OEM Tires vs Dunlop Direzza ZII
 

Replaced the OEM tires at 100 miles. The Dunlops have over an inch wider tread width at the same tire size! Their OD seems to be smaller than stock as well. Weight is 22lbs, so approx 2lbs heavier than OEM. Only major downside is that they are louder on the freeway. Not R888 or mud tires level, but noticeable. I'll upload "after" photos tonight. Still have to process those in Lightroom.

Cheng

I'm running 225/45/17 Z2's and they're fantastic. They're definitely not quiet, but well worth the noise for the grip.

can you upload a pic with that size? that is the size I want cause i like the "meaty" look

I don't have any shots that show off the width really...

http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8399/...4aa2e342_b.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...84578880_n.jpg

Which rims are those? ;)

I believe those are RPF1's. I want to save up for a supercharger before I spend money on RPF1's so I just chose to stick with the stock wheels for now. Therefore the widest I could fit was 215's.

The minimum wheel width for 225's is 7.5". You can physically fit a 225 on the stock wheels but you'll end up with the exact same tread width as a 215 since you're squeezing the tire.

^^ Not 100% true... running a narrower rim doesn't actually change the tread width, but it does change how the tire reacts to cornering forces. A narrower wheel will make the tire have a bit less grip, but it will break loose more progressively. That said, I wouldn't put a 225 ZII on a 7" wheel either :D

As for my wheels, they're 17x8 +45 RPF1's.

Is it just me or does this tire look like a water collecting death trap. Whenever I see groves that dont exit to the edge of the tire I imidiately think of nightmarish hydroplaning.

Hydro planing results from water lifting the center of the contact patch first. The exit grooves need to reach the center of the contact patch. It doesn't matter if they reach the edges. Counterintuitive but this interesting fact has been known since the 50's at least.

The most effective anti hydro planing treads are simple circumferential grooves.

Yes I understand how tires work. Its a visual thing, it just looks wrong. This is made even worse by the tread being cone shaped, it looks like water will be forced into the dead end.

After Photos

Just wait !
 

When they heat up they stick like glue !

I am addicted - I buy a set EVERY year (they turn into wood after a season)-

Noise be damned - turn up the stereo !

http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps3eb3bee8.gif

CERBERUS

They look worse than they are, I daily drive mine and have had zero issues in pouring rain at highway speeds.

So F1 intermediate tires look wrong?

That tread pattern is a reduced version of the tread pattern you find on rain tires.

Those grooves are optimized for water evacuation given the design purpose of those tires. Tread is only required for standing water (or snow). No tread at all is best for anything else.