The DWS is a great tire, but an all season
The ExtremeContact Sport 02's I was asking about are a summer tire & the "new" version of them
The DWS is a great tire, but an all season225/50R16 Continental Extremecontact (says DWS tuned, so '06?). I'm very happy but still consider switching to drag radials on occasion as I'll probably always desire more traction.
The 4S's are considered better. But probably not $800 better. Though the Contis have had issues with tread seperation in the past.
You can ditch as much as 40 lbs of unsprung weight with the right wheel and tire combo.You really want to save weight at the wheels, get better ones. The stock rims are heavy.
You really want to save weight at the wheels, get better ones. The stock rims are heavy.
VERY true, but I was trying to keep it stock-ish/stock looking thoughYou can ditch as much as 40 lbs of unsprung weight with the right wheel and tire combo.
From reading all of the metrics, it would appear based on the performance that they stiffened the tire slightly, leading to some better dry performance, but braking and wet braking suffer ever so slightly. This would not be surprising, because the original Continental EC Sports are a forgiving soft tire but in aggressive cornering or curves, while the tire will hold the road, there's a little more roll than even on the original KDW2 tires.Summary: Looking into the overall results, ExtremeContact Sport 02 had improvements in dry handling especially on a race track setting but it clearly lacks in the dry & wet braking metrics against its predecessor. Stay tuned for further testing comparison of ExtremeContact Sport 02 against its competitors.
All I remember about the "old" first-gen DWS's are their squishy sidewalls and how I could get that same effect on the rim if I pushed a corner hard enough. The current-gen ones I have on the PT aren't nowhere as bad as the originals though, but still no match for the Pilot Sport AS's.Hey everyone. Not that I want to upset snowbrddan, but there is now an upgrade for the Continental ExtremeContact Sport, they just added a 2 to the name:
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Review: Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 Tires Target Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
The new high-performance summer tire is engineered to deliver more affordable, longer-lasting performance.www.motortrend.com
From reading all of the metrics, it would appear based on the performance that they stiffened the tire slightly, leading to some better dry performance, but braking and wet braking suffer ever so slightly. This would not be surprising, because the original Continental EC Sports are a forgiving soft tire but in aggressive cornering or curves, while the tire will hold the road, there's a little more roll than even on the original KDW2 tires.
I saw something amazing I've never seen before last week after getting back from a short run to the grocery, I took the interstate clover on ramp really aggressively, and when I got home their was a light layer of rubber along the outer edge of the actual rim on the front driver's side tire, where it appears to have pushed. So unless somehow I rubbed up against something rubber, the tire did something odd I've never seen on my car.
That is surprising to me, because for me they would let go of grip before rolling. There is the conundrum... a) hard sidewall tire that is noisy but also unforgiving (bumpy ride) versus b) softer sidewall tire that is more comfortable but lacks steering response, even if it sticks to the road, due to perceived body roll. The Continentals have more grip from a stand still, I remember how bad the KDW's would spin.All I remember about the "old" first-gen DWS's are their squishy sidewalls and how I could get that same effect on the rim if I pushed a corner hard enough. The current-gen ones I have on the PT aren't nowhere as bad as the originals though, but still no match for the Pilot Sport AS's.
After I posted about the ECS 2's I saw you had already posted about them earlier in the thread, did you get the 2's?Well, since my buddy works for Continental and gets a discount on them....I ordered up the ExtremeContact Sports.
Will report back in the summer, lol
Yes, I got the (newer) ECS 02'sAfter I posted about the ECS 2's I saw you had already posted about them earlier in the thread, did you get the 2's?
No, always door-sticker air pressure (32).That is surprising to me, because for me they would let go of grip before rolling. There is the conundrum... a) hard sidewall tire that is noisy but also unforgiving (bumpy ride) versus b) softer sidewall tire that is more comfortable but lacks steering response, even if it sticks to the road, due to perceived body roll. The Continentals have more grip from a stand still, I remember how bad the KDW's would spin.
I haven't driven this car in rain in years, but I remember it was night and day on the kdw2s as far as wet to dry, they were really scary in wet weather if you were brave enough to try spirited driving.
Were you running a lower PSI? I kept them at 32psi, I would imagine at a lower PSI they'd have more roll and perhaps even a bit more trip, but less steering response.
For all the irritating aspects to that tire (noisy, lack of grip from stop, or wet, or hard curves, etc), I still believe the steering response was good. I know I'm probably in the minority on that.
If you love those, the AS4's are even betterSo I went back to MICHELIN PILOT SPORT AS 3+ 225 x 45 x 17 and love them rain, shine, 1800 mile trips.