I agree, dws needed 3 to and one set needed 4 rebalances. My PS3+ made to 2/32 with the original balance.
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 vs Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus
- Thread starter OVERKILL
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OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
First solid long drive impressions, as three of us: Myself, my wife and my daughter, went up to the Toronto Zoo for our anniversary. We took the 401 there, so lots of stop and go, with periods of sustained 125km/h (~78mph) and due to how awful the 401 was on the way there, took the 407 (toll) back.
Firstly, you can tell the sidewalls are much softer than the run flats on turn-in, but bite is excellent, had no problem pushing it hard on on-ramps, stuck like glue. It definitely feels less "sporty" due to this, but that's not a complaint, as it was VERY firm before.
Secondly, they are incredibly quiet, which many people mentioned in this thread. That was a huge change, and a welcome one.
Thirdly, they don't tramline like the run flats did, which I assume is because of how much softer they are. Makes driving that much more relaxed, which is also welcome on a longer drive.
Looks like the tech and the Hunter machine got the tires well balanced, as there were no vibrations or anything, regardless of speed.
So, impressions so far: Positive!
Firstly, you can tell the sidewalls are much softer than the run flats on turn-in, but bite is excellent, had no problem pushing it hard on on-ramps, stuck like glue. It definitely feels less "sporty" due to this, but that's not a complaint, as it was VERY firm before.
Secondly, they are incredibly quiet, which many people mentioned in this thread. That was a huge change, and a welcome one.
Thirdly, they don't tramline like the run flats did, which I assume is because of how much softer they are. Makes driving that much more relaxed, which is also welcome on a longer drive.
Looks like the tech and the Hunter machine got the tires well balanced, as there were no vibrations or anything, regardless of speed.
So, impressions so far: Positive!
I am a fan of Continental - had a dedicated snow tire for one of my suvs and the dws and dws06 plus on my 911. Very comfortable ride, good in wet and light snow. Definitely not as crisp handling as a summer hp tire like Michelin pilots. Not inspiring on the track or twisties. But, I did a lot of rough California highways and trips to Colorado Rockies where a comfortable (less stiff) all season made sense.
Combined with newer Koni special active shocks/struts and suspension refresh it is an incredibly comfortable ride and can still drive when temps fall below 40 to 45 degrees w/o worries.
Combined with newer Koni special active shocks/struts and suspension refresh it is an incredibly comfortable ride and can still drive when temps fall below 40 to 45 degrees w/o worries.
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I researched both tires for months, and after running the AS4 on my Chevy SS Sedan (V-8, RWD, 415HP/415TQ) for 40,000 miles, I decided to get the DWS06+ this time around. Here are my impressions so far.
First, some context. I lived in Southern California for 3 decades, and never had to run anything other than summer tires on my vehicles. Once I moved to New Mexico, however (high desert, 5,200 ft), that had to change as soon as it got cold.
My first winter here, the first time it hit 15 degrees outside, I made a 90° right-hand turn from a road to a boulevard at low speed (I was at a red light that had just turned green). Suddenly, I was looking at the ass-end of my car out in front of me. This was with traction control and stabilitrak on. :-O Time for all-seasons.
When I first had the AS4s installed, they felt like the best tire I have ever had, on any car (I've been driving for 45 years), for any purpose. This includes summer-only tires. I was so blown away that I ran around telling everyone about them. I'm sure some of my friends thought I had lost it. But I was definitely a fan.
I appreciate tighter suspensions and stiffer handling over anything else. The AS4s had a stiff sidewall, fantastic turn-in, amazing grip, and low-noise (compared to the budget-friendly Falken FK510s I was running at the time). I was most definitely in love. There was nothing these tires would/could not do. For about 30,000 miles, that is.
After a while I noticed that the tires got "blockier" (i.e. harder), and I started losing confidence in them. This last year, I was just trying to get my money's worth out of them, but I stressed a little more each time I drove. In addition to getting harder, they started getting "greasy," doing the same thing the Falken's did, except all the time, not just in cold.
So, I got the DWS 06+ today. So far, interesting.
The Continentals are probably the quietest tire I've ever had on a car. Dips, bumps, etc. get absorbed like nothing. But, like anything else, there is a tradeoff... some of the handling is gone.
To get the handling I wanted out of the AS4s, I only had to put 36 psi in them. All other tires before them, I would have to put in 42-44 psi before I got the stiffness I wanted.
I left Discount Tire today with 35 psi today and it was wayyyy too soft. Stopped at Costco and put 39 psi in, which was a little better on the way home. After a day or two like that, I'll put 44 psi in and see what happens then. Next week I take a road trip, after which time I will come back and update my review.
So far, it's an interesting trade-off. If I can get the stiffness up a little bit while keeping most of this newly-found comfort, I'll be happy, and run them the distance.
Initial thoughts are: Love the comfort and noise level, but disappointed in the softness and turn-in. Maybe more air pressure will improve this... also, maybe it's something I can account for and adapt to. I'm hopeful. All I know is that I never want to feel the fear and instability of the last 10,000 miles I had on the AS4s, ever again.
More later.
First, some context. I lived in Southern California for 3 decades, and never had to run anything other than summer tires on my vehicles. Once I moved to New Mexico, however (high desert, 5,200 ft), that had to change as soon as it got cold.
My first winter here, the first time it hit 15 degrees outside, I made a 90° right-hand turn from a road to a boulevard at low speed (I was at a red light that had just turned green). Suddenly, I was looking at the ass-end of my car out in front of me. This was with traction control and stabilitrak on. :-O Time for all-seasons.
When I first had the AS4s installed, they felt like the best tire I have ever had, on any car (I've been driving for 45 years), for any purpose. This includes summer-only tires. I was so blown away that I ran around telling everyone about them. I'm sure some of my friends thought I had lost it. But I was definitely a fan.
I appreciate tighter suspensions and stiffer handling over anything else. The AS4s had a stiff sidewall, fantastic turn-in, amazing grip, and low-noise (compared to the budget-friendly Falken FK510s I was running at the time). I was most definitely in love. There was nothing these tires would/could not do. For about 30,000 miles, that is.
After a while I noticed that the tires got "blockier" (i.e. harder), and I started losing confidence in them. This last year, I was just trying to get my money's worth out of them, but I stressed a little more each time I drove. In addition to getting harder, they started getting "greasy," doing the same thing the Falken's did, except all the time, not just in cold.
So, I got the DWS 06+ today. So far, interesting.
The Continentals are probably the quietest tire I've ever had on a car. Dips, bumps, etc. get absorbed like nothing. But, like anything else, there is a tradeoff... some of the handling is gone.
To get the handling I wanted out of the AS4s, I only had to put 36 psi in them. All other tires before them, I would have to put in 42-44 psi before I got the stiffness I wanted.
I left Discount Tire today with 35 psi today and it was wayyyy too soft. Stopped at Costco and put 39 psi in, which was a little better on the way home. After a day or two like that, I'll put 44 psi in and see what happens then. Next week I take a road trip, after which time I will come back and update my review.
So far, it's an interesting trade-off. If I can get the stiffness up a little bit while keeping most of this newly-found comfort, I'll be happy, and run them the distance.
Initial thoughts are: Love the comfort and noise level, but disappointed in the softness and turn-in. Maybe more air pressure will improve this... also, maybe it's something I can account for and adapt to. I'm hopeful. All I know is that I never want to feel the fear and instability of the last 10,000 miles I had on the AS4s, ever again.
More later.
Sounds like where I'm at with my Bridgestone Turanzas. For the 1st 20K they were the best tire i've ever owned. Now, they seem to be getting harder and louder but are still at 8/32nds. I also have the start of a wheel bearing that hums a tad @ 65mph. Hopefully when the bearing gets fixed Friday i'll love my tires again. I'm a huge continental fan, so won't hesitate to replace them if not. I put pure contacts on my wifes 24 when it left the lot and they're fantastic
Not my experience. Perhaps we have different definitions of "cold." At zero degrees with zero snow, my UHP summer tires turned into blocks of ice themselves, meaning I had to pray while turning and stopping, until I got some all seasons on the car. Not a good feeling.
This depends on your definition of "ride quality" of course. For me, higher ride quality means greater precision, predictability, and accurate communication with the driving surface. This translates into a stiffer ride, but I don't care about that. Ride quality to me directly relates to my confidence level when piloting a vehicle.
I had a 1973 Olds Toronado (basically the same vehicle as a Cadillac Eldorado) that some people would say had the ultimate ride quality of its time. To me it felt like a waterbed. If I turned the wheel, the car might decide in the next few days if it was going to obey me or not. To me, that was NOT great ride quality, in spite of how plush it felt.
The description of the new Escalade on Cadillac's website proudly states that its 24" wheels are the "largest ever offered." I saw that and couldn't stop shaking my head. "You say that like it's a good thing!?!" There is absolutely no functional advantage to larger wheels. Big wheels usually mean more unsprung weight and less sidewall, neither of which is conducive to safety or performance.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Ypu are spot on on DWS. I am running 39/41psi. Actually my snows, Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 have more feedback and better turn in.
As for AS4, 30,000 miles of great performance in such tire on such vehicle is a lot. I think after DWS I will go to AS4. We have AS3+ on Tiguan for 5yrs, and they were exceptional.
I'm talking about 20-40 deg F...above the tires' glass temp but in the range many use winter tires. Engineering Explained's YT channel has a v. good video on this.
Just an FYI, the automotive industry uses the term "ride quality" to describe how cushy the ride is. Frequently the term " harshness" is used because it is less likely to be confused.
The term "handling" is used to describe how the car feels when you turn the steering wheel. There are a bunch of terms that are used to describe the various aspects, among them steering crispness, and linearity.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I drove numerous summer tires in that temperature range. Heck, I drove Michelin PSS below 0. They are not good. They are cold. They can’t easily get to operating temperature. If they worked like that, I would now have EC02 or PS4S on my BMW. I prefer summer tires over all season, but realistically, here in April you can have 60-70 degree shift in matter of couple hours. Few days ago I went to work after dropping kids at 8am, temperature 56, around noon temperature around 70, at 2pm temperature 40, I went for a dinner at 6pm with some people, 27, wet roads from rain that fell around 4pm. But bcs. roads were warm, it didn’t freeze. Still, that cold rain, I could feel tires were slipping a bit in corners if I am fast.
If I still lived in SoCal, I would exclusively run PS4S or EC02.
The testing simply showed that his stopping distances with a summer tire, even below freezing, were shorter than a winter. It's an interesting video. I chuck my all seasons on in Nov typically here.
UPDATE
I made it less than a month with the Continentals before returning them for the Michelins. Even 45 psi tire pressure was not enough to overcome the shortcoming of a too-soft sidewall.
Though I enjoyed the extra quiet when hitting bumps, railroad tracks, etc., the tradeoff was a serious degradation in handling, to the point that safety was a factor.
Simply put, the Continentals were inferior for two similar reasons:
1) They were too soft, thus handling ability was sacrificed
2) They were unpredictable, thus could not be trusted at speed
The lesson for me is simple: Get the Michelins, but once they get blocky/greasy/slippery, replace them, not matter how much tread is left on them, which is right about 30K miles.
I made it less than a month with the Continentals before returning them for the Michelins. Even 45 psi tire pressure was not enough to overcome the shortcoming of a too-soft sidewall.
Though I enjoyed the extra quiet when hitting bumps, railroad tracks, etc., the tradeoff was a serious degradation in handling, to the point that safety was a factor.
Simply put, the Continentals were inferior for two similar reasons:
1) They were too soft, thus handling ability was sacrificed
2) They were unpredictable, thus could not be trusted at speed
The lesson for me is simple: Get the Michelins, but once they get blocky/greasy/slippery, replace them, not matter how much tread is left on them, which is right about 30K miles.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Are they soft? Yes. I am running mine at 41/43. Do they lack feedback? Yes.
But I think your comments about safety are exaggeration.
I have mine daily at 100mph. I have one curve at the entrance to my neighborhood where I can safely slide the car. They don’t complain at all. They have exceptional performance in rain. They stop on a dime, dry or wet.
I would choose Michelin over them, but they are absolutely top notch UHP all season tire.
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What you call exaggeration, I call an informed assessment based on several years and many miles of driving experience. Clearly you are not the intended audience of my posts, which are meant to inform.
I can have whatever opinion I like, and you can certainly disregard that opinion. But thinking your opinion is more valid than mine, considering you know nothing about me (or my driving habits), is interesting.
I will say that regularly driving at triple-digit speeds – and saying so on a public forum – pretty much nullifies any opinion you might have on safety. It also calls into question your judgement on any other matter.
Have a nice day.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Several years? Wow.
Please do tell us, novice drivers.
I think it is first post that I see stating that Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus are unpredictable.
That would be serious flaw for any tire, especially for 'high performance'.
No CR testing. Tyre Reviews or others ever mention anything close to your statement.
Krzyś
That would be serious flaw for any tire, especially for 'high performance'.
No CR testing. Tyre Reviews or others ever mention anything close to your statement.
Krzyś
You had “fear and instability” on the Michelins in your first post.
Now, you have the same complaint about the Contis, and went back to the Michelins.
Why?
Seems that you didn’t like either tire. Why not try another brand, perhaps Pirelli?
I’ve got the AS4s on both Mercedes and my V70R. Great tires. The DWS are excellent tires, wore out a set on my 2002 V70T5. Got over 50,000 miles on them. Never experienced the things you have.
The only common factor in these tires you don’t like is, well…you.
And your car.
Which is what, again? how many miles? And how is the suspension?
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your (Specktre) experience with Continental DWS-06 Plus is different than my own...I've had DWS-06s on a 2013 Malibu 2.0T, and a 2015 SS sedan 6.2 as well as DWS-06 Plus on a 2014 CTS Sport Wagon and a 2016 CTS V-Sport 3.6TT...
I felt the sidewalls were a touch soft with the SS sedan but great on the Malibu, Sport Wagon and V-Sport...although the Michelin A/S 3+ had a stiffer sidewall I thought, the Conti's excelled in every other category except dry grip which seemed equal to me...
Good luck with your choice
Bill
I felt the sidewalls were a touch soft with the SS sedan but great on the Malibu, Sport Wagon and V-Sport...although the Michelin A/S 3+ had a stiffer sidewall I thought, the Conti's excelled in every other category except dry grip which seemed equal to me...
Good luck with your choice
Bill
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
If there is an issue (IF), it is there.
I've decided to upsize from 17" to 18" wheels just to get the new Pzero AS Plus 3 UHP tires. They seem to be better than the DWS06+ and PSAS4 if winter traction is not as important to you.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=334
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=334
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