New Tires: Conti ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus vs Mich Pilot Sport AS 4

[dj_rice]

Looking for new tires for next season and think I'm going with these 2 choices.

Looking for pros/cons on which way to go

Vehicle they're going on wont be driven in winter but I don't want to go with strictly summer tire

[ThePenIsMightier]

Aww Geez! Neither?!
Doesn't Yokohama have one in that bracket?

[rage2]

I've been running AS4's for 2 seasons now. Pretty much as much grip as P-Zeros on a <20C day. Can handle light snow decent so I'm able to switch to winters later. Can't complain.

[bjstare]

I was actually looking at this recently, and limited info on the internet shows A/S4 is better performance-wise, and DWS06 is slightly better in inclement weather. If the vehicle won't be driven in the winter, then I'd def go A/S4.

Also, anecdotally, I really just prefer michelins to continentals. I've had Mich a/s3+, and MPSS.. both were much quieter and seem to last longer than contisport contact 5p.

[dj_rice]

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Also, anecdotally, I really just prefer michelins to continentals. I've had Mich a/s3+, and MPSS.. both were much quieter and seem to last longer than contisport contact 5p.

My shop foreman friend said this exact statement. Quieter and last longer. In the size I'm getting, theres no AS4's in inventory yet. Hopefully by next year when I'm ready to get, theres stock. If rage2 runs them, its settled.

[rage2]

To add to this, my primary car right now is the E wagon. If it wasn't for the AS4's I'd be blowing my head off right about now lol. Sport suspension mode, cornering is actually tolerable.

[tirebob]

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Looking for new tires for next season and think I'm going with these 2 choices.

Looking for pros/cons on which way to go

Vehicle they're going on wont be driven in winter but I don't want to go with strictly summer tire

Both are top level quality products for sure. Simple design difference that is probably the most notable would be the aggressive grooving difference of the Conti vs the Michelin, and that leads me to suggest that if you are more aggressive driving then the Michelin tread pattern will handle that a little better and less potential to feather but if you want to have a little more bite for the shoulder seasons when it can get a little gross and you are not as worried about as much sporty driving in the dry then go with the Conti. It would be the deciding factor for me if I was choosing between those two.

[dj_rice]

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To add to this, my primary car right now is the E wagon. If it wasn't for the AS4's I'd be blowing my head off right about now lol. Sport suspension mode, cornering is actually tolerable.

Taken from a reddit thread with the same question asked. By the time I order next year, there will probably be a AS4+ model out

Good question

The dws06 has a super soft side wall compared to the as4. As a result it’s steering and handling aren’t great. Frankly it’s only good in the wet and ok in the snow

The as4 is outstanding in the dry and wet and not as good as the dws06 in the snow. It’s ok but not as ok as the dws06.

The as4 is the dark soul of tires bro. This is almost like a pilot sport 4s with more wet and cold capabilities. It does give up on some of the 4S’s better dry capabilities, sure. But frankly the as4 is an outstanding option

The dws06 is clearly focused on cold weather.

[HiSpec]

Slightly off topic. I came across this video a while ago. There is a significant difference between OTS and OE spec tires. But up to you to decide if the extra premium is worth it.

[rage2]

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Slightly off topic. I came across this video a while ago. There is a significant difference between OTS and OE spec tires. But up to you to decide if the extra premium is worth it.

I've never had a chance to test OE vs standard in any tire, but the last Michelin event that they sent me to, I had asked an engineer there who explained that OE versions from Michelin are wildly different, like described in your video. That said, there's so many other variables that affects how the car actually handles, something even as simple as tire pressures and alignments. You could argue that the same test, you can make the standard tire more lively by playing with pressures and alignment, adapt to the driver's style better, and achieve similar improved results.

@tirebob mentioned years ago that tire manufacturers easily game these events to come up with the conclusion they want you to see. I mean, at the Michelin event I went to, we got to try the AS3 and PSS in identical Mustangs in hot weather on the track, which had me believe they were just as grippy at the limit (with the AS3 being more squirmy). In reality now that I've had much more real world experience, there's a big difference in dry grip with both tires.

That said, glad I don't have this problem. All my OE tires are Pirellis and Continentals for AMGs, so just a poor man's PS4 is a massive upgrade haha.

[ThePenIsMightier]

Super useful video @HiSpec thanks!
I'd heard this a long time ago and suspected it was true based on the shit RE050 OEM compared to the aftermarket, but never fully understood why.
Learnings.

[98brg2d]

I have the DWS06 and has previously mentioned, they have a very soft sidewall. I have scuffing on the sidewalls from normal cornering on my commute. It might be that I am under-tired for my suspension setup but I don't want to run a summer performance tire and all the hype said these were pretty good for an AS tire (Speed Academy and Straight Pipes both say they are "trackable" tires **cough**sponsored**)

They also seem to flat spot pretty quickly, like if I don't drive for two or three days they feel out of round for the first 10-km or so.

They are fairly comfortable and quiet compared to the Nokians I've had as all seasons on cars over the last 15 years but I don't think that is setting the bar high (especially on the road noise side of things).

[killramos]

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I've never had a chance to test OE vs standard in any tire, but the last Michelin event that they sent me to, I had asked an engineer there who explained that OE versions from Michelin are wildly different, like described in your video. That said, there's so many other variables that affects how the car actually handles, something even as simple as tire pressures and alignments. You could argue that the same test, you can make the standard tire more lively by playing with pressures and alignment, adapt to the driver's style better, and achieve similar improved results.

@tirebob mentioned years ago that tire manufacturers easily game these events to come up with the conclusion they want you to see. I mean, at the Michelin event I went to, we got to try the AS3 and PSS in identical Mustangs in hot weather on the track, which had me believe they were just as grippy at the limit (with the AS3 being more squirmy). In reality now that I've had much more real world experience, there's a big difference in dry grip with both tires.

That said, glad I don't have this problem. All my OE tires are Pirellis and Continentals for AMGs, so just a poor man's PS4 is a massive upgrade haha.

My AMG had Dunlop’s and they were dreadful.

[flipstah]

My S3 has DWS06 for three seasons and they’re so noisy on the highway. Although that could be shitty Deerfoot.

[suntan]

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Slightly off topic. I came across this video a while ago. There is a significant difference between OTS and OE spec tires. But up to you to decide if the extra premium is worth it.

Motherfucker.

[cam_wmh]

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To add to this, my primary car right now is the E wagon. If it wasn't for the AS4's I'd be blowing my head off right about now lol. Sport suspension mode, cornering is actually tolerable.

I feel you'd be quite meticulous in finding the best performance year round -- so this is surprising (my own ignorance I imagine) to me that you're using All-Seasons. Are the shoulder seasons the reason, why you moved away from a summer performance tire?

I've been strictly a summer performance tire, and winter hakka for my last few vehicles.

[rage2]

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I feel you'd be quite meticulous in finding the best performance year round -- so this is surprising (my own ignorance I imagine) to me that you're using All-Seasons. Are the shoulder seasons the reason, why you moved away from a summer performance tire?

I've been strictly a summer performance tire, and winter hakka for my last few vehicles.

This was the wife’s car. I sold my car and the new car is delayed. Bought her the minivan so it’s just a temporary situation. I went with AS4s for her because it was the best compromise for the one or 2 days of early snow before the Hakkas are swapped on, with good grip in the summer.

My car, whenever it decides to arrive, will be on summers and performance winters (pa5s). That’s my Calgary most performance year round combo.

[ExtraSlow]

Sell me the wagon?

[cam_wmh]

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This was the wife’s car. I sold my car and the new car is delayed. Bought her the minivan so it’s just a temporary situation. I went with AS4s for her because it was the best compromise for the one or 2 days of early snow before the Hakkas are swapped on, with good grip in the summer.

My car, whenever it decides to arrive, will be on summers and performance winters (pa5s). That’s my Calgary most performance year round combo.

[Toms-SC]

I swapped out the factory tires on my Mach 1 to the Conti ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus. I went with them based on the lesser road noise and snow ratings when compared to the Mich.