Continental tire question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 639
Likes: 28
From: South Eastern MI Michigan
Continental tire question
I am looking at Continental tires for my '09 C6 Z51.
Conti makes 2 tires, the Extreme Contact DW (dry - wet) and the Extreme Contact DWS (dry-wet-snow).
The DW has a treadwear rating of around 220 which means higher performance and shorter life (it also has a "quieter" tread pattern). The DWS has a treadwear rating in the 500's which means longer life (it has a "noisier tread pattern).
The DW has been taken out of production temporarily by Conti to (I think) stiffen the sidewalls and adjust the load ratings a bit due to customer complaints. Do not know when it is coming back.
So...
The "DW" has a shorter life (maybe 12K miles), a quieter tread pattern.
The "DWS" has a longer tread life (40K miles?) a noisier tread pattern.
Here is my question:
Since the "DW" is not currently available, is there anyone out there who had experience with the Conti DWS tire.
Did it ballance well... no vibration etc
Is it noisy.
And...
How is the noise compared to other tires?
I am not an aggressive driver.
I am aware that Conti's are not run-flats.
Conti makes 2 tires, the Extreme Contact DW (dry - wet) and the Extreme Contact DWS (dry-wet-snow).
The DW has a treadwear rating of around 220 which means higher performance and shorter life (it also has a "quieter" tread pattern). The DWS has a treadwear rating in the 500's which means longer life (it has a "noisier tread pattern).
The DW has been taken out of production temporarily by Conti to (I think) stiffen the sidewalls and adjust the load ratings a bit due to customer complaints. Do not know when it is coming back.
So...
The "DW" has a shorter life (maybe 12K miles), a quieter tread pattern.
The "DWS" has a longer tread life (40K miles?) a noisier tread pattern.
Here is my question:
Since the "DW" is not currently available, is there anyone out there who had experience with the Conti DWS tire.
Did it ballance well... no vibration etc
Is it noisy.
And...
How is the noise compared to other tires?
I am not an aggressive driver.
I am aware that Conti's are not run-flats.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
I am looking at Continental tires for my '09 C6 Z51.
Conti makes 2 tires, the Extreme Contact DW (dry - wet) and the Extreme Contact DWS (dry-wet-snow).
The DW has a treadwear rating of around 220 which means higher performance and shorter life (it also has a "quieter" tread pattern). The DWS has a treadwear rating in the 500's which means longer life (it has a "noisier tread pattern).
The DW has been taken out of production temporarily by Conti to (I think) stiffen the sidewalls and adjust the load ratings a bit due to customer complaints. Do not know when it is coming back.
So...
The "DW" has a shorter life (maybe 12K miles), a quieter tread pattern.
The "DWS" has a longer tread life (40K miles?) a noisier tread pattern.
Here is my question:
Since the "DW" is not currently available, is there anyone out there who had experience with the Conti DWS tire.
Did it ballance well... no vibration etc
Is it noisy.
And...
How is the noise compared to other tires?
I am not an aggressive driver.
I am aware that Conti's are not run-flats.
Conti makes 2 tires, the Extreme Contact DW (dry - wet) and the Extreme Contact DWS (dry-wet-snow).
The DW has a treadwear rating of around 220 which means higher performance and shorter life (it also has a "quieter" tread pattern). The DWS has a treadwear rating in the 500's which means longer life (it has a "noisier tread pattern).
The DW has been taken out of production temporarily by Conti to (I think) stiffen the sidewalls and adjust the load ratings a bit due to customer complaints. Do not know when it is coming back.
So...
The "DW" has a shorter life (maybe 12K miles), a quieter tread pattern.
The "DWS" has a longer tread life (40K miles?) a noisier tread pattern.
Here is my question:
Since the "DW" is not currently available, is there anyone out there who had experience with the Conti DWS tire.
Did it ballance well... no vibration etc
Is it noisy.
And...
How is the noise compared to other tires?
I am not an aggressive driver.
I am aware that Conti's are not run-flats.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 767
From: Lindenhurst, IL
FYI - the ExtremeContact DW has a treadwear rating of 340.
I purchased a set this spring, and I have about 1,500 miles on them.
They are excellent tires. I highly recommend them.
They're extremely quiet. On smooth roads, wind noise is louder than the tires.
They also have a very smooth & comfortable ride.
Note that they definitely need to be broken in.
During the first 500 miles they have a bit of a heavy feel to them.
Some reviewers state that they feel soft when they first get them.
I believe that until the mold releasing agent wears off the rubber, they have a bit of a weird feel, mostly in the steering.
After 500 miles - they're beautiful.
One more comment.....
Since they are summer tires, the outside temperature has a pronounced effect.
They ride the smoothest when the ambient temps are over 60.....and best over 70.
When the temps are in the 40s, they definitely ride firmer. Not harsh, but definitely more firm.
Traction, however, seems to remain pretty solid at the low temps.
Oh, almost forgot....they balance out just fine.
I bought them from Discount Tire and had no problems.
I purchased a set this spring, and I have about 1,500 miles on them.
They are excellent tires. I highly recommend them.
They're extremely quiet. On smooth roads, wind noise is louder than the tires.
They also have a very smooth & comfortable ride.
Note that they definitely need to be broken in.
During the first 500 miles they have a bit of a heavy feel to them.
Some reviewers state that they feel soft when they first get them.
I believe that until the mold releasing agent wears off the rubber, they have a bit of a weird feel, mostly in the steering.
After 500 miles - they're beautiful.
One more comment.....
Since they are summer tires, the outside temperature has a pronounced effect.
They ride the smoothest when the ambient temps are over 60.....and best over 70.
When the temps are in the 40s, they definitely ride firmer. Not harsh, but definitely more firm.
Traction, however, seems to remain pretty solid at the low temps.
Oh, almost forgot....they balance out just fine.
I bought them from Discount Tire and had no problems.
Last edited by car2fast4you; Jun 21, 2012 at 02:18 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,942
Likes: 272
From: McKinney, texas DPD Sergeant
I've had both onthe Mercedes SL500. The DW only got 10,000 miles and that was not hard driving. Have the DWS now. Balance and everything is fine. They are not any louder than the DW's. Seems to be wearing much much slower.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
Is there and difference in ride as far as between the two DWS and DW in isolating bumps? Is there a difference in handling in between the two?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,056
Likes: 3,589
From: Central MO
I had a set of 35-series DWS's on my 06 Cadillac CTS. They were smooth, quiet tires. I liked them a lot and they even had decent snow traction. I had them on the car for about a year and 20k miles before I traded it on the Vette.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
FYI - the ExtremeContact DW has a treadwear rating of 340.
I purchased a set this spring, and I have about 1,500 miles on them.
They are excellent tires. I highly recommend them.
They're extremely quiet. On smooth roads, wind noise is louder than the tires.
They also have a very smooth & comfortable ride.
Note that they definitely need to be broken in.
During the first 500 miles they have a bit of a heavy feel to them.
Some reviewers state that they feel soft when they first get them.
I believe that until the mold releasing agent wears off the rubber, they have a bit of a weird feel, mostly in the steering.
After 500 miles - they're beautiful.
One more comment.....
Since they are summer tires, the outside temperature has a pronounced effect.
They ride the smoothest when the ambient temps are over 60.....and best over 70.
When the temps are in the 40s, they definitely ride firmer. Not harsh, but definitely more firm.
Traction, however, seems to remain pretty solid at the low temps.
Oh, almost forgot....they balance out just fine.
I bought them from Discount Tire and had no problems.
I purchased a set this spring, and I have about 1,500 miles on them.
They are excellent tires. I highly recommend them.
They're extremely quiet. On smooth roads, wind noise is louder than the tires.
They also have a very smooth & comfortable ride.
Note that they definitely need to be broken in.
During the first 500 miles they have a bit of a heavy feel to them.
Some reviewers state that they feel soft when they first get them.
I believe that until the mold releasing agent wears off the rubber, they have a bit of a weird feel, mostly in the steering.
After 500 miles - they're beautiful.
One more comment.....
Since they are summer tires, the outside temperature has a pronounced effect.
They ride the smoothest when the ambient temps are over 60.....and best over 70.
When the temps are in the 40s, they definitely ride firmer. Not harsh, but definitely more firm.
Traction, however, seems to remain pretty solid at the low temps.
Oh, almost forgot....they balance out just fine.
I bought them from Discount Tire and had no problems.
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 569
Likes: 63
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
I put the DWS tires from Discount Tire on my 05 Acura TL, now have 65,000 miles on them, great ride & quiet from the very beginning, had to have them re-balanced at around 45/50k miles, they still have lots of tread left but are starting to ger a little noisy. Great tires, I'm not an agressive driver (age 69).
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
I put the DWS tires from Discount Tire on my 05 Acura TL, now have 65,000 miles on them, great ride & quiet from the very beginning, had to have them re-balanced at around 45/50k miles, they still have lots of tread left but are starting to ger a little noisy. Great tires, I'm not an agressive driver (age 69).