[T3h_Clap]

Dunlop hasn't released their treadwidth, so I can't give you a #s from the manufactures comparo.

but Advan's tread width of their aggressive tires tend to be wider than many other tires in the same section width.

[Johnny-J5]

I found a pic of the 245/40/17's :



They are for sale on this thread:

PA FS: Four Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec in 245/40/17 - Tri-State Area Private Classifieds - NASIOC

Im getting a set from Luke very soon!!

[WC LATHE WERKS]

nice ruler
I was considering these, but tire rack has none. discount tire has sizes I dont want. I may just get the RE-01R's next

[Tbagger]

they are hard to come by in a lot of "our" desired sizes. They are being pretty slow with the distribution line. I'm getting impatient but after reading a post from Luke on NASIOC about a gentelman winning every race he entered this past weekend . . . I might wait a bit longer.

[Tbagger]

here's the article:

Dunlop Direzza Z1 Tires ‘Star’ in SCCA National ProSolo

AKRON, Ohio, April 3, 2008 – Dunlop’s new Direzza Sport Z1 “Star Spec” tires came through with “flying colors” at California’s El Toro airfield.

Racer Richard Jung, of Laguna Niguel, Calif., won the Street Touring Ultra (STU) class with the new street tires on his Mitsubishi Evo in the 2008 Tire Rack ProSolo opener at the former U.S. Marine air station. Then he did what he believed was unthinkable.

The vice president for CiroDesign, an Irvine product-and-graphics design company, raced against 32 drivers from all classes in the Super Challenge “format” and won all five elimination rounds. He was crowned Super Challenge champion. Jung was the only SCCA driver using Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 “Star Spec” ultra high-performance tires at that event.

Jung said, “El Toro was a great debut for the new ‘Zed One Star Specs.’ The class win created a lot of interest in Dunlop tires. I did well previously on the Direzza Sport Z1 tires with an STU class victory in San Diego two weeks prior, but the ‘Star Specs’ were even better.

“I can feel the difference; as advertised, you can push ‘Star Specs’ on the first run. This was an advantage, since it allowed a more consistent feel and reduced the need for suspension adjustments between runs,” Jung said.

Matthew Neidert, brand manager for Dunlop high-performance tires, said Jung’s class win “proved the Star Specs could be a top contender in STU. But by winning the Super Challenge in one day, he kicked down the door. His times and consistency allowed him to take the win over the cars from other classes, even those with race-compound tires.”

A win in the hotly contested STU class is noteworthy, Neidert said, but Jung’s overall win in Super Challenge “truly is amazing. He really had his Evo ‘dialed in’ for the competition.”

Jung said he became interested in Direzza Sport Z1 ‘Star Spec’ tires when he read press reports. “I didn't really plan to be different, but to be a top competitor in the class, I feel it's important to test tires to find out what works to gain a performance advantage. We're still learning the tire's characteristics, but so far we've had pretty good results,” he said.

The new Direzza Sport Z1 “Star Spec” is available now, qualifying it for use in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) national events. According to section 13.3 of the 2008 SCCA SOLO rules, tires must be readily available by April 30 to qualify.

The new tire features the “Star Spec” tread compound, which helps a performance car’s initial dry grip during sanctioned amateur driving events, such as autocross and high-performance track-events hosted by regional car clubs.

A high-response directional tread pattern with circumferential grooves helps create a consistent contact patch on the pavement for a smooth feel and seamless transition. An “optimal mold shape” helps provide a consistent footprint shape and uniform pressure distribution across the footprint for enhanced cornering, Neidert said.

Dunlop is a global tire brand with an excellent reputation among performance car enthusiasts. Well known for its prestigious original-equipment fitments and sports car racing heritage, Dunlop is also a key supplier to sport compact enthusiasts featuring "tuner" tire sizes and race series sponsorships. For more information on Dunlop’s performance tires, go to Dunlop Tires <http://www.dunloptires.com> .

[Shocker6]

I got a set of the new Direzza Z1 Star Specs...These are the ones taking place of the Z1.

Got 245/40/17s from tire rack...Have not mounted them yet. They are a great price and Dunlop is giving a $50 rebate on them...Only way you can tell teh difference between them is the new Star Spec ones have a star after the Z1 on the tire.

Will give some updates when I get out to the track with them...

Matt

[snorky]

is the star an asterisk meaning these aren't as good as the originals. I hope not.

[r12rex]

I can't wait for my set. I have a set coming in the mail to be delivered Tuesday...at which I will go STRAIGHT to the tire shop to mount on my new wheels...I'll post them later


Kind Regards,
Ryan

[syrarch04]

I also bought a set going on Wednesday. I got the 245/40, hopefully they won't rub (I'm lowered on RCE yellows).

[Tbagger]

i'm waiting on my set to. They should be here thursday this week to be mounted and balanced. On the car thursday night!!!

I'm super excited.

[syrarch04]

I got them put on the stock wheels yesterday and the 245/40s fit fine with the RCE yellow springs on. They feel fantastic so far (I'm coming off snow tires, so they're bound to feel good by comparison), but the real test comes on the 27th at the first AutoX of the season. The compound is definitely soft, they tend to pick up small stones after they warm up, like an R-compound, but not as bad. The stock RE070s never did that. Hopefully that will translate into faster lap times at the track. We shall see.

[snorky]

Originally Posted by syrarch04

I got them put on the stock wheels yesterday and the 245/40s fit fine with the RCE yellow springs on. They feel fantastic so far (I'm coming off snow tires, so they're bound to feel good by comparison), but the real test comes on the 27th at the first AutoX of the season. The compound is definitely soft, they tend to pick up small stones after they warm up, like an R-compound, but not as bad. The stock RE070s never did that. Hopefully that will translate into faster lap times at the track. We shall see.

is the 245/40 z1 taller than the stock re070s? I think I may pick up a set eventually seeing as the re070s are getting harder to find as takeoffs.

[r12rex]

Originally Posted by syrarch04

I got them put on the stock wheels yesterday and the 245/40s fit fine with the RCE yellow springs on. They feel fantastic so far (I'm coming off snow tires, so they're bound to feel good by comparison), but the real test comes on the 27th at the first AutoX of the season. The compound is definitely soft, they tend to pick up small stones after they warm up, like an R-compound, but not as bad. The stock RE070s never did that. Hopefully that will translate into faster lap times at the track. We shall see.

I have to agree completely with this...I had mine mounted Tuesday and have been trying to put some driving time on them...around town...they are damn comfortable...I've never ridden in an RE01r equipped vehicle...but I suspect them to be pretty near them as far as ride quality goes...I was on some SCCA forums and someone noted that sitting on the tire *plain carcass un-mounted* VS the RE01 yielded a stiffer tire sidewall...Compound was softer than the RE01.

Anyway, I need more seat time but here's my little take on the tires...

I love them...absolutely love them! I did lose some sidewall stiffness, but at the same tire pressures that the stock re070s were, they aren't far from them...seriously. *39.5 F 36 R* The tires are MUCH MUCH quieter than stock and again the ride comfort has been improved enough to notice. Tramlining is not too much of an issue as it seems...so far...I've never had my car track so straight ever. Lol Anyway, playing with them one night...I took an on-ramp at a good rate with the new tires and they felt great! Didn't hear a squeel...no greasy "roll-over" type feeling and the tire just wanted to keep gripping...i feel I could have pushed the car a bit more...but didn't want to because I need to play with tire pressures still and the tires are still very new.

I'm looking forward to putting some wear on them and playing with the pressures to see what they like...so far nothing but positives...the only downside...as to any tire out there really...softer sidewall. Can't complain!

I did notice the tires picking up lots of stones and debris from the floor as well...

Kind Regards,
Ryan

[Tbagger]

^thanks for the review. I should have mine mounted tomorrow for the weekend cruise to put some miles on them. I'm trying to be patient but it's killing me.

[KiR DieseL]

Im most likely going with these tires for my new wheels this summer