AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- In crowning Dunlop's Direzza Sport Z1
Star Spec tire as the overall winner of a four-tire shootout, Tire Rack -- one
of America's leading high-performance products distributors -- proclaimed: 'A
new Extreme Performance Summer star is born.'
In an extensive test that combined real-world ride evaluations with
performance data collected at its test track in South Bend, Ind., Tire Rack
gave the new Dunlop extreme-performance tire top billing over the Bridgestone
Potenza RE-01R, Yokohama Advan Neova AD07 and Hankook Ventus R-S2 Z212 tires.
The tires, 225/45R17 mounted on 17.0-inch-by-8.0-inch wheels, were fitted
on a 2008 BMW 335i coupe, according to Tire Rack.
The Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec garnered high praise from the Tire Rack
test drivers. 'We liked it all,' they stated, 'handling, dry grip and
especially wet traction.' The online retailer and largest independent tire
tester even praised the road manners of this extreme performance tire, stating
the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec did 'a good job minimizing the harshness of
small to medium-sized impacts.'
Matt Neidert, performance tire brand manager for Dunlop in North America,
said, 'Tire Rack's recent test results, combined with several SCCA SOLO
National Tour victories in 2008, validate the performance capabilities of the
new 'Star Spec' tread compound, which helps initial dry grip during sanctioned
amateur driving events.'
Direzza Sport Z1 'Star Spec' is a DOT-approved summer performance tire for
hard-core driving enthusiasts and car-club members. The tire helps deliver
superb dry traction and handling at regional car-club events like track days,
driving schools, and autocross.
A high-response directional tread pattern with circumferential grooves
helps create a consistent contact patch on the pavement for a smooth feel and
seamless transition. An 'optimal mold shape' helps provide a consistent
footprint shape and uniform pressure distribution across the footprint for
enhanced cornering, Neidert said.
The tire also features JointLess Band technology to help enable smooth
performance at highway speeds, he added. Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
extreme-performance tires are available in 20 sizes with rim diameters from 15
to 18 inches.
Dunlop is a global tire brand with an excellent reputation among
performance car enthusiasts. Well known for its prestigious original-equipment
fitments and sports car racing heritage, Dunlop is also a key supplier to
sport compact enthusiasts featuring 'tuner' tire sizes and race series
sponsorships. For more information on Dunlop's performance tires, go to
http://www.dunloptires.com .
To read more about Tire Rack's test of extreme-performance summer tires,
go to http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=107 .
SOURCE Dunlop Tires
