Dunlop WinterSport M3s-Second Snow

Java Junky · 11-07-2005, 06:10 AM

Installed a set of Dunlop WinterSport M3s a coupla weeks ago. Can't as yet say anything about their abilities in the snow, but considerin' the open air spaces that used to be occupied by rubber on the stock tires, they seem to do what they're supposed to pretty well in the dry n' rain.
The part that should come as no surprise to anybody is that they take the handlin' of my '04 a notch r' two closer to the handlin' of the earlier model Stewies. That "warning" that you're gettin' to the limits of the rear's ability to stay where it's supposed to be comes on much sooner than with the stock tires.
As with any change of tires, they change that place on the edge where you can usually take it to. Definitely not the shoes to be wearin' when you're pushin' it n' you might hafta lift off the gas in a hard corner . . much like the earlier Stewie.
I'll keep everybody posted as I gain some experience in the white stuff.
Be well.

Halo · 11-07-2005, 09:16 AM

The compound is supposed to be softer too, right? I may be off on this, since we don't get any snow where I live, but I thought one of the problems of non-snow tires is they get very hard in the cold and that makes them slippery. Snow tires are extra soft so in the cold they firm up a bit and end up being just right. Is this true?

Java Junky · 11-07-2005, 09:54 AM

Halo, with all the info you've spoon-fed me, I'd love to be able to return the favor n' answer your question, but that's info I don't have. Maybe some of our site-brethren can answer it.
What you're sayin' makes some sense, but if it's accurate r' not . . . sorry. I can't say.
Y'know, I'm sure the good folks at TireRack'd know.
Be well.

Java Junky · 12-04-2005, 07:39 PM

The first real white stuff came in last night n' I got out in it early this mornin', so the Dunlops have tasted their first snow.
'Pretty impressive performance all around with the only surprise bein' that they worked better than I'd anticipated.
A bit of a by-product bears mentionin': hangin' it out in the corners allows all those grippin' channels in the tire tread to throw a rooster-tail like some blown hydro skippin' around a turn. Puts on quite the show.
It's gonna be an interestin' winter n' so far it appears that the Dunlops were yet another bit of good advice via TireRack. (Thanx Dallas)
Be well.

ex_submariner · 12-14-2005, 04:16 AM

Hi Java,

Thanks for the posts. I'm living in Omaha, have a 2005 S2000 and have yet to either drive in the snow or buy snow tires but I need to do both. Looks like the Dunlop WinterSport M3s are the ones to get. Did you buy new rims too? That's the advice I'm getting from my gearhead buddies and of course the tire dealers too. Only reason I hesitate is cost and that I leased instead of buying my car.

Thanks.

Java Junky · 12-14-2005, 05:12 AM

Whoa! So I guess after 'can' livin' the close confines of li'l Stewie r' right up your alley! 'Gives you an edge over most of us.
A long, long time ago I was up on what was then the hot tire/rim set ups. No more. So now I go to TireRack for advice on the tires. 'Been dealin' with them for some years now n' haven't had a complaint yet. Their info is spot-on n' face it, they can legitimately spend alot more time researchin' than we can.
So, the best deal I could think of is havin' them mount a set of the Dunlops on one of the sets of rims that you select (almost anything's better than those 'dead spider' stock rims), balance 'em n' get 'em out to you. I strongly doubt that you'll be able to find a better deal, but, one neva' know, do one?
As for the leasin' aspect, that puts a wrinkle in it that only you can figure.
However you decide to go, keep us posted n' good luck with it.
Be well.

Java Junky · 01-15-2006, 06:20 AM

Not much of a snow to speak of but it was enough that there were more than a few sections of polished hardpack up in the hills: not much to grip to in those spots. The Dunlops had enough grip to get me into n' back out of about 2 to 3" of roadside plowings n' they had enough control to keep me outa the scenery a couple'a times. Looseness to be sure, but I covered just over 200 miles with that polished hardpack on-n'-off, half of it through some pretty hilly terrain n' I was really happy with their performance. (I gotta be honest: I was really happy with the areas of the roads that'd been cleared too)
'Did have one incident: comin' through a valley fulla twisties, I was not pushin' it hard but I probably wasn't drivin' at a "reasonable" speed considerin' the weather conditions. 'Was just hangin' the tail out the least little bit, maybe a bit more in a few of the corners, n' I got this yay-hoo tryin' to impress me in his 4x4 doin' his all-over-the-road damndest to catch up with me, so I figured jus' let the bozo pass n' then go back to enjoyin' my trip. Bozo caught up to me n' turned on his red n' blue rack-lights. Thankfully the nice officer sternly lectured me on inappropriateness of the rush I was in n' let me go with a warning.
Personally, I think that he was jus' waitin' for me to stuff it into the roadside scenery, but the end result was a warning. I'll toast the good officer n' drink to that.
Be well.

11-07-2005, 06:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Java Junky Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Joisey Posts: 5,290	Dunlop WinterSport M3s-Second Snow Installed a set of Dunlop WinterSport M3s a coupla weeks ago. Can't as yet say anything about their abilities in the snow, but considerin' the open air spaces that used to be occupied by rubber on the stock tires, they seem to do what they're supposed to pretty well in the dry n' rain. The part that should come as no surprise to anybody is that they take the handlin' of my '04 a notch r' two closer to the handlin' of the earlier model Stewies. That "warning" that you're gettin' to the limits of the rear's ability to stay where it's supposed to be comes on much sooner than with the stock tires. As with any change of tires, they change that place on the edge where you can usually take it to. Definitely not the shoes to be wearin' when you're pushin' it n' you might hafta lift off the gas in a hard corner . . much like the earlier Stewie. I'll keep everybody posted as I gain some experience in the white stuff. Be well.

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11-07-2005, 09:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Halo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 610	The compound is supposed to be softer too, right? I may be off on this, since we don't get any snow where I live, but I thought one of the problems of non-snow tires is they get very hard in the cold and that makes them slippery. Snow tires are extra soft so in the cold they firm up a bit and end up being just right. Is this true?

11-07-2005, 09:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Java Junky Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Joisey Posts: 5,290	Halo, with all the info you've spoon-fed me, I'd love to be able to return the favor n' answer your question, but that's info I don't have. Maybe some of our site-brethren can answer it. What you're sayin' makes some sense, but if it's accurate r' not . . . sorry. I can't say. Y'know, I'm sure the good folks at TireRack'd know. Be well.

12-04-2005, 07:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Java Junky Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Joisey Posts: 5,290	The first real white stuff came in last night n' I got out in it early this mornin', so the Dunlops have tasted their first snow. 'Pretty impressive performance all around with the only surprise bein' that they worked better than I'd anticipated. A bit of a by-product bears mentionin': hangin' it out in the corners allows all those grippin' channels in the tire tread to throw a rooster-tail like some blown hydro skippin' around a turn. Puts on quite the show. It's gonna be an interestin' winter n' so far it appears that the Dunlops were yet another bit of good advice via TireRack. (Thanx Dallas) Be well.

12-14-2005, 04:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
ex_submariner Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1	Hi Java, Thanks for the posts. I'm living in Omaha, have a 2005 S2000 and have yet to either drive in the snow or buy snow tires but I need to do both. Looks like the Dunlop WinterSport M3s are the ones to get. Did you buy new rims too? That's the advice I'm getting from my gearhead buddies and of course the tire dealers too. Only reason I hesitate is cost and that I leased instead of buying my car. Thanks.

12-14-2005, 05:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Java Junky Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Joisey Posts: 5,290	Whoa! So I guess after 'can' livin' the close confines of li'l Stewie r' right up your alley! 'Gives you an edge over most of us. A long, long time ago I was up on what was then the hot tire/rim set ups. No more. So now I go to TireRack for advice on the tires. 'Been dealin' with them for some years now n' haven't had a complaint yet. Their info is spot-on n' face it, they can legitimately spend alot more time researchin' than we can. So, the best deal I could think of is havin' them mount a set of the Dunlops on one of the sets of rims that you select (almost anything's better than those 'dead spider' stock rims), balance 'em n' get 'em out to you. I strongly doubt that you'll be able to find a better deal, but, one neva' know, do one? As for the leasin' aspect, that puts a wrinkle in it that only you can figure. However you decide to go, keep us posted n' good luck with it. Be well.

01-15-2006, 06:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Java Junky Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Joisey Posts: 5,290	Not much of a snow to speak of but it was enough that there were more than a few sections of polished hardpack up in the hills: not much to grip to in those spots. The Dunlops had enough grip to get me into n' back out of about 2 to 3" of roadside plowings n' they had enough control to keep me outa the scenery a couple'a times. Looseness to be sure, but I covered just over 200 miles with that polished hardpack on-n'-off, half of it through some pretty hilly terrain n' I was really happy with their performance. (I gotta be honest: I was really happy with the areas of the roads that'd been cleared too) 'Did have one incident: comin' through a valley fulla twisties, I was not pushin' it hard but I probably wasn't drivin' at a "reasonable" speed considerin' the weather conditions. 'Was just hangin' the tail out the least little bit, maybe a bit more in a few of the corners, n' I got this yay-hoo tryin' to impress me in his 4x4 doin' his all-over-the-road damndest to catch up with me, so I figured jus' let the bozo pass n' then go back to enjoyin' my trip. Bozo caught up to me n' turned on his red n' blue rack-lights. Thankfully the nice officer sternly lectured me on inappropriateness of the rush I was in n' let me go with a warning. Personally, I think that he was jus' waitin' for me to stuff it into the roadside scenery, but the end result was a warning. I'll toast the good officer n' drink to that. Be well.