BFGoodrich's internal testing and their launch comparison indicate mission accomplished. The g-Force Rival excels when driven side-by-side with traditional Extreme Performance Summer leaders.
Our test drivers were particularly impressed with the g-Force Rival's combination of consistent, extreme grip with a high degree of predictability. Instead of "peaky" grip levels which leave the driver wondering what their tire and car are doing, BFGoodrich has endowed the Rival with more progressive grip levels. This allows for better control because the driver has no doubt what's happening with his/her car and tires.
The NOLA Motorsports Park launch test featured some good competitors, but how will the g-Force Rival do against the newest rivals in its class? Dunlop has launched the new Direzza ZII. Bridgestone's rolling out the new Potenza RE-11A. Yokohama has the ADVAN Neova AD08. Who's the king of that group? With all due apologies to Dennis Green, we won't crown it now. We'll crown the champ in early June after completing our comprehensive in-house test.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 18,000 Miles on Tires March 04, 2013
This is an excellent tire for all driving conditions! I bought theses tires in December 2011 and kept them on for a year because of how well they handled various weather/road conditions. They are slower than a performance tire, but that's a small setback compared to the excellent tread wear and all around use for this tire. Will definitely buy again and highly recommend.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 3,500 Miles on Tires February 28, 2013
Great for light snow and slippery roads. Not the best for deep snow but way better than all season. Tire performance in wet conditions is excellent overall. Handling is only slightly less than the OEM Bridgestones. Cornering on dry salty roads could use a little improvement
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 100 Miles on Tires January 31, 2013
This tire is definitely an improvement upon the already amazing Z1's. It is an especially good performer for the price. If you are looking a tire that is really grippy--one track or off--then this is a tire you will be impressed with. If you are looking for a tire with ride and noise comfort then look else where. This is a high performance tire and it has very stiff sidewalls.
I have gone through many sets of Z1's on and off track. I have yet to take these to the track, but from what I can see on the street I cannot wait.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 6,000 Miles on Tires February 27, 2013
Hard to believe that this tire is rated below the Dunlop Wintersport M3, which is a fine winter tire but inferior to the Sottozero II's, specially in the dry. Very happy with this tire, they also outperform the OEM Pirelli P-Zero All Seasons that came with the car, which were H-rated and very unstable at high speeds. I highly recommended this tire, it was the most affordable for the original VW GTi's 18" wheels , and as a bonus it performs great in the dry, far better than any All-season tire.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 50,000 Miles on Tires February 24, 2013
I've probably never been more satisfied with a tires all around performance than I am am with these. Replaced the OEM Dunlop (junk) with these and have been extremely impressed. The only imperfect aspects of this tire are that the didn't normally hold balance for any longer than 6-8k (not bad for a rig that was kept outside), and there isn't a very prominent center line, so they don't pull your wheels straight on the highway like a touring / highway tire would. Dry, wet and snow traction are phenomenal, and I never expected to get 50k out of them, yet here I am, just about ready to throw on a new set.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 3,000 Miles on Tires February 09, 2013
These tires are a great set of winter tires, and paired with my AWD Subaru they are absolutely amazing. I decided to get these tires over other winter tires because of their wet and dry traction. These tires are very quiet for a winter tire, quieter than some all-season tires, and treadwear seems pretty good as well especially since they are considered winter performance. While they're may be other tires that handle better in deep snow and ice, these still handle better than I had expected. I've only noticed the tires slip slightly while cornering through deep snow (6"+ unplowed). No one has passed me on the highway yet in a snowstorm. I would definitely buy another set of these, and would highly recommend these to anyone.
Hankook's Ventus R-S3 provides an affordable street tire that best mimics the grip of a racing slick intended for the track. The R-S3 entered a very competitive group of Extreme Performance Summer tires dominated by the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 and the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, both of which are considered excellent dual purpose tires for performance street and occasional track / autocross use. We had the opportunity to compare the Hankook against both these tires, as well as the Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 and Kumho Ecsta XS on our test track. Results were published in the August 2011 issue of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. During this test, the R-S3 shaved nearly a full second off the Dunlop's lap time and came in quicker than the Bridgestone, too! Our tester remarked: "The tire inspires confidence from the first turn of the steering wheel, making it easy to attack the course's elements."
Our extensive Tire Survey Results put the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 just slightly ahead of the Hankook in cornering stability and hydroplaning resistance. With that said, customers really like this tire and have spoken with high praise for this Hankook and say they would buy this tire again!
"I love this tire. I bought it mostly for autocross use. However, I have driven quite a few highway miles now and have had no problems. I'd say this is one of the best performance tires you can buy, especially for the price. Needless to say, I'll be buying another set when the time comes." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2002 Honda S2000
"I purchased this tire for mainly track use and it did not disappoint. The traction was great when accelerating, cornering and braking. I have just purchased another set for my TT. Excellent value!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe
Do you want to see if the Hankook Ventus RS-3 is available for sports car, sports coupe or performance sedan? Then shop by vehicle!
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 26,000 Miles on Tires February 02, 2013
This tire has great snow and ice traction for a non studded tire. I have driven through numerous snow storms in the mountains of Vermont with these tire on a front wheel dive car and never had a problem getting where I wanted to go. These tire are also very good in dry conditions as well. They handle extremely well for a winter tire and feel like a summer performance tire in dry conditions.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 65,000 Miles on Tires February 04, 2013
Bought this vehicle new these tires came as OEM...when I replaced them at 44500mi I searched around but finally went with them again....have never been disappointed with their performance. Have driven them in deep/moderate snow as well as heavy rain, never had a worry...have been pleasantly surprised with the mileage of the 2nd set...will need new ones in a couple of months and will be choosing these again.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires February 03, 2013
These tires perform extremely good for an all season tire. They feel more like a high performance summer tire than an all season. I had Kumho 4X before these and I sold them after 6 months because they felt so vague that I no longer enjoyed driving my car. These Dunlops transformed the car back to its glorious self. They have very good and linear response to steering inputs and feel very composed in the way they go down the road.
The Dunlops have very good dry and wet traction. Maybe a little less ultimate grip than the Kumho 4X, but more than enough for road driving. They are also reasonably good on snow and ice. Compared to Kumhos similar traction, but a little less cornering grip in winter conditions. They also have good comfort and noise levels, especially when you consider how responsive they are.
I would highly recommend these tires to anyone that needs some winter capability without sacrificing driving pleasure in the other 3 seasons. I will definitely buy another set of Dunlop SP Sport Signatures when it is time to replace them.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 500 Miles on Tires February 04, 2013
Took it out on a track day on Laguna Seca over the weekend. Steering response is fairly good. Adequate grip level for my stock speed3 on track. Fairly predictable towards the limit of adhesion, but the tires dont really squeal that much in terms of giving you warning. Ride quality is good, not as harsh as the OEM Dunlop SP2020, but not as soft as the Hankook Evo V12. Noise level is good as a Max summer performance category.
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Initial Review, 14,000 Miles on Tires January 28, 2013
I have a BMW x5 and while this is an excellent performing tire, tread life is absolutely HORRIBLE. I'm looking at new fronts in another 1k miles and new rears soon after. I expect more than 15k out of my tires and have had tires on other vehicles last 40-50k, so I know it isn't entirely my spirited driving. Not a fan of these Dunlops.
On January 22nd, I flew down to New Orleans to attend the launch of the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival. The event was held at NOLA Motorsports Park with wonderful hospitality from BFGoodrich. They had a full team to provide background on the mission and development of the tire. We started with a presentation on the new tire, and then had the opportunity to take part in four driving demonstrations: skidpad, short autocross, long autocross and road course.
The presentation highlighted the goals of the g-Force Rival as a tire that can be driven on the street and also be effective on the track and during competition. Its focus is on maximum dry traction. While the tire can be used in the wet, the dry is where it truly shines.
Each driving exercise served as a demonstration of the Rival's capabilities. Skidpad testing is pretty basic, just drive around in circles as fast as you can. Even though it may seem simplistic, it's an excellent way to really feel the characteristics of a tire. In addition to a simple test of how sticky they are, it gives plenty of time to push tires past their limits of grip in a controlled way, and then observe how they recover.
Testing during short autocross showcased steering response and durability as we flogged the cars around numerous tight corners. The road course highlighted stability under braking as we hauled the cars down from speeds much higher than those on the skidpad. We ended the day on the long autocross which provided an excellent synthesis of all-around handling with a varied mix of corners.
Through a full day of testing, the most impressive characteristics of the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival were:
Precise turn-in - Thanks to very stiff sidewalls, initial turn-in and transitional response were direct and immediate. Stiff sidewalls are something that I especially like in a performance tire, so this was a big plus to me
Excellent durability - We were able to inspect the tread before and after each event. The g-Force Rival seemed to wear very well, and was especially impressive for how evenly it wore. These tires took a beating and we were encouraged to push them to and past their limits to test their ability to recover. Treadlife during street driving likely won't be as long as basic passenger tires because of the sticky compound, but they seem to be well built to take abuse on the track.
Usable grip - The Rival delivered excellent grip across a wide range of slip angles, meaning that grip doesn't drop off too suddenly if you miss the sweet spot. It had a forgiving nature that indicates a pretty wide band of usable grip.
It'll be exciting to see how the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival compares to competitors like the new Dunlop Direzza ZII on our test track later this year!
The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec has become a staple among autocross and performance enthusiasts. Many were disappointed to hear it had been discontinued. Dunlop has launched the newest version of their highly successful Extreme Performance Summer tire, the Direzza ZII. It's designed for enthusiasts who demand race tire-like traction for street use, autocross, drifting and track events.
Direzza ZII’s high-grip tread compound is molded into a directional design with a continuous center rib flanked by massive shoulders to form a highly rigid tread that delivers high levels of dry grip and handling while promoting uniform tire temperatures and even wear across the tread. Two wide circumferential center grooves channel water through the center of the tread design. Angled independent grooves help direct water to the sides of the footprint to enhance wet traction.
The Direzza ZII features Dunlop’s True Circle Profile to distribute tire deflection forces along the sidewall to provide more control by better communicating tire performance limits to the driver. Its internal structure includes JointLess Band (JLB) Technology that spirally winds polyamide cord over two wide steel belts to promote strength, uniform ride quality and high-speed capability.
During our time testing the tire, it proved to be a worthy replacement for the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec with significant lap time improvements in both the dry and wet when compared head-to-head. To read the full report, take a look at "Dunlop Direzza ZII Introductory Track Drive."
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 300 Miles on Tires January 04, 2013
I orginally encountered these tires three years ago when I put them on my 1997 Tacoma 4X4. I used them through three New York winters and was quite happy with their performance. In May of 2012, I purchased a new Tacoma with Dunlop Grandtrek AT20s installed. After looking at the tread on these passenger tires, I was underwhelmed, but decided to give them a chance. Who wants to cough up hundreds of dollars on new tires for a new truck? I used them until December and our first dusting of snow. I immediately called the tire store and ordered a set of the General Grabbers. The shop got them on literally minutes before we got hit with 10 inches of snow. If you've ever been to the Ithaca area, you know we have hills...lots of them! During the worst of the storm, the truck handled confidently. The tires are noisier on the highway, but I expect that from an LT tire. I no longer spinout on slight inclines and hydroplane in the rain. The Grabbers allow my truck to act like a 4X4 and get around in all sorts of weather which is why I bought her in the first place.
As a replacement for the extremely popular Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, the Direzza ZII is scheduled to hit the racks this coming week and continue to filter into inventory before the start of the 2013 motorsports season. Given the success of the first generation tire, the Dunlop Direzza ZII looks to be a very serious contender.
Noticeable improvements are expected in the form of at-the-limit dry traction due to the increase in surface area and slight reduction in tread void. Of course, we'll have further test reports and results available in the spring.
For a quick peek at the tire's performance, watch "Dunlop Direzza II Introductory Track Drive." During our time with the tire, we learned that it rewards a smooth driving style. It had just enough rotation at the rear to help our test vehicle glide around the corner, requiring minimal steering input to manage the few degrees of drift. The Direzza ZII displayed notice improvements in many areas including lateral stability through the slalom. Once we turned on the track's sprinkler system, we saw the Direzza ZII again perform better than the Sport Z1 Star Spec. When our vehicle was equipped with the newer Dunlop, we noticed a tire more predictable at the limit, along with faster recovery once any slide began. All in all, it was just plain easier to go faster with the Direzza ZII!
If you're already starting to shop for an Extreme Performance Summer tire, give the Dunlop Direzza ZII some attention. With a 200 treadwear rating, it's legal for street tire class racing and is available in a large variety of sizes.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 1,000 Miles on Tires December 21, 2009
I just had a chance to test the tire in winter conditions given the mid atlantic blizzard we just experienced. Traction in snow and slush is very good. Ice traction is not as good, but this is to be expected with a performance winter tire. Driving around in the worst of the conditions was not a problem, but as the snow piles up ground clearance becomes the issue. Performance in the dry and wet is average for a performance winter. My previous tires were Dunlop Wintersport M3s, and the LM 60s are comparable in performance, with a slight dry handling and steering responsiveness going to the M3s.
Overall, if the majority of your winter driving is on cold dry and cold wet roads, but you want additional traction over an all season in snow/slush, the LM 60s are a very good choice.
Ever since its release several years ago, the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec has been a great addition to the Extreme Performance Summer category. Its combination of grip, handling, steering response and pricing has made it a very popular choice for autocrossers and even some light track driving. To see how I helped a friend select this tire for his 2007 BMW Z4M Coupe, read "For Value in the Extreme Performance Summer Category, Choose the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec."
Given the popularity of the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, there's been much anticipation for its upcoming replacement, the Direzza ZII. Other than the shorter name, how do they compare? Since the new Direzza ZII hasn't been released yet, the only sources of information are from pre-release testings. Fortunately, Dunlop brought us a set of production-spec tires to try out before we closed our test track for the 2012 season. We took a set of Z1 Star Specs from our distribution center to benchmark the ZII and get an idea of how well Dunlop improved upon an already great tire! Our tests proved it was easier to go faster with the Direzza ZII as you can see in the test times listed below:
Dry
Avg. Lap
Wet
Avg. Lap
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
29.56
35.00
Dunlop Direzza ZII
29.08
33.84
Time Difference
-0.48
-1.16
As the test shows, the new Direzza ZII improves both wet and dry lap times and is a worthy successor to the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. For a complete recap of our testing, watch "Dunlop Direzza ZII Introductory Track Drive."
Availability of the Dunlop Direzza ZII will vary by size. Some sizes, such as the 205/50R15 are estimated to arrive in late January, while other sizes, like the 225/40R18 will not be available until late March or early April. You can also pre-order and reserve a set in advance!
The last tire I bought for my old Prelude SH was the Extreme Performance Summer Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec (Zed One). I loved how the Zed One's steering response and high grip complemented my vehicle. Many drivers have been impressed by the tire's combination of value and performance; making it a popular choice for spirited street driving, autocrossing and lapping days.
With such high marks for this tire, could Dunlop improve upon it with the release of the Direzza ZII (Zed Two)? They were able to provide us with pre-production spec tires so we could perform a comparison test. Although overall lateral grip felt similar between the Sport Z1 Star Spec and Direzza ZII, the Zed Two provided better steering response, improved lateral stability and increased acceleration grip - yielding faster times of approximately half asecond in the dry and over a second in the wet. These numbers show an improvement that is huge!
We just received great news from Dunlop that most popular sizes of the Direzza ZII will be reaching our Indiana distribution center in the next few weeks. For those of you out west and down south, you can start the autocross season with the the Zed Two before I can. Unfortunately, with our snowy weather here in Indiana, I'll have to wait until April or May to try this tire on my BRZ.
Most of the 27 sizes will arrive soon, however the 205/45R17, 215/40R17, 245/40R17, 225/40R18, 285/30R18 and 245/40R19 are currently expected to arrive in March or April. Also, Dunlop is offering the Direzza ZII in 285/30R18,245/40R19 and 275/35R19. sizes that weren't available for the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec.
2008 BMW 328xi Sedan
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser
