Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Wheels & Tires Dunlop Wintersport Impressions, others?

I have had these on now for about two months and I've seen a lot of different weather with them. Thought I'd post my impressions and ask others to do the same for their winter tires, for the benefit of the group.

Short story: I love these tires, period.

I've noticed only slightly reduced dry grip and that was when I was trying to test the limits. Great handling for anything close to normal driving. H rating helps too, I coudn't imagine being limited to 99mph with the Blizzaks. Nice being able to run 120 with an Audi A4 on the way to the airport a couple weeks back!

These things are great in the wet and snow, too. I've found that I chicken out way before the tires will quit on me. No worries yet on ice, snow or rain.

I was suprised how quiet these tires are, after hearing about noise with snow tires, I was expecting an earful. I was pleasantly suprised to find very little noise, unless there's some irregularity in the road... that patch goo they use on long cracks makes an interesting sound under these things.

Something else I've mentioned before, but I think bears repeating. I had these tires off the car (the tires were cold) one day when it was near freezing. In moving them around I noticed how pliable the rubber was, and I thought it was interesting given the temp. Just out of curiosity, I went over and checked my KDW's that were sitting in the corner. They were hard as bricks!

People who think that they don't need winter tires because they don't see a lot of snow ought to take notice! I don't think (and I think the manufacturers agree) Z rated performance tires aren't meant for COLD. Screw snow or ice, I think that you run a severe risk driving around on those things in winter temps. Just my .02, but it was obvious to me from this little experience that I made the right choice in getting winter tires.

Anyone else got opinions on their winter tires?



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Eric Walton
'00 Silver Frost SVT
522 of 2150
Poolesville, MD
BAT intake pipe, KKM, Richbrook shift knob, Pioneer 6x8's, ES motor mount inserts and rear bar bushings, Lighted SVT mod, Fog lamp mod, A6 sidemarkers, Mesh grille

Every winter I run snows and I have never been snowed in even when the drifts were taller than my car. I was able to just blast through and keep going. I guess without them I could have taken a couple days off.
Luke

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Luke Pavlick
Sales Representative
Performance Specialist
ASE Certified Master Tech
for more info or to place
orders please call
800-428-8355 ext. 362
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www.tirerack.com

I have the wintersports on this year(on the S4) - last year I had the MZ01's (Blizzacks - on the svt). I agree that this is a great winter wheel. You don't give up a whole lot in good dry roads and they are decent in the snow and ice. They are no where as effective as the MZ01 in the heavy snow, but by midwinter of last year the Blizzacks lost a lot of tread and were only average winter tires for the duration of winter. I have noticed no change in the wintersports performance thus far and they are tons better than the blizzacks when the roads are good. And I have yet to be snowed in this year and it has been a brutal winter here in MN. I highly recommend this tire for people who don't want to give up a lot of performance in the winter.

2000 SVT, Dunlop DS-1 snows on stock wheels. Hate them. Great snow traction, but they are as bad in the dry as my KDWs were in the snow.

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2000 SVT
black/prarie tan

I run the Blizzak Ws-50's on my SE. This is my first winter with the Contour, and i have had no problems thus far. We got 25 inches of snow this week, and i just dug out the front end, and got the car out no problem at all. They are great on ice, deep snow, and even just wet roads. The only complaint i have is the dry road handling, as the car kind of shimmy's at moderate (70-80mph) speeds. This is most likely because of the soft compound...

-Chris
2000 SE Sport