Worthless tires, not even bothering with all seasons next year, a second set of wheels and proper winters.

Soft sidewall, absolutely no confidence with them in the corners. They slip a bit initially and then grab better however if you have VSA (I don't turn it off on the street) it'll kick on really early before the tires properly grip. If you have 00-05 I'm sure they're better but I won't be picking up another set. They're not terrible in the snow if you drive very slowly however I just don't see the point, I'd rather have a proper set of winters.

 

1. Thanks! That is the sort of validation I was wondering if others who had used them would give for non-S2000 use.

 

Hmm, I'm not sure I've used 1/2 the car's potential either as I haven't gotten around to tracking or autocrossing yet, but I still like to have a nice grippy tire on the S2000 come summer.

Maybe you should look into the Michelin Pilot Super Sports, they should offer enough grip for your kind of driving and may even carry up to a 30,000 mile warranty though I'm a little skeptical about the 30,000 miles, but it does say something about that on their website. You said you want a quality tire, so this would be my number one recommendation based on your posts. Just make sure to put your winter set on for the colder months and you will be fine with these, should give you a fair amount of use before wearing out that way.

And if you can, wait until your local Discount Tire or Costco offers a rebate on them as they are one of the pricier tires.

http://www.michelinm...rt/tire-details

P.S. since your thread is entitled Continental DWS negatives, my opinion is that the Continental DWS is a tire designed more for a larger sedan than a sports car. My mom runs the DWS on the Acura TL, and they have been good for her use so far, and have held up fine.
Would I consider running them on the S2000? Probably not, maybe as a winter set if I actually drove my S when there was an inch of snow over the pavement.
[/quote]

1. As I stated earlier, I used the Michelin Pilot Sport, which I think are different than the Super Sports, I'm too lazy to go out and look, ha! If the Super Sport is another notch above, as long as it is an A/S I'd be interested. I want the longer tread wear of the A/S for my sedate driving.
2. When you have staggered tires, the warranty is in half for the rear.
3. When I bought my Michelins and they told me they were warranted for 50k at Discount Tire, and I just smiled and said someone has made a mistake, and they won't honor that when the time comes b/c the rears get less than half of what the fronts do on the S2000. 2 years later when they needed to be replaced, they told me that they would only warranty them for 25k! I let them know I knew that would happen.
4. Thanks for the input!

P.S. I just clicked on the link about the tire, and they are not an A/S, so they would not be as hard and give the treadwear of an A/S; since they are warrantied for 30k, I suppose they would last about 15k miles, since the A/S are warrantied for 50K and last less than half that on the back even with my moderate driving.

 

1. I like using the locals, plus Disc. Tire for free will twice a year change out my summer/winter tires, so I can't beat a deal like that since I'm too lazy at this point in my life to do it myself.

 

1. The "list" is like using bullets which helps break down info making it more palatable for the average person, sorry it disturbs you.
2. I don't need tires now; I am asking for my next set which I will buy next summer or the one after depending on how these wear. Finding out info today on the soft sides of the Contis made me want to process about it since I'm on vacation and have the time.
3. In my posting, I stated with my moderate driving I am fine with the A/S Michelin Sport Tires that I bought, and these Contis are doing OK for me since I'm not doing 2g around corners.
4. I'm in the search for the best A/S tire, since I don't need the grip of the summer tire.
5. My son is 29, and bought an 04 S2000, and when he needs tires I will give him your input in case he wants something he can push beyond the limits I do and will need a good summer tire.
6. I have 2 sets of winter tires and rims; I bought one set for $600, and the next set for $200 (I couldn't pass it up, my wife is still irritated, ha! Bridgestone and Dunlops both with only a few hundred miles wear.

 

Maybe just trade her in for a Miata and let someone else appreciate and enjoy the car for what it is, you will save some gas too, its a win win.
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1. I was seeking advice about the weaknesses of the Continental DWS tires in people's experience; I didn't mean to offend by using A/S that thousands use, or, more unforgivable than that apparently, to drive the S like an old man.
2. Wait! I am an old man! Have patience with us elderly, between loosing teeth and getting cancerous tumors removed so we don't die prematurely, it's a wonder that they let us buy sport cars at all since we don't drive them like we were in our 20s.
3. If I was seeking advice about buying a car, like I did last summer when my son was looking, the Miata comment would be spot on.
4. Unfortunately, after owning the S, the 2 times I have driven a Miata since left me in want, if they had a turbo going on, maybe.
5. I might not get another car, this could be the last hurrah for me. I have a list of cars I would like to own before I die, but I love this S so much, I'm afraid I'd regret it if I went another direction, despite the fact the I drive on A/S and drive her below her potential.

 

Maybe just trade her in for a Miata and let someone else appreciate and enjoy the car for what it is, you will save some gas too, its a win win.
[/quote]

1. I was seeking advice about the weaknesses of the Continental DWS tires in people's experience; I didn't mean to offend by using A/S that thousands use, or, more unforgivable than that apparently, to drive the S like an old man.
2. Wait! I am an old man! Have patience with us elderly, between loosing teeth and getting cancerous tumors removed so we don't die prematurely, it's a wonder that they let us buy sport cars at all since we don't drive them like we were in our 20s.
3. If I was seeking advice about buying a car, like I did last summer when my son was looking, the Miata comment would be spot on.
4. Unfortunately, after owning the S, the 2 times I have driven a Miata since left me in want, if they had a turbo going on, maybe.
5. I might not get another car, this could be the last hurrah for me. I have a list of cars I would like to own before I die, but I love this S so much, I'm afraid I'd regret it if I went another direction, despite the fact the I drive on A/S and drive her below her potential.
[/quote]
I get it, and I appreciate your fine choice in this car, that's pretty cool. I just want you to enjoy it further and understand what impact tire choice has on this car, which is far more fussy then 95% of the other cars on the road.

You don't need to push the car to its limits to appreciate what a well constructed performance tire will offer you in the way of feedback, it will dramatically effect the cars behavior, and arguably be safer for you within the limits you do drive or beyond should an emergency situation come up. Ive been on sub par tires in this car (my definition of those tires are anything less then extreme summers and a few select max summers that are firmly constructed) run a set of dunlop z2 or bridgstone re11 and see how your perception of this car changes entirely from what you have become numb to.

with a proper alignment coupled with your driving habits you could get 20k miles out of the rear of one of these choices.

 

Maybe just trade her in for a Miata and let someone else appreciate and enjoy the car for what it is, you will save some gas too, its a win win.
[/quote]

1. I was seeking advice about the weaknesses of the Continental DWS tires in people's experience; I didn't mean to offend by using A/S that thousands use, or, more unforgivable than that apparently, to drive the S like an old man.
2. Wait! I am an old man! Have patience with us elderly, between loosing teeth and getting cancerous tumors removed so we don't die prematurely, it's a wonder that they let us buy sport cars at all since we don't drive them like we were in our 20s.
3. If I was seeking advice about buying a car, like I did last summer when my son was looking, the Miata comment would be spot on.
4. Unfortunately, after owning the S, the 2 times I have driven a Miata since left me in want, if they had a turbo going on, maybe.
5. I might not get another car, this could be the last hurrah for me. I have a list of cars I would like to own before I die, but I love this S so much, I'm afraid I'd regret it if I went another direction, despite the fact the I drive on A/S and drive her below her potential.
[/quote]
I get it, and I appreciate your fine choice in this car, that's pretty cool. I just want you to enjoy it further and understand what impact tire choice has on this car, which is far more fussy then 95% of the other cars on the road.

You don't need to push the car to its limits to appreciate what a well constructed performance tire will offer you in the way of feedback, it will dramatically effect the cars behavior, and arguably be safer for you within the limits you do drive or beyond should an emergency situation come up. Ive been on sub par tires in this car (my definition of those tires are anything less then extreme summers and a few select max summers that are firmly constructed) run a set of dunlop z2 or bridgstone re11 and see how your perception of this car changes entirely from what you have become numb to.

with a proper alignment coupled with your driving habits you could get 20k miles out of the rear of one of these choices.
[/quote]

1. When my Michelins showed more wear from the middle to the inside of the rear tires (and there was "plenty" of tread on the outside), Disc. tire told me I needed an alignment, but I was advised that this was normal for the way the S2000 was set up, and if I tried to take out that, it would be fish-tailing in the back, so I didn't do anything to it (had under 40k miles on the car).
2. If it does it again with the Contis, and since I got the 255 instead of the 245, I was told it would be even worse, I would like to do something b/c there was 2-3k more miles left in the tires (maybe more, I'm not a tire expert), just keeping them on, and if they were wearing evenly, more! But, it was at the beginning of the summer, and I thought I'd just get the tire thing out of the way.
3. You do have me curious, but since I couldn't even tell a difference between the OEM tires and the Michelins or the Contis; it could be a mute point.

 

OP, at the very least I recommend getting a proper alignment, and going back to the stock AP2 size (215/45/17 fronts, 245/45/17 rear), especially if treadwear is your main concern. I just don't understand the logic of running a wider tire, and then running an all season tire like the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S or Continental DWS, especially when you already have a winter set up. You'd get much better performance out of the OEM AP2 size set up with a tire like the Michelin Pilot Super Sport than the 225/255 set up of Continental DWS, and may even get the same tread life if you get a proper alignment.

Another tire I will throw in is the Bridgestone Potenza S-04, these will give you a little more treadwear yet than the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, and still offer better handling than any all-season tire. If these don't offer enough tread life, than maybe just go with the Michelin Pilot A/S 3, which supposedly offer better grip than some max performance tires, though I am skeptical of this.

 

I just got some new tires to replace my DD which had DWS since 2008 & been going through a few sets of tires for the S2k since acquiring the S. So I thought to join the party.

It is true as many said the side wall of DWS & DW (I have/had both) are slightly more flimsy. I saw that right away after I replaced the DWS with the new Falken AS 950 (there is a rebate right now from Falken).

I had great experience with the DWS in the DD which had 300hp AWD weighing 4000+lb. Took them at the end of life going through the uphill section of grapevine with lot of turns of FWY 5 here in So Cal at 90mph+. Granted the AWD plus the car's capability compensated a lot, not a single hicup with the tires.

The last straw was 3 nails that finally deflated one of the DWS (didn't let me down until I got home & I began to wonder if I made a mortal enemy ). I then took them to Autocross last weekend in the DD for fun.

While they didn't perform as good as a Duplops Z II in autocross, they held up on corning the heavy car (they squeel the whole way of course) & still pull decent times.

So I think the DWS were a great value for the life & the performance out of AS tires. The price had been getting higher which is why I didn't get another set. Don't have the chance of driving throgh snow, but wet & dry traction is great. The only time the ride quality being horrible was recent until edges were completely worned out showing cracks.

Hope you're not offended, I think the DWS is even a bit overkill for what you have to spend to put on the Corolla. There are cheaper options. So far I had looked at the Hankook S1 Noble AS & ended up with Falken 950 AS since the rebate & shop offered a lower price on falken. I think these two were make to compete with DWS's high treadwear yet "somewhat" ultimate performance A/S.

Discount tire will price match, no shipping & tax. I would've gotten the Falkens but they don't carry it yet...
Just wanted to help you some money to put into the S to really play.

I'm not too surprised by so much hate to DWS here since the S is so twitchy even Max summer tires cannot stop the tail whip at the limit that may occur under emergency situations.

I do remember someone in the midwest posted about snow tires finally stopped his S from going side ways last winter.

Oh, plenty of folks your age in the local club here that can "school" me any day even if they drive a "slower" car than the S