Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1s installed: Review

135forthewin · 01-20-2009, 04:41 PM

Just got my star specs on yesterday, and so far I love them. I will say they have slightly less feel out of the box, but that's just from the full tread on them. They stick much better, especially in the corners. Ride noise is down slightly, and on a very bumpy road the tires soaked up the bumps much better than the stock RFTS.
I took a different route than most size-wise. The norm seems to be 225/40/18 front and 255/35/18 rear, but I went with the "norm" for the front and 245/40/18 on the rear.
The rears do NOT rub at all, and i think the chunky look compliments the chunky bulldog-like look of our cars perfectly
Another great bonus of picking up the 245/40/18 rears instead of 255/35/18s is that I saved $84! It might not seem like a lot, but when you autox a good amount, plus a few track days mixed in, it'll free up some change for other lil' mods.
There's my brief review, I've only been driving on them for one day, and after they are "broken in" they should present even more grip, and more fun!:headbang:

My price from TireRack.com before shipping was $720, and with the performance these tires present, that seems like a steal to me!:thumbup:

UPDATE: The one problem I've found with the slightly taller sidewall is, that because the overall diameter is increased, low-down acceleration is slightly worse.

randomquickness · 01-20-2009, 05:44 PM

have those on my stock rims...great tires. Enjoy!

CDR_UK · 01-21-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomquickness

have those on my stock rims...great tires. Enjoy!

in what sizes?
how much are you dropped?
any rubbing?
thanks!

ssabripo · 01-21-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomquickness

have those on my stock rims...great tires. Enjoy!

didn't you say that you found them to understeer even more? :iono:

135forthewin · 01-21-2009, 09:14 AM

Forgot to mention, going with 245s instead of 255s on the rear has cancelled out almost all of the previous understeer. The car feels very neutral.

Luvmybmw · 01-21-2009, 10:31 AM

Besides $$, what is the reason for 245/40/18 instead of 255/35/18?

135forthewin · 01-21-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luvmybmw

Besides $$, what is the reason for 245/40/18 instead of 255/35/18?

You might've noticed some of the track-prepped 1ers on the site run even-width tires on all four corners, or close to it. This causes less understeer/oversteer. For me, an autocrosser, this setup isn't super-drastic but definitely makes the car more neutral.

Luvmybmw · 01-22-2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 135forthewin

You might've noticed some of the track-prepped 1ers on the site run even-width tires on all four corners, or close to it. This causes less understeer/oversteer. For me, an autocrosser, this setup isn't super-drastic but definitely makes the car more neutral.

Thanks!

randomquickness · 01-22-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDR_UK

in what sizes?
how much are you dropped?
any rubbing?
thanks!

225/40 and 255/35

dropped on h&r sport springs (no rubbing at all)

randomquickness · 01-22-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssabripo

didn't you say that you found them to understeer even more? :iono:

definitely not. I was telling the guy that was going to put direzzas on the rear and leave the stock rfts on the front that HE would have increased understeer

CDR_UK · 01-22-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomquickness

225/40 and 255/35

dropped on h&r sport springs (no rubbing at all)

Thanks! I checked hrsprings.com and it quotes a drop of 1.8" FR and 1.3" RR with those springs. Can you confirm if that's more or less the drop you have?

I'm interested in going to those tyre sizes, and also considering PSS10 or KWV2, but I'm worried that the minimum drop on those kits, along with Z1 or RE01-R will cause rubbing.

Thanks again.

balaroue · 01-22-2009, 11:01 AM

I have the star spec's and kv2. It rubbed a bit at first, had to raise it up 1/2 inch, rub gone. The Dunlops do fill the wells a bit more then most. Very happy with the tires!

Luvmybmw · 01-22-2009, 11:48 AM

What is the difference with the h&r sport springs and the h&r super sport springs? Will the super h&r sport springs lower the 1 too much?

randomquickness · 01-22-2009, 03:11 PM

^super sports are lower

Luvmybmw · 02-02-2009, 03:29 PM

Getting ready to order the Star Specs and know I want 225/40/18 in front, but don't know if 255/35/18 or the 245/40/18 in rear would be 'better'? Mainly my everyday spring/summer car, but I will take it to the track at least 5 to 10 times over the summer (mainly 1/4 mile runs). What do you guys think?

Templedogg · 02-02-2009, 05:19 PM

Go with the 255/35/18. It looks awesome, handles great, and fills the wheel wells perfectly.

Luvmybmw · 02-03-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Templedogg

Go with the 255/35/18. It looks awesome, handles great, and fills the wheel wells perfectly.

Thanks! Now, if we could only get rid of this snow and cold weather I would get them ordered and installed

01-20-2009, 04:41 PM	#1
135forthewin Lieutenant 49 Rep 546 Posts Drives: sideways Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: U.S. iTrader: (0)	Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1s installed: Review Just got my star specs on yesterday, and so far I love them. I will say they have slightly less feel out of the box, but that's just from the full tread on them. They stick much better, especially in the corners. Ride noise is down slightly, and on a very bumpy road the tires soaked up the bumps much better than the stock RFTS. I took a different route than most size-wise. The norm seems to be 225/40/18 front and 255/35/18 rear, but I went with the "norm" for the front and 245/40/18 on the rear. The rears do NOT rub at all, and i think the chunky look compliments the chunky bulldog-like look of our cars perfectly Another great bonus of picking up the 245/40/18 rears instead of 255/35/18s is that I saved $84! It might not seem like a lot, but when you autox a good amount, plus a few track days mixed in, it'll free up some change for other lil' mods. There's my brief review, I've only been driving on them for one day, and after they are "broken in" they should present even more grip, and more fun!:headbang: My price from TireRack.com before shipping was $720, and with the performance these tires present, that seems like a steal to me!:thumbup: UPDATE: The one problem I've found with the slightly taller sidewall is, that because the overall diameter is increased, low-down acceleration is slightly worse.
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01-20-2009, 05:44 PM	#2
randomquickness Brigadier General 221 Rep 3,668 Posts Drives: 996tt Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Georgetown, TX iTrader: (13)	have those on my stock rims...great tires. Enjoy! __________________
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01-21-2009, 09:14 AM	#5
135forthewin Lieutenant 49 Rep 546 Posts Drives: sideways Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: U.S. iTrader: (0)	Forgot to mention, going with 245s instead of 255s on the rear has cancelled out almost all of the previous understeer. The car feels very neutral.
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01-21-2009, 10:31 AM	#6
Luvmybmw One Fast 1 53 Rep 747 Posts Drives: '08 AW e82 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana iTrader: (2)	Besides $$, what is the reason for 245/40/18 instead of 255/35/18? __________________
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01-22-2009, 11:01 AM	#12
balaroue Private 2 Rep 56 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	I have the star spec's and kv2. It rubbed a bit at first, had to raise it up 1/2 inch, rub gone. The Dunlops do fill the wells a bit more then most. Very happy with the tires!
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01-22-2009, 11:48 AM	#13
Luvmybmw One Fast 1 53 Rep 747 Posts Drives: '08 AW e82 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana iTrader: (2)	What is the difference with the h&r sport springs and the h&r super sport springs? Will the super h&r sport springs lower the 1 too much? __________________
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01-22-2009, 03:11 PM	#14
randomquickness Brigadier General 221 Rep 3,668 Posts Drives: 996tt Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Georgetown, TX iTrader: (13)	^super sports are lower __________________
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02-02-2009, 03:29 PM	#15
Luvmybmw One Fast 1 53 Rep 747 Posts Drives: '08 AW e82 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana iTrader: (2)	Getting ready to order the Star Specs and know I want 225/40/18 in front, but don't know if 255/35/18 or the 245/40/18 in rear would be 'better'? Mainly my everyday spring/summer car, but I will take it to the track at least 5 to 10 times over the summer (mainly 1/4 mile runs). What do you guys think? __________________ Last edited by Luvmybmw; 02-02-2009 at 03:30 PM.. Reason: needed to add something
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02-02-2009, 05:19 PM	#16
Templedogg Captain 49 Rep 799 Posts Drives: 135i, Trailblazer SS, 1934 PU Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lake Stevens, WA iTrader: (1)	Go with the 255/35/18. It looks awesome, handles great, and fills the wheel wells perfectly. __________________
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