Dunlop SP Sport 5000

Price Paid:  $110.00 from Tire Rack

Year / Model Reviewed:
1987 VW/Vanagon Camper GL Weekender

Summary:
Believe it or not, I threw these on this vehicle solely for the purpose of better handling and traction. It worked! There's a lower center of gravity, great grip at tread surface, and they look great on my modified "bus"! Very Cali retro. People laugh (in a good way!)when they see these tires on this vehicle. They're used to seeing them on Audi's etc.
Overall, this tire has treated me pretty well. I don't ride the vehicle year round, and I certainly don't sprint off any starting lines! I ride mostly spring to fall in decent East coast/Mid con weather. Still has lots of treadlife after 12K miles. Sidewalls are a little soft, but manageable.Anyone can utilize theses tires. Great all-around.I dig 'em.

Strengths:
Looks(asymmetrical), size, strength, handling, and price.

Weaknesses:
This isn't a weakness, but I wasn't aware, and wasn't told they were unidirectional. When I received the tires, I thought I had all one-ways! Only weakness noticed are soft walls.

Similar Products Used:
N/A

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Sears

Year / Model Reviewed:
1985 Camaro Z28

Summary:
I have Sport A2's currently for cost reasons, but I had no issues in NY snow. I read some reveiws nocking these tires because of the power they make. NO issues for me runnning 350hp or my friend with his 95 Z28. Great all around, the only ones I liked performance out of better where the 8000's.

Strengths:
Great traction in Dry, good all around performance

Similar Products Used:
Dunlop Sport A2, and Dunlop 8000's

Price Paid:  $200.00 from 1010tires.com

Year / Model Reviewed:
1989 Honda Prelude

Summary:
all in all, the tires look great. however they have a unidirectional tread, so it does look a little odd on the left side of the car. the tires were very quiet compared to the yokohama H4's the tire wear is pretty good as well after more than a year of driving in the rain, it grips pretty good. but cant really handle fast corners not recommended for snow driving

Strengths:
pretty cool tread looks tire wear longitivity is great

Weaknesses:
slips too much in snow. couldnt get off my drive way. but what do you expect for a Z rated tire

Similar Products Used:
Yokohama H4

Price Paid:  $100.00 from TireRack

Year / Model Reviewed:
1999 VW Passat V6 Spd

Summary:
205/55/16 (Assym)as +1 rplcmnt for stock 195/65/15 Mich Energys. Better than the Mich in every way except gas mileage (slight drop) & ?? noise - and even there more a matter of different noise on diff pavement than any real increase. Relatively slow intitial response (for "UHP" tire), and somewhat soft sidewall, but still much better cornering & braking (wet and dry) then the Energys + did ok in snow through 2 winters while retaining surprising good ride (presumably due to soft sidewall). Tread goes away quickly: these are all but shot after 20,000 miles & hydroplaning resistance fell rapidly this past year - mounted Mich HydroEdges to orig. 15" rims as "Snow tires" for this winter... Buy again? Maybe, BUT: 1) Tire technology marches forward & newer all-season HP/UHP seem to make fewer compromises, and 2)If running "winter" tires, why 'settle' for all-season - even if UHP - during spring / summer / fall? Will prob try a set of Summer Tires (dry & wet emphasis, without "M&S" rating)....

Strengths:
VG - Exc handling & braking on wet and dry roads. VG - Exc resistance to hydroplaning WHEN NEW. Good snow traction for UHP tire (when new) Surprsing ride 'comfort' for UHP tire Gotta love the funky tread pattern (Assym)

Weaknesses:
Short tread life: down to wear bars after 20,000 miles (of spirited, but not "crazy" driving). Hydroplaning resistance faded quickly over last 4000 miles of driving (as tread depth disappeared) - somewhat offset by greater dry adhesion ("damp" road handling / braking remained OK).

Similar Products Used:
Michelin XGT, Goodyear GT+4, & Kelly Charger HR Assym - all on '90 SHO - + Mich Energy (stock) & HydroEdge (as winter tire) on Passat.

Price Paid:  $120.00 from Big O Tires

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 Dunlop SP5000

Summary:
Nice Looking, reasonable cost performance tire. But I think it's dicontinued now officially judging by Dunlop website. Still, I managed to purchase a pair to replace my front tires. Compared to my previous tires, Toyo Proxes TS1 and GY Eagles these tires seem pretty good. Def better in all respects to the Eagles but not ultimateley on wet/dry grip compared to Toyos. I'm hoping these SP 5000s are adequate in snow though - the Toyos were quite dangerous in ice/snow conditions (not surprising for Summer tire)! I have yet to experience side wall problems mentioned but it does have very slight floaty dead zone feel when cruising high way speeds compared to Toyos which were always pin sharp on sensitivity feedback to the steering wheel. So far so good all round. Have to see what happens as these tires wear. I expect 30K life.

Strengths:
Looks, price, all year round performance. Lovely rim protection built in which are slightly deeper than the Toyos Proxes TS1

Weaknesses:
Tread pattern not as sexy as V-Groove Toyo Proxes TS1's! But then this is not a uni direction tire which would constrain rotation placements compared to Toyos

Similar Products Used:
GY Eagles (crap) Toyo Proxes TS1 (Superb Wet/Dry, deadly in snow)