Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec? - Focaljet

**natedog_1959** · 03-27-2008, 01:24 PM

According to the rep that I just spoke with at TireRack, it looks like Dunlop revised the Z1 within a few months of it becoming available. If anyone has any info about what Star Spec is, I would appreciate it. Dunlops website has this to say about it "Star Spec tread compound helps to improve initial grip during sanctioned performance driving events." This tire has a 200 treadwear rating. Looks like they really want to win in the STS class. I think this is going to be my next tire, I just want to be sure. Thanks, Nate.

A little more research and I dug this up.

Features New ‘Star Spec’ Tread Compound
Meets Sports Car Club of America Deadline for National Events
Superb Dry Traction, Handling During Sanctioned Events
AKRON, Ohio — Fresh off the starting line, Dunlop's Direzza Sport Z1 ultra-performance tire already has a star next to its name in 2008.

A star has always implied something special, and on the new Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec summer tire, the star designation carries prestigious cachet. For example, Star Spec helps provide faster lap times from the start and consistent grip on ensuing laps in sanctioned events, according to Matt Neidert, performance tire brand manager for Dunlop in North America.

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.

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 Star Spec predecessor registered two wins in SCCA's hotly contested Street Touring Ultra class in Southern California earlier this year, and has set the fastest street-tire times at each event against two of the top cars nationwide, according to club reports.

'Star Spec' means impressive dry grip out of the gate. Driving enthusiasts won't have to wait for their tires to 'come in' at the beginning of an event, helping to provide an edge over the field. This is also great news for owners of smaller vehicles, who sometimes struggle to work their tires up to the point of peak grip, Neidert said.

Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is a DOT-approved summer performance tire for hard-core driving enthusiasts and car-club members. The tire helps deliver superb dry traction and handling at regional car-club events like track days, driving schools, and autocross.

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, he said.

The tire also features JointLess Band technology to help enable smooth performance at highway speeds, he added.

Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, available in 20 sizes with rim diameters from 15 to 18 inches, replaces the Direzza Sport Z1, which was introduced in August 2007.

**Auto-X-ZTS** · 03-27-2008, 01:47 PM

It's discussed in the latter posts in this thread: http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/259439.aspx

Its basically a quicker-to-operating-temperature version of the 'old' Z1.

**ladybug04** · 03-27-2008, 02:02 PM

now my question is, how much sooner will we have to start cooling them?

**Auto-X-ZTS** · 03-27-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladybuf

now my question is, how much sooner will we have to start cooling them?

My thought exactly. The 'old' compound was very resistant to overheating, which is good for 2-driver cars, heavy cars...and heavy 2 driver cars!

It was still fast enough to win STU at the last NT in SanDiego...

**brads03zx3** · 03-27-2008, 04:50 PM

Are the 140 tread wear tires more prone to overheating than this 200 tread wear? Such as RE01R and R1R?

**Auto-X-ZTS** · 03-27-2008, 05:12 PM

The treadware number is relative and only has meaning within a manufacter's line of tires. You can't compare a 200 X-Brand to a 200 Y-Brand. X's 200 may be the same as Y's 140 and Z's 180...

...all you can do is compare X's 200 to X's 140, or Y's 180 to its 300 etc.

In theory the softer tires will gain heat faster...and may overheat more quickly. Your best be is to read sccaforums in the ST section and see what others have found in their use...and then make a decision based on their experiences, and not so much on arbitrary treadware numbers

03-27-2008, 01:24 PM	#1
natedog_1959 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,285	Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec? According to the rep that I just spoke with at TireRack, it looks like Dunlop revised the Z1 within a few months of it becoming available. If anyone has any info about what Star Spec is, I would appreciate it. Dunlops website has this to say about it "Star Spec tread compound helps to improve initial grip during sanctioned performance driving events." This tire has a 200 treadwear rating. Looks like they really want to win in the STS class. I think this is going to be my next tire, I just want to be sure. Thanks, Nate. A little more research and I dug this up. Features New ‘Star Spec’ Tread Compound Meets Sports Car Club of America Deadline for National Events Superb Dry Traction, Handling During Sanctioned Events AKRON, Ohio — Fresh off the starting line, Dunlop's Direzza Sport Z1 ultra-performance tire already has a star next to its name in 2008. A star has always implied something special, and on the new Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec summer tire, the star designation carries prestigious cachet. For example, Star Spec helps provide faster lap times from the start and consistent grip on ensuing laps in sanctioned events, according to Matt Neidert, performance tire brand manager for Dunlop in North America. 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. 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 Star Spec predecessor registered two wins in SCCA's hotly contested Street Touring Ultra class in Southern California earlier this year, and has set the fastest street-tire times at each event against two of the top cars nationwide, according to club reports. 'Star Spec' means impressive dry grip out of the gate. Driving enthusiasts won't have to wait for their tires to 'come in' at the beginning of an event, helping to provide an edge over the field. This is also great news for owners of smaller vehicles, who sometimes struggle to work their tires up to the point of peak grip, Neidert said. Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is a DOT-approved summer performance tire for hard-core driving enthusiasts and car-club members. The tire helps deliver superb dry traction and handling at regional car-club events like track days, driving schools, and autocross. 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, he said. The tire also features JointLess Band technology to help enable smooth performance at highway speeds, he added. Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, available in 20 sizes with rim diameters from 15 to 18 inches, replaces the Direzza Sport Z1, which was introduced in August 2007. __________________ 2004 SVT Focus Black w/ red inserts, HID's, Audiophile. Show: Euro Upper Grille, Tinted Corners, 5% tint on rear three windows, Black EAP Wheels w/ black lug nuts. Go: Steeda STS, SRI, STB, 2 Mounts, MSD Coil/Wires, Side Gapped Cu Plugs, SS Brake Lines, F2 Rear Sway, SRF Throttle Body, ORP, Borla Exhaust, Grounding Kit, SVT Salvage battery box and Odyssey battery, COSDEVSVT Harness Bar, Corbeau Harness, 215/45/17 Dunlop Z1's, Multimatic/KYB suspension, P-51 shims, Centric rotors/Hawk HPS pads. Last edited by natedog_1959 : 03-27-2008 at 01:30 PM.

03-27-2008, 01:47 PM	#2
Auto-X-ZTS Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: East Troy (Milwaukee), WI Posts: 3,544	Re: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec? It's discussed in the latter posts in this thread: http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/259439.aspx Its basically a quicker-to-operating-temperature version of the 'old' Z1. __________________ Erik B. ( _/\_ - Head) Milwaukee SCCA and Wisconsin Autocrossers Inc. "Res Firma Mitescere Nescit" www.waiautox.org _/\_ _____________ _/\_ _____________ _/\_ _____________ _/\_ _____________ _/\_ 2007 Mazda6i 2.3 Zoom-Zoom-Zoom; Y2K ZX2 S/R--STS Anti-Civic

03-27-2008, 04:50 PM	#5
brads03zx3 [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: California Posts: 9,069	Re: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec? Are the 140 tread wear tires more prone to overheating than this 200 tread wear? Such as RE01R and R1R? __________________ Mountain Tested----'03 zetec DuraMonster---'03 duratec ZX3 vs MNTN - 9/0 & ZX3 vs TRACK - 4/1 *JCM Racing #88* Bouncing Back---Bigger, Faster, Stronger Vacuum Vulture Racing - We put the ARG in 'CHARGED

03-27-2008, 05:12 PM	#6
Auto-X-ZTS Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: East Troy (Milwaukee), WI Posts: 3,544	Re: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec? The treadware number is relative and only has meaning within a manufacter's line of tires. You can't compare a 200 X-Brand to a 200 Y-Brand. X's 200 may be the same as Y's 140 and Z's 180... ...all you can do is compare X's 200 to X's 140, or Y's 180 to its 300 etc. In theory the softer tires will gain heat faster...and may overheat more quickly. Your best be is to read sccaforums in the ST section and see what others have found in their use...and then make a decision based on their experiences, and not so much on arbitrary treadware numbers __________________ Erik B. ( _/\_ - Head) Milwaukee SCCA and Wisconsin Autocrossers Inc. "Res Firma Mitescere Nescit" www.waiautox.org _/\_ _____________ _/\_ _____________ _/\_ _____________ _/\_ _____________ _/\_ 2007 Mazda6i 2.3 Zoom-Zoom-Zoom; Y2K ZX2 S/R--STS Anti-Civic Last edited by Auto-X-ZTS : 03-27-2008 at 05:21 PM.

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