Conti ExtremeContact DWS

[Nick R]

Initial review, 180 miles after they were installed. So far my thoughts.

Running at 35psi, the ride is definitely overall softer than the old KH16s were. Overall, I said. Over expansion joints, there is more of an impact, but over smaller imperfections, they are much smoother. They are incredibly quiet compared to the old Kumhos. Windows up or down, they are almost inaudible, I can only really hear wind noise now.

Traction is interesting. They have tons of dry grip, but I can definitely feel the softer sidewall in the corners. It's not enough to bother me, but I can definitely feel the sidewalls "flex" under hard cornering, compared to the KH16s.

Braking is massively improved. I did a test panic stop (empty road of course) from 60, and the ABS barely kicked in, comparead to constant with the old tires.

Can't comment on wet or snow traction, will report back when I can. But for the moment, I'm quite happy with them.

 

[Finklejag]

I would wait until over 500 miles before I would test them. They still have a coating on them.

 

[Hallmark]

I'm closely watching reviews such as yours on the Conti DWS to replace my OEM Goodyear RS-As on the 2010 Fusion Sport.

I'm not dissatisfied with the RS-As as they are quiet & road comfort is superb, but I've had one experience that makes me suspect their wet competency. With 13,000 miles, the wear rate seems OK so far.

Keep us posted.

 

[Volvo_ST1]

Originally Posted By: Finklejag
I would wait until over 500 miles before I would test them. They still have a coating on them.


What's on new tires is a bit mold release compound, which wears off very quickly. The rubber surface however does need breaking in for best performance, but not 500 miles.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
but I can definitely feel the sidewalls "flex" under hard cornering, compared to the KH16s.

I told you to take it easy for the first couple of hundred miles while they're breaking in.

Factory greases are still there, slowly wearing off, and this affects cornering. Also, on some of the pictures it looks like there is a ton of tire dressing, all the way up to tread area. That can't possibly be helping during hard cornering.

 

[oggb]

Just gonna add that I have these tires on my WRX and they're becoming very noisy. They've probably got around 30,000 miles on them at this point, and should last around 50,000 at the rate they're going. I keep them around 40 PSI to help with the sidewall squishiness.

Decent tires for the money though.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: JRed
Decent tires for the money though.

So, would you buy them again or would you look at something else next time?

 

[HTSS_TR]

I have DWS on my E430 almost a year and 11k miles, my impression of DWS is a little below average, it isn't as good on both dry and wet surface as Falken FK452. The E430 tracked straight on hot surface of Death Valley in summer at speed up to 120+ MPH, the DWS is a little nervous at similar speed and unstable on wet surface near 90 MPH, while the FK452 was very stable on wet up to 100 MPH.

For average highway speed of 70-80MPH DWS may be okay, but I like to drive faster than that when I have a chance to do so, I will look for another brand the next time.

 

[Quattro Pete]

FK452 is a summer tire. You will not find an all-season tire that will be as good as a summer tire under conditions which you described and still be good in the white stuff.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
FK452 is a summer tire.........



+1

 

[rjundi]

If you find the sidewall soft, many owners put more air in than the factory recommended amount and find them okay.

 

[sciphi]

We like the set we put on the Fit in 205/50-16. That's the factory +0 sizing that comes with the $1500 Mugen rims. Like Nick has stated, they are quiet and do have lots of grip in the wet. They also ride very nicely, even with only 100 miles on them and aired up a little higher than placard pressures. The Fit feels far more composed over bumps, and small road imperfections are not noticed as much.

I like the feel with these tires. They're what Honda should have put on the car in the first place instead of the oddball 185/55-16 size.

 

[Nick R]

I do notice some slight flat spotting in the morning, but it's not enough to be very annoying, and it never lasts longer than a mile or two.

 

[kkreit01]

If they corner softer than the OEM KH16s, that's not good. This may have been my replacement as well (for my RSAs -- like Hallmarks'), but now I'm 2nd guessing. Hopefully by the time I really need replacements, there will be more than a few good options available. Seems someone is cranking out new UHPAS tires every year.

 

[Nick R]

By the way, it turns out I was actually out of alignment pretty bad, which they said could be why they wore so fast.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Out of alignment already? How old is this car again? What have you been doing to this car?

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Out of alignment already? How old is this car again? What have you been doing to this car?

Same thing as you when you were his age?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Same thing as you when you were his age?

You have a point there.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Out of alignment already? How old is this car again? What have you been doing to this car?

My guess is it came from the factory that way, I know several people that had that happen with new cars. I actually don't drive that hard. 85% highway. I do like to occasionally take on ramps a bit fast, and I tend to accelerate fairly briskly, but I'm not hard on the brakes, and I'm not doing doughnuts, burnouts (couldn't even if I wanted to). Though lots of spinning tires in winter couldn't help.

 

[97tbird]

my BMW only has 20k and I think it needs aligning too...[censored] NC roads...The bimmer lives a rough life on some days.