I also noticed unpredictable slippage. But overall for summer performance tires they were good. I just swapped to Conti extreme contact DWs (275/255)..immidiately I felt a refined ride, meaning the car feels like on EDC comfort when it’s on normal, I like the improved take off grip but I don’t like the steering feedback at all, the car goes where I want but I lost a big chunk of the road feedback, My M feels more like a Lexus and I don’t like that, anybody experienced this? Will it get better? I put 300 miles on the new tires so far.

OP, I feel your pain. I did the exact same thing, going to DW's all the way around! Just yesterday I went up to 40 PSI hoping to see better steering response. Haven't yet had a chance to really test but after putting almost 2K miles on the tires I do not expect a big improvement. Oh well. Lesson learned.

[gthal]

When the DWs wear out, just get the Pilot Super Sport and be done with it. The best there is at the moment IMO.

[tlp]

^
This

[UA]

Originally Posted by gthal

When the DWs wear out, just get the Pilot Super Sport and be done with it. The best there is at the moment IMO.

Agree. However the price difference is pretty significant. I guess you get what you pay for. I was kind of hoping the Conti DW would be a good cheap tire.

[SonnyJack]

Originally Posted by SonnyJack

OP, I feel your pain. I did the exact same thing, going to DW's all the way around! Just yesterday I went up to 40 PSI hoping to see better steering response. Haven't yet had a chance to really test but after putting almost 2K miles on the tires I do not expect a big improvement. Oh well. Lesson learned.

Hey OP, definitely increase the pressure! Talk about a night and day difference! 40 psi all around worked like magic. The tires feel much better and the steering response is much improved.