Hib Halverson
Technical Writer for Internet & Print Media
I began another thread on early C4 tires (http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105512) which asked CAC member opinions on 255/50ZR16s. Based partially on that info and a similar question I posed over on the CF, I installed a set of Dunlop SP Sport 8000s in 255/50ZR16 on one of my cars.
The other reasons I decided to look at the Dunlops were: I see a lot of exposure for the Goodrich T/A but not so much for Dunlop. I was curious about this "dark horse".
My tire installer, Tucker Tire Service Co. in Covina CA sells tons of different brands of tires, including all of the ones mentioned by you guys in the earlier thread, including Dunlop. The service manager there, Dave Dixon, told me that Dunlop makes a quality tire. He also told me they cost more than some of the bottom feeders like Falken but you get more in quality. He also said Dunlop's performance stuff tend to be a bit sticky, which I like for handling, but that stickiness tends to decrease their tread life a bit. In this case, on a car that gets driven several thousand miles annually, maybe the treadlife issue is, well...not that big an issue.
The tires we took off were a set of Goodyear F1 GS (the non-EMT version of the C5 tire) which used to be available in 255/50ZR16 and which had been put on the car back in 1999. They still had legal tread depth but that they'd been on the car almost ten years was a little disconcerting, so I decided new tires were a good idea. It's too bad GY no longer makes that tire in the early C4 size because they worked very well. In fact, another reason I picked the SP Sport 8000s is that Goodyear owns Dunlop and I'd hoped there was some technology transfer from Goodyear's Eagle F1 line to Dunlop's SP Sport tires.
I was present when Tucker installed these tires and I noted that three of the four took one to one-and-a-half ounces of weight to balance. That's very little weight and a sign that the tire is very well maufactured. One of the four took three ounces, which is still not bad. I also was able to check "roundness" (some call it "out-of-roundness) and Dunlop's SP Sport 8000 are very good in that respect.
The car has only had the Dunlops on for a day or so and, obviously, no issues so far. I did notice that they are quieter than the Goodyears I took off but, I would expect that from brand new tires compared to 9-year old tires that were 70% or so worn.
I'll report more later but, for now, it seems like the Dunlop SP Sport 8000 was a good choice.
The other reasons I decided to look at the Dunlops were: I see a lot of exposure for the Goodrich T/A but not so much for Dunlop. I was curious about this "dark horse".
My tire installer, Tucker Tire Service Co. in Covina CA sells tons of different brands of tires, including all of the ones mentioned by you guys in the earlier thread, including Dunlop. The service manager there, Dave Dixon, told me that Dunlop makes a quality tire. He also told me they cost more than some of the bottom feeders like Falken but you get more in quality. He also said Dunlop's performance stuff tend to be a bit sticky, which I like for handling, but that stickiness tends to decrease their tread life a bit. In this case, on a car that gets driven several thousand miles annually, maybe the treadlife issue is, well...not that big an issue.
The tires we took off were a set of Goodyear F1 GS (the non-EMT version of the C5 tire) which used to be available in 255/50ZR16 and which had been put on the car back in 1999. They still had legal tread depth but that they'd been on the car almost ten years was a little disconcerting, so I decided new tires were a good idea. It's too bad GY no longer makes that tire in the early C4 size because they worked very well. In fact, another reason I picked the SP Sport 8000s is that Goodyear owns Dunlop and I'd hoped there was some technology transfer from Goodyear's Eagle F1 line to Dunlop's SP Sport tires.
I was present when Tucker installed these tires and I noted that three of the four took one to one-and-a-half ounces of weight to balance. That's very little weight and a sign that the tire is very well maufactured. One of the four took three ounces, which is still not bad. I also was able to check "roundness" (some call it "out-of-roundness) and Dunlop's SP Sport 8000 are very good in that respect.
The car has only had the Dunlops on for a day or so and, obviously, no issues so far. I did notice that they are quieter than the Goodyears I took off but, I would expect that from brand new tires compared to 9-year old tires that were 70% or so worn.
I'll report more later but, for now, it seems like the Dunlop SP Sport 8000 was a good choice.