New Dunlop Direzza Z3 Tires on Tirerack (UPDATE: New, cheaper prices FYI)

"AkursedX" (akursedx) 02/17/2018 at 23:11 • Filed to: Autocross, Tires

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I like reading about tires, particularly 200TW autocross tires so I was a bit excited when I saw that the new Dunlop Z3 tires are available on Tirerack (estimated shipping 3/16/18)

(05/18/2018: I added a blurb of my analysis of the most recent comparison test that I read in Grassroots Motorsports a couple days ago)

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Dunlop&tireModel=Direzza+ZIII

These were available in Japan last year as far as I can tell as they have been on Dunlop’s Japanese site since then, but I have not heard anything as far as their actual performance. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

I’m going to assume that they will be a 200TW tire. The question is, will they be able to compete with the Bridgestone RE-71 and the BF Goodrich Rival S 1.5? I really hope so! I have no hat in the game. I’d just like to see more variety at the top.

Price-wise, it looks like they are more costly than the RE-71's and a little cheaper than the Rivals S’s. EDIT: I was shopping tires again today and the new Z3 in my 255/40 R17 went from ~$225 all the way down to $175.52 as of 05/18/2018! They are now only $3 more than the Bridgestone RE71's. I checked across other comparable sizes and it seems that they have dropped for most sizes. So at that price point, they better perform. At the very least, I hope they match the grip of the RE-71 but give the longer life that the Direzza’s usually have.

My current tires (Fallen 615k+’s) will probably last me 3-4 events into the season so there should be some good data on these by the time I am ready to buy a competitive set of tires.

A couple of friends of mine have been co-driving an E-Street Porsche 944 on the Dunlop Z3's. They have been performing well as the owner has won the Street-Class in the two events we’ve been at together and also top the top PAX time at one event. So, it appears that these tires can be competitive at the local level at least.

—-UPDATE 05/18/2018—-

I received my issue of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! this month and they did an in-depth article and comparison test of the Dunlop Z3 against the Bridgestone RE-71, and BF Goodrich Rival 1.5s. They also did another less in-depth test adding in the Dunlop Z2 Star Spec and Falken RT615K+.

While I am not going to cite the issue word for word (Seriously, get a subscription. It’s easily my favorite magazine and website), it appears that the Z3 falls a bit short overall of the other two.

It seems the Z3 is a very sensitive tire. If you have the right wheel width, alignment, temp, and air pressures, the Z3 is right on par with or even better than the RE71 and the Rival. But when things aren’t right, particularly with temps, the performance falls off much more than the other two.

It got a positive review on it’s driveability and feedback and is closer to the RE71 than the Rival in how it drives.

So, while the Z3 seems closer to the top than the outgoing Z2 Star Spec, its probably not going to be a popular tire at the national-level autocross events. I still haven’t seen anything on longevity though. If these can have a long life, I could see them as a decent choice for local/regional autocrossers who want some more miles out of their tires than what some other tires provide.

AestheticsInMotion > AkursedX 02/17/2018 at 23:16

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Thanks for the heads up! I’ve been wondering how long we’d have to wait to get them over here. For better or worse, sounds like the goal was to best the Bridgestones in outright dry grip. I just hope they didn’t lose the qualities I loved about the (admittedly slower) ZII’s.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > AkursedX 02/18/2018 at 09:43

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Pricier than the RE71? No thanks. They would have to be some damn good tires. Of course they probably won’t be offered in the right size for the Boostang...

AkursedX > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 02/18/2018 at 10:18

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I agree to a point. Like I said in my post, if they are as good as the Re-71's but wear better and/or are more streetable, I’d consider them.

I don’t know if that’ll happen, but as long as they are on par with the Re-71's and the Rivals, people will buy them. In my size, the Rivals are $53 more a tire and people will still buy them.

I still got about 4-5 events left in my current Falkens so I’m sure there will be data out there by the time I’m ready for new tires. Admittedly, I will probably just buy 2 more Falkens considering I already have a pair of new ones that I won through our local contingency program. $275 on tires for the season sounds a lot better than almost $800. Especially since this is only my second full season and I still have a ways to go before I’m competing for top 10 PAX times in my local regions. But sometimes it’s frustrating to know that I’m leaving roughly a full second on the course just because of what tire I’m running. So we’ll see....

daender > AkursedX 02/18/2018 at 11:09

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Fudge, I bought NOS Toyo R1Rs last November because they were $60 a tire.

Oof, $147.76 for the 205/50 and $151.97 for the 195/55, that’s rough for me.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > AkursedX 02/18/2018 at 12:08

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Hmmm, looks like my sticky tire decision just got trickier. I was looking at ZII*s because they last longer on the road than the RE71Rs but if these can match the grip of the RE71Rs and give me long life they might be worth it.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > AkursedX 02/18/2018 at 13:27

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Oh I’m sure people will buy them. I just get a little bitter because in my size there’s very little available and then they’re over $300 each for AX tires. Street tires are better, but I don’t think I would run these on the street.

MM54 > AkursedX 02/18/2018 at 15:55

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Do they come in 13"?

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > AkursedX 02/26/2018 at 19:13

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Just buy the damn ‘stones

TA4K > AkursedX 03/03/2018 at 01:11

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I’m planning to run a set of Direzza Z2*’s on the Cappuccino once I can get the money. Should make the road rallies a bit more fun

ateamfan42 > AkursedX 03/07/2018 at 11:38

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This looks to be the natural replacement for the Direzza ZII Star Spec; I would expect similar performance.

I’m disappointed the available 15" sizes remain on the narrow side. I guess those folks looking for 225+ fitments in 15" for street/performance will need to stick with the G-Force Rival and the Ventus R-S4 for the time being.

FutureHeelToeHistorian > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/11/2018 at 10:41

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I’d buy them for slightly more than RE71R if they matched them in every way but were more heat tolerant. RE71R get really greasy by the 3rd run for my in the summers. Spraying helps but theres definitely room for improvement 

gettingoldercarguy > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/18/2018 at 23:40

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Don’t you run 285s?

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > gettingoldercarguy 03/19/2018 at 02:18

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yep

gettingoldercarguy > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/19/2018 at 02:56

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There ain’t no cheap way out of that purchase m8.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > gettingoldercarguy 03/19/2018 at 20:56

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Very true, but the RE71Rs are still cheaper than the Direzza Z3s

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AkursedX 03/26/2018 at 15:43

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I have the Z2 star specs on my Miata, was able to get a decent closeout deal on them earlier this year thanks to the Z3 coming soon. I love those tires in the canyons although I have yet to try them at an autocross. It’s hard to compare them but I do have the Falken 615k+ on my STi. I think the Z2 is definitely a better tire though in that comparison. So I would have to think the Z3 is just that much better. I generally dislike the RE71R just because of reports of how quickly they wear out. I suppose for autocross only its not important to last long, but if you dual duty with them, its certainly relevant. I still think SCCA should ban “200 TW” tires from stock class. Honestly I think stock/street class should be limited to all seasons or like much higher treadware. Its the only reason why I just ran slicks last year and went to CSP since it was cheaper.

My Other Engine is a Wankel > AkursedX 04/09/2018 at 13:27

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They’re out for a few weeks now... Has anyone tried them yet?

AkursedX > My Other Engine is a Wankel 04/09/2018 at 13:33

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Ive not seen anything yet unfortunately. I’ve been looking at all the national autox events and have only seen one person on Dunlops and I’m not even certain they were the Direzzas.

That said, I think I am going to end up ordering a set for myself as I have a unique opportunity to compare them. A friend of mine in the local region also has an STX-prepped RX-8 and is running the identical 17x9 RPF1's and he’s on RE-71's in the same size. We talked about it and if I buy the Dunlops, we will swap our wheels and tires between the morning and afternoon sessions to see how they compare and contrast. That will be a great opportunity to answer the question everyone is asking as to whether these Dunlops can compete.

FutureHeelToeHistorian > AkursedX 04/12/2018 at 17:24

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Gah, I’ve been really curious to see how these are. Early orders should have been delivered already and there is an autox every weekend at this point. Haven’t seen squat about them. People were all over the rivals 1.5 as soon as they hit the ground, I wonder if this is a bad sign already.

AestheticsInMotion > FutureHeelToeHistorian 04/19/2018 at 21:48

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It’s driving me crazy not seeing any useful info on these yet. If you find something, please post it here too :)

TahoeSTi > AkursedX 04/25/2018 at 17:34

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How are the tires holding up, I’m currently looking at the or the RE71s for my STi. It’s a hard choice.

Maxima Speed > AkursedX 05/11/2018 at 22:20

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Ive never used them, I do know that the Direzza DZ 102's are incredible for road use on my Solara, as soft as they were I imagine the the Z III’s would be Autocross and track only.

Edit: Actually read your post and see that you’re getting the for autocross anyways.