Topic: Continental ExtremeContact DWS Review

[DeepBlueGXP]

I purchased my last set of ContiExtremeContact All Season tires and I was extremely impressed with the handling and wet weather traction that I decided to purchase another set only to find that they were no longer carried.  I was bummed as I just put 50,000 miles on them.  I have over 53,000 on my 07 GXP now.  I sold the original tires after the 2007 Nationals trip because I planned on using my car as a daily driver and I didn't want to use summer only tires. 

Anyway, http://www.discounttiredirect.com/ had the Continental ExtremeContact DWS on sale for $159 a piece.  I had 4 tires delivered to my place last week Friday (free shipping)

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No the girl isn't included in the price!!!! Oh and you had better not write what you're thinking, that is my son's girlfriend and she's only 15.... 

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So my son's pickup had broken down and we had to get the tires to the shop some how.  2 in the Coupe and 2 in my GXP

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The tires are rated 540 AA, my last set were rated 400.  It's been raining quite hard in the last few days and they have some serious rain groves

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On the way home from work today I decided to push it a little to see what the breaking point is.  I was accelerating faster than normal and no problems, I continued adding more power and more until I was about floored on the gas pedal and I had to let off.  I won't say how fast I was going but there was ZERO slipping.  I was extremely impressed.  The DWS tires were better than my last set of Conties.  I also noticed that the typical rooster tail you would see from our cars didn't exist either.  That must be because of the larger groves running around the tires. 

I'm not a tire expert by any means but yesterday when it was dry out, I couldn't get them to slip at all through the CRE circuit.  (those of you who have been to my place know what I mean) 

They are extremely quiet and I don't notice the bumps as much.  That right after I returned from getting them installed.  I forgot to check the tire pressure before leaving the shop.  When I got home, they were at 35 PSI, I then lowered them back to 29. 

Now the last set of Conties lasted 50k with about 15 burnouts at various drag strips and one about 200-300 feet long by Randy at Mod Meet 4 - October, 2008.

So I'm looking forward to a safe, enjoyable 50k+ miles on my new Conties

p.s Thanks Goat for your assistance and Travis at Discount Tire Direct for your awesome service.

[Treeman]

That's good to know.  I've been eyeballing these if I go all-season.  Would appreciate an update when the frozen stuff hits.

[KWhale]

Good to know that Conti has some good tires.  My only experience with them was a set of Conti's that came as stock on my new 300C.  They were all season as well, but can't remember which version they were.  I only got 1 month and 1,100 kms out of them.  They were so bad in the snow they couldn't even get the car rolling if there was more than a 1 degree incline.  Hard as rocks at -20 and fairly noisy as well.

It sounds like the ones you have (and had) are excellent though.  Be sure to let us know how they feel and work for you in the cold.

[DeepBlueGXP]

My last set of Conti were great in the snow last year.  They don't plow my road until much later, after the main roads are plowed and I drove up the road fine without spinning.  I was really surprised.  It also has to do with the 50/50 weight distribution of the car.

[lil goat]

Don't forget that the tires should be at a minimum of 29 PSI  COLD, 35 psi hot is about 31 cold from what I have seen on the track, you may want to play with the pressures a bit, 29 is not a magic number for anything but the stock tires. I run 31 in my Bridgstones, they are much better in the rain with 31 than 29 surprisingly, and that includes racing in the rain. Travis might have some insight on where the pressure should be.
For those like me who are picture challenged at work, very aggressive tread

[TomatoSoup]

Very Interesting!  I was looking at the various reviews & comparos of all season tires on T i r e R a c k and saw that these looked like  they would be the best choice overall from what fits our cars.  Glad that you get to try and report on them on a Solstice though. Thanks!

Another interesting factoid, the D, W, S imprint on the middle of the tread (see on Goat's picture at the bottom) are molded at different depths.  When the "S" wears away, you should no longer use on snow, when the "W" wears away, no longer use in the wet.  Of course, you'll easily be able to see when the "D" (dry) wears away because your car will be upside down in a ditch.

[Arabas]

I always take it easy if it is raining, for sure sport cars do not feel comfortable on wet. of course i would love to race on a wet track, just for the fun of it and to see the car's limits.

but the most important thing i wanted to ask when i first read this topic is:
DeepBlue GXP, HOW MANY KAPPAS DO YOU HAVE OVER THERE?????????
send me the coupe pleaaaaaaaaase!!!!!!

[lil goat]

Critter and I tested the my Bridgestones and his Sumitomo's on the track in the rain last weekend, they did much better than either of us expected, and it was not warm either both are summer tires. Neither of them helped us stay on course but they got good traction 

[Critterman]

I didn't have any trouble staying on course, I had problems finding it.  I ran 26.5 lbs on the wet track and never rolled a tire, and I was pushing hard.  It was Sunday in the dry that I decided to leave the course.

[DeepBlueGXP]

I always take it easy if it is raining, for sure sport cars do not feel comfortable on wet. of course i would love to race on a wet track, just for the fun of it and to see the car's limits.

but the most important thing i wanted to ask when i first read this topic is:
DeepBlue GXP, HOW MANY KAPPAS DO YOU HAVE OVER THERE?????????
send me the coupe pleaaaaaaaaase!!!!!!

There are always 3 there, my son own the black, I, the blue, the wife, da coupe...

[Treeman]

There are always 3 there, my son own the black, I, the blue, the wife, da coupe...

Kappa cubed!!!

[Arabas]

There are always 3 there, my son own the black, I, the blue, the wife, da coupe...

that s what i call brand loyalty!!!!
i ll have the coupe, thx!!!!! when should i be waiting for it?????? lol...

[DeepBlueGXP]

And my other son has the Pontiac G6

[lil goat]

I have no wife but my son and I are pretty much GM loyal, we both have Pontiac's and he his is an 04 GTO, and we both have GMC trucks, we also both have Harley's but that is a whole different forum.

[Rogue]

I'm not sure how the thread got this twisted off the tire review, but as long as we're detailing our brand loyalties...we have 1 '08 Sol GXP roadster (GXPsy Rose), 1 '09 Sol GXP Coupe (Rogue), 1 '08 GMC Sierra Crew Cab (Safira - the last dragon), 1 '06 GTO (Billy) and a '76 Triumph TR6 (the 6). Oh yeah...and a semi-retired '94 Ford Explorer (Bessie). Hmmm...no wonder our driveway is crowded! So...now...can we twist this thread again into something like "what do you name your cars?"

[Treeman]

Hey Joe, I am curious, are you able to compare the dry handling to those of the stock F1s?  Don't want to start a huge string on the dawgyness of the F1s  but since that is what is currently on my car it is my baseline.  Curious as to grip, road feel, responsiveness of these all-seasons versus those summer tires.  Deedle still has the F1s as a comparo, doesn't she?

[kennysabarese]

Def interested in the same, specially in the cold. I need to replace my stockers as well. Need a set of winter tires, but don't think I need snow tires cuz I never drive in the snow, just the cold wet and dry.

I will have other summer tires for the rest of the year

[LiquidPT]

Def interested in the same, specially in the cold. I need to replace my stockers as well. Need a set of winter tires, but don't think I need snow tires cuz I never drive in the snow, just the cold wet and dry.

I will have other summer tires for the rest of the year

Summer tires, and many all seasons, become hard and lose traction below 40 or 45. "Winter" (i.e. snow tires) aren't JUST good for snow, but cold temps as well. We're dipping below 45 during the day here now, threatening snow mixed with rain next weekend, so the Blizzaks are goin on my my car.

[kennysabarese]

Summer tires, and many all seasons, become hard and lose traction below 40 or 45. "Winter" (i.e. snow tires) aren't JUST good for snow, but cold temps as well.

I thought that snow tires were really narrow for better snow traction.

For wet and dry cold traction I don't think I want narrow.

Is there a difference between "winter" and "snow" tires?

Should I get wide winter/snow tires for wet and dry in cold temps? I was thinking all season was best for that.

[Treeman]

This month's Car and Driver has a good article comparing all season performance, all season, winter performance, and winter tires.  They deliberately choose not to use the term "snow tires" as they say (and show) winter tires have moved well beyond the snow tires of old.  Article does not seem to be online yet.

[kennysabarese]

I will check it out. Thanks. I saw a video on tire rack comparing winter tires and all season but it was just on snow. Looking forward to this.

[LiquidPT]

I thought that snow tires were really narrow for better snow traction.

For wet and dry cold traction I don't think I want narrow.

Is there a difference between "winter" and "snow" tires?

Should I get wide winter/snow tires for wet and dry in cold temps? I was thinking all season was best for that.

My Blizzaks are slightly narrower (235 instead of the stock 245). Ya, and what Treeman said. Ther termiology has moved to "winter" because they aren't just for driving in snow.

[DeepBlueGXP]

My new Contis have great traction dry and wet.  I did notice that I can't use the 29PSI that GM recommends.  They tend to flat spot after sitting for a weekend.  I bumped the pressure up to 31 psi and it's better but still is a little bumpy for the first 3 or 4 miles.  I'll take them up to 33 psi today and see if it helps.  No change in driving comfort.

Dee still has the F1s on her car.  She doesn't drive it nearly as much as I do mine.  I have the 4x4 Ram 50 as backup.

oh, temps have been down to 39 in the morning. 

[Treeman]

Thanks!  You may have said this but I didn't understand this.  By great traction dry - does that mean better than the F1s on Dee's car?  Do they react as quickly - sidewall stiffness (I guess this will be impacted by your increases in tire pressure)?

[TomatoSoup]

Joe - any updates on these now you've had them a while?  Especially interested in the snow performance given the recent weather.