Dunlop Direzza DZ102 Tire Review

I will give a review on the new tires. I bought a set of 205/55R15 Dunlop Direzza DZ102s, their new ultra high performance summer tire from the Tire Rack. I cooked my last set of all-season tires in only three autocross races and around 20K miles, so I'm never going back unless I move to where it snows. The Tire Rack is great, because I ordered a set of 205/50R15 because they were significantly cheaper, and there were more selections in that size. They called me and told me that the shorter ones weren't strong enough to support the car in the rear, so I changed to the taller tire. That could have been a huge save to an unknown problem, so they have my recommendation. They also said to bump up the air pressure to 42 in the rear instead of BMWs setting( I forgot, will check it later). There only summer tire available in the original 205/60R15 is Yokohama Advan A048 Medium compound competition tire at 60 treadwear rating. The first thing I noticed when they were mounted up was that the ride was firm. Moderately firm, in fact. The old tires that were worn out unevenly rode much better in the few miles that I was able to drive on them. I noticed that the tires seem to transmit the uneven road surface directly to the chassis. Unfortunately, a couple of slightly loose interior panels are rattling now. Also, going over bumps, uneven pavement, and speed bumps sends the roughness and irregularities straight to the chassis, which leads me to conclude that these tires are the first set of tires I have bought and driven on the street that have stiff sidewalls. I'm really glad the 50 series height tires wouldn't work for this car now. These tires definitely ride the worst of any new tire I have purchased or drove on. I have learned to tolerate it, but they may deter a regular 3-series driver from buying it off me. At first, the rear of the car was bouncing over bumps, so I bumped up the rear pressure to 42psi, then the rear of the car settled down. They seem to be tuned for FWD cars because they need to be pumped up more in the rear than BMW suggests. The dry handling is good, but of course, it's difficult to push the tires on public back roads safely, even if there aren't many drivers on them. The car has noticably more grip, so that's good to have when I'm driving on the back roads. But, the tires have introduced more understeer in the chassis on some curves, so that is very undesirable. Dry braking is ok. I have to drive some more, drive in the rain, and on the autocross course to give you guys a full report on the performance.

I put a few more miles on the tires, and they don't understeer on curvy roads, so that's delightful. They're a Ultra high performance summer tire, so I don't expect much at the autocross courses.

I wonder if the 5% reduction in aspect ratio has something to do with the change in ride quality. I had these same tires mounted to 16x8 wheels on my old Supra, and there was a slight change but nothing as dramatic as you describe. Overall I thought they were great hard-compound summer tires for the price.

The shorter aspect ratio reduced ride quality some, but most of it has to be stiff sidewalls. The tread compound also doesn't seem tuned toward comfort either.

I guess the new tire is much improved because it definitely was NOT "difficult to push the tires on public back roads safely" with the old DZ101s.

I've owned 3 sets. They sucked as performance tires.

I got to drive them at an autocross and in light rain. Like expected (competition), they aren't nearly sticky enough to compete with the fast tires, but they are soft enough to have fun at an autocross.

In the rain, they have good handling characteristics. They behave similar to in the dry. Wet braking is average at best, you can tell that they can't stop as good. I haven't driven in standing water, yet.

Do they have huge rim-protector lips like the old dz101s did? I am considering some 205/55/15s for our Prius but i want that giant rim protector lip that was one of the dz101's best qualities.

Nope, it doesn't have that rim-protector lip.