Summer is here again (hallelujah) so I figured I would post this for any of you considering purchasing some new summer tires. I left the review here as the tires I chose are applicable to any performance-oriented coupe or sedan.
I wanted to try out some new tires this summer. I liked both the stickiness and responsiveness of the OEM ContiSportContact 5Ps I had but wasn't thrilled with the ride comfort they provided. Initially, I sold them because I wanted to go wider but after doing some research, I determined that wider isn't necessarily
always better. I didn't want to sacrifice performance but I did want to secure a better/softer ride for cruising during daily driving.
I've had all kinds of summer tires. On my BMWs, I mainly utilized either Pirelli P-Zeros, Michelin Pilot Super Sports, or Bridgestone Potenza Pole Positions. For the C63, I considered these aforementioned options along with several other brands, models, and sizes (OEM, 265/245, 275/245, etc.). After a lot of reading and plenty of deliberation, I went with the Continental ExtremeContact DW (Dry/Wet) in 255/35 and 235/40.
First off, I like the way the DW's look. They've got a nice, extra wide profile and a pretty cool tread pattern. There are D and W indicators in the tread that disappear when the tire is no longer suitable for a particular condition. It doesn't get much easier than that.
Dry Performance: They're ZR(Y)-rated max performance summer tires (186+ mph). Steering feel is good and turn-in has remained sharp. While the tires provide plenty of feedback, they soak up road imperfections and rough pavement much better than my old 5Ps. The tires are also very, very quiet. Since installing the tires, I have been driving exclusively in S+ and whenever I smash the throttle from a dig, they hook up wonderfully (ambient temperatures of about 80-86 F). There isn't much squealing or fuss, just plenty of traction. I didn't measure my stopping distances or anything like that but generally, pedal feel during braking is also excellent.
Wet Performance: Wow, this is where these tires really shine. We've had some soaking rain recently and the DWs handled the wet conditions flawlessly. Whereas the 5Ps felt a little squirmy/skittish during spirited wet-weather driving, the DWs felt planted (especially at higher speeds on the interstate). There was minimal ESP interference during reasonable acceleration in the wet. Braking on the soaked road surface was also very pleasant and stable.
I'll add more feedback to this post as I rack up more miles but thus far, I have been thrilled with the ExtremeContact DWs. Michelin Pilot Super Sports they are not but they offer excellent dry/wet performance and outstanding ride quality for a bargain of a price. I actually looked up some DW reviews after I bought them and found that they outperformed the PSS with respect to wet track testing.
Hopefully they last a while. With my right foot, I doubt it.
A few photos:
