Best all-season tires Goodyear Assurance TripleTred *Est. $140
Budget all-season tires Yokohama Avid TRZ *Est. $85
All-season tires for performance cars Michelin Primacy MXV4 *Est. $130
Budget high-performance all-season tires Continental ContiExtremeContact *Est. $90
Max-performance summer tires Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 *Est. $185

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Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

*Est. $125

Excellent wet and dry traction
Reasonably priced
For daily or autocross use

For summer driving only
No treadwear warranty

Where to Buy

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Our Analysis

For a high-performance summer tire at a reasonable price, reviews point to the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. Owners say it sticks tenaciously to both wet and dry roads, making it perfect for autocross events. Expert testers say the ride quality isn't bad, either, making it practical for those who drive their high-performance cars every day. The Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec can only be driven in warm weather, though, and it has the lowest government treadwear rating of any highly recommended summer tire. The most recommended summer tire, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (*est. $185), has a slightly higher treadwear rating and a higher government traction rating, but it is also much more expensive. If you need performance tires for year-round use, reviews say the Michelin Primacy MXV4 (*est. $130) is the best all-around choice.

We found only one comparison test of Dunlop's newest high-performance tire: The Tire Rack pits the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec against three competing tires on both wet and dry tracks. The Tire Rack also invites owners to review their tires, and the 85 ratings posted there for the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec provide good insight into its real-life performance. This tire is one of 2,400 included in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's searchable database of tire ratings.

Where To Buy

Store Rating	Notes	Total Price
29 store reviews	In Stock. Authorized Dealer	$127.00	See It
41 store reviews	In Stock.	$97.40	See It
4 store reviews	In Stock.	$84.00	See It
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Our Sources

1. Tire Rack

Staff testers at The Tire Rack award the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec first place in this comparison test of four summer performance tires. The Direzza posts the best lap time on a dry track and far outmaneuvers its competitors on wet roads. It doesn't deliver the best ride quality in the test, but reviewers say the difference is slight.

Review: Dunlop Launches a New Star in Extreme Performance Summer Tires, Editors of The Tire Rack, May 23, 2008

2. Tire Rack

Owners award the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec first place among extreme-performance summer tires in reviews at this retail site. Several say it is incredibly sticky and unbeatable for autocross, and they like it on wet roads, too. However, some say the Direzza is fast-wearing and loud.

Review: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, Contributors to TireRack.com

3. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NHTSA requires manufacturers to test their tires' traction, heat resistance and treadwear, and to label the tires accordingly. The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec gets an A for both traction (the highest score is AA) and heat resistance, but its treadwear score is low -- even for an ultra-high-performance summer tire.

Review: Tire Ratings, Editors of NHTSA

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