Continental DWS Users, Any Updates?

[sciphi]

To the users of Continental ExtemeContact DWS tires, how are they doing for you now? I sprang for a set in 205/50-16 (slightly wider/same diameter than OEM and impossible-to-find 185/55-16) for the wifey's Fit instead of roses this past Valentine's Day. Snow performance isn't of great concern since her car is presently on snow tires.

Comments or concerns about the DWS's?

 

[mpvue]

I've had mine for a few months, about 4K miles, handle great in the snow and slush.
*maybe* there is some issues w/ pulling to the right; I've read of a few people on here who have had that; it seems they are more prone to drifting to the right on narrow roads which might have more of a crown in the middle.
wear seems to be even, I'm due for a rotation soon, I'll take a closer look then.

 

[mpvue]

.

 

[el_zorro]

I bought a set in January before all of the heavy snow hit Michigan. It was tough getting a set of four as these tires are in high demand, I ended up buying two from tire rack and two from my local discount tire and then paying for the certificates instead of installation charge from discount tire. So i ended up with 4 new tires and 2 of them have a double warranty.

They were very good on snow I would rate them at the higher end for all season tires. The ride and handling is excellent and they have lower noise that the original OEM Hankook tires they replaced.

I have read reports of issues on snow with these and I'm not sure what the person was talking about, I drove through 3-6 inches of snow pack on top of ice on the road and had no issues.

 

[newtoncd8]

So far so good on my A4. I have gone through a fair amount of snow/slush and they have performed nicely.

 

[fredf]

I got my 2011 VW Golf GTI with 225/45/17 DWS mid September. I'm in Toronto so we see cold and snow.
In the dry I thought the tires were great. SInce the winter has started I would say that in the snow they are not quite as good as winter tires but almost as good. I find they are better in lighter snow and slush than in the really deep stuff.

So far I am glad that I decided not to get winter tires. I would say they are almost as good as winters in the snow, at least as good in slush and on ice and much better and quieter on dry cold roads.

I would definitely recommend them.

 

[Astro14]

235-45R17 DWS on a Volvo T5 (247 BHP turbo car...)

I've had mine since October - great tires. Nice quiet, smooth ride. When pressed hard in corners - good dry grip. OK in snow in the 3 snowfalls we've had here.

Very strong recommendation!

 

[jrenkas]

I absolutely love them on my G6. Amazing snow traction for an all-season tire. They are in a league beyond my Focus with winter tires.

 

[sciphi]

Good to hear all the raves! Sounds like I made a very good choice in new shoes for our Fit.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Either my E430 eats tires like cookie-monster or my wife heavy right foot in acceleration and braking, the DWS went down to around 6/32" in less than 10k miles, looks like it will down to wear bar 2/32" in less than 20k miles. The mileage warranty is 50k miles, I bought tires from DTD and had it installed at local DT, I don't know how I am going to claim the pro-rated mileage.

The DWS seems to getting noisier with more miles, the first couple thousands miles was very quiet but I think it is not as quiet now on the same stretch of highway.

We don't have snow in So Cal, the performance/handling on wet and dry is very good, not as good as UHP summer but not too far behind.

I don't know which brand I will get when I need new tires for this cookie-monster E430, but I may not buy the DWS again.

 

[rjundi]

My wife's 2005 LGT wagon (250 HP turbo with 215/45/17's ) has a set. We find them find to be great all around with one exception, winter conditions.

DWS work better than the bunch of other performance all-seasons in the winter stuff. However they cannot touch a candle to Nokian WR G2's(prior tire) though.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Either my E430 eats tires like cookie-monster or my wife heavy right foot in acceleration and braking, the DWS went down to around 6/32" in less than 10k miles, looks like it will down to wear bar 2/32" in less than 20k miles. The mileage warranty is 50k miles, I bought tires from DTD and had it installed at local DT, I don't know how I am going to claim the pro-rated mileage.

The DWS seems to getting noisier with more miles, the first couple thousands miles was very quiet but I think it is not as quiet now on the same stretch of highway.

We don't have snow in So Cal, the performance/handling on wet and dry is very good, not as good as UHP summer but not too far behind.

I don't know which brand I will get when I need new tires for this cookie-monster E430, but I may not buy the DWS again.

since you don't have to deal w/ snow, maybe the DW would be better for you.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR

I don't know which brand I will get when I need new tires for this cookie-monster E430, but I may not buy the DWS again.


Look into the Yoko TRZ, esp in T rating.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Yokohama AVID TRZ doesn't available in 235/45-17 but the AVID ENVigor does.

According to TireRack consumer survey of UHP A/S, the AVID ENVigor is rated very high in the tread wear category and 5th overall behind DWS, Pilot sport A/S Plus, Bridgeston Potenza RE960AS and ContiExtreme Contact.

The same AVID ENVigor in H and V speed rate tire ranked number 2 in the HP A/S, behind Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S. Tread wear is ranked number 1.

I may try AVID ENVigor next, if Yokohama has some kind of rebate when I need new tires, it will be best.

 

[Arnaldo]

Just got the Continentals about 2 weeks ago for my wife's '04 Pathfinder (P225/60R16). Since I first drove the SUV from the tire shop, I noticed no noise from them, and they provide a v-e-r-y comfortable ride (no jarring effect at all, one of my pet peeves on certain tire brands!). On a "1-10 Scale", I give them a nine-and-a-half! Price was sweet, too: $125.00/ea., including balancing, mount and getting rid of the old ones. Can't beat that! Time will tell regarding tread wear and other issues.
_____________________________
Flawless '04 350Z Touring Coupe!

 

[sciphi]

I read a review on the Honda Fit forums of the exact size on the exact car we have, and they were loved for being quiet, efficient, and handling well everywhere.

Sounds like I made a good splurchase!

 

[sciphi]

Got the tires in today, and they certainly look nice enough. Will wait a bit for getting them on the Fit since it's still winter up here.

 

[D189379]

I'm still not digging mine in the winter. My wife takes my truck when it snows, and I get stuck with the skiis on the RDX. They are definitely bottom end of any all seasons I've used in the winter, I've honestly had summer tires do better in the snow.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Either my E430 eats tires like cookie-monster or my wife heavy right foot in acceleration and braking, the DWS went down to around 6/32" in less than 10k miles, looks like it will down to wear bar 2/32" in less than 20k miles. The mileage warranty is 50k miles, I bought tires from DTD and had it installed at local DT, I don't know how I am going to claim the pro-rated mileage.

The DWS seems to getting noisier with more miles, the first couple thousands miles was very quiet but I think it is not as quiet now on the same stretch of highway.

We don't have snow in So Cal, the performance/handling on wet and dry is very good, not as good as UHP summer but not too far behind.

I don't know which brand I will get when I need new tires for this cookie-monster E430, but I may not buy the DWS again.


Is it posssible your alignment is off? with that suspension, you could be out of rear alignment and feel no pull or other signs...and chew through tires like crazy as a result...when was it last on a rack and checked?

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Is it possible your alignment is off? with that suspension, you could be out of rear alignment and feel no pull or other signs...and chew through tires like crazy as a result...when was it last on a rack and checked?

Alignment was checked about 3-4 years ago and was within specs. The car just eats tires like crazy, the OEM was GoodYear Eagle GFD-2 gone in 14k miles and the OEM front brake pad was gone in 10k miles. I tried 4-5 tire brands, from UHP Summer to UHP A/S and none lasted more than 25k miles.

All tires were rotated in about 5-6k miles, when they were down to wear bar or below they were very even across the tread.