[Frosty]

I just had these put on my car brand new about 6 months ago. I have 2k miles on them and dang near full tread on all 4. Having really bad traction the past couple of months that I chalked up to colder weather (40's and 50's). Now that we're seeing 80+ regularly it's still horrible. Like my pirreli horrible. Finished a 20 mile drive at highway speeds and I felt the tires and there is zero tack to them. Their as hard as the 10 year old tire I have on a spare rim for one of my other cars.

Is this shelf life normal for these? Did I mess them up driving in cold weather (again 40-50 degrees) or are these just bad?

Trying to get an idea before I go to discount tire to talk with them. Never bought Continental before and never had tires turn hard so fast. Car sits in garage when not driven.

 

[saagz87]

Interested in what you find out. I have driven summer tires more than I should under 32 degrees and never had an issue like that. But there is a right way to do the wrong thing haha

I also have zero experience with conti tires so I’m interested in hearing why that happened. I have stuck to Michelin for summer rubber because they have never failed me on sportbikes

 

[ScLeCo]

I'm a Michelin tire snob. When ever I try another brand I always end up regretting it.

 

[ceebydeeby710]

I used Contis on my 2 wheeled thingies for years and loved them. Recently I put a set on a GC SRT and noticed what you are describing....they got hard and I got jealous.

I wonder if their ownership changed or something, cuz I used to be a fan.

 

[Bhdau1]

I have owned multiple sets of Conti high performance summer tires on various cars and have never had an issue like that. As long as you were not driving them in below freezing temps you should not have hurt them. Despite Continental and even Michelin having the very best tires you can buy, they still do have issues occasionally with bad rubber compounds. Take it to the dealer that you purchased the tires from right away and have them tested. They should not be hard and they should replace them all free of charge given how new they are. They might have to send off some readings to corporate to get it approved so it might take a few days before you can come back and have the new set mounted up but they will do it. Just be sure to explain to them the high level of care you gave them and that you did not use the car in temperatures below the minimum temp they require, etc. Should be an easy fix.
PS- They should also be able to tell you exactly wat year the tires you had were made. It is possible that you got an old set that sat in a warehouse somewhere for 3 or 4 years before you bought them "new". I think this would be yet another reason that they would have to replace them for you. This is their flagship summer performance tire, they dont want people getting online talking about how crappy their best tire is that is only 6 months old.

 

[baabootoo]

Did you test the hardness in a technical way or just seat of the pants?

 

[ArchGE]

I’ve had mine on for around 3 years now an no issues.

 

[Frosty]

Did you test the hardness in a technical way or just seat of the pants?

Not sure how to test them. I just rubbed my finger along them pushing down to feel the "grip" or amount of friction. My finger moves across them with almost no friction. I tried to press my finger nail into them and I can't. Feels rock hard. For comparisons, my Viper's tires (pirreli p-zero nero's) are about to expire due to age (6 years old) and they are way softer still than these tires. My Mustang's tires are also 6 years old (BFG's geforce) and are also way better still.

Here is a video I took. I know not scientific but keep in mind the Mustang and Viper tires are 6 years old. Mustang tires have 20K miles on them and the Viper tires have about 5K miles on them.

Tires

Video showing how my new tires have no grip. For hellcat forum thread.

youtube.com

 

[Frosty]

PS- They should also be able to tell you exactly wat year the tires you had were made. It is possible that you got an old set that sat in a warehouse somewhere for 3 or 4 years before you bought them "new". I think this would be yet another reason that they would have to replace them for you. This is their flagship summer performance tire, they dont want people getting online talking about how crappy their best tire is that is only 6 months old.

Yeah, I checked the date code. I always do after a shop tried to do that to me before and put old warehouse tires on one of my other cars. Date code on these are 11/21 (so March or 2021).

Just double checked my receipt. These were installed Sept 3rd. So I was off on timeline. They are 8 months old. I went with these as the michelin pilot sports were on forever backorder from all I could tell and heard these were the next best thing. I'm not a drag racer so don't need the best grip tire in the world anyway but these tires are feeling dangerous.

 

[Mobb70]

I’ve noticed the last few sets of DWS 06 plus tires I’ve gotten, have been the same way, plus road noise keeps going up too. If Michelin would not have such a back order I’d go back to them.

 

[2ndgen]

I’ve noticed the last few sets of DWS 06 plus tires I’ve gotten, have been the same way, plus road noise keeps going up too. If Michelin would not have such a back order I’d go back to them.

I've used DWS06 for years now w/no issues. Haven't had a set of the new DWS06-plus yet. I wonder if they screwed something up with the newest compound change?

 

[Bhdau1]

I'm still putting my money on a bad batch of rubber. The dealer should have a tool that can test the hardness or give of the rubber and if it is out of spec then they will have to give you some new tires. I had that happen on a set of top-of-the-line Goodyears I bought years back. The rubber compound was bad on that particular day or batch and they were all-seasons SUV tires that wore off like slicks in a matter of months on a SUV that was driven VERY easy. The OP said that his tires are NOT the DWS 06 tires that several have mentioned in this thread but rather the Continental Extreme Contact Sports which are a totally different tire. That is their flagship summer tire, they should be pretty damn soft when warm. All of mine were that I have owned previously.
Either way, don't wait any longer to go get them checked.

 

[thetalonguyh]

Get a Tire Durometer and check yourself. Definitely would be a useful tool; especially with our type of cars which tires may age out before they wear out.

At least you’d have a base to go back to Conti and explain (not aged, no excessive wear, but gauge shows different).

 

[2ndgen]

Get a Tire Durometer and check yourself. Definitely would be a useful tool; especially with our type of cars which tires may age out before they wear out.

I don't know what you're driving, but tires aging before they wear out is not a problem I foresee with my HC....
I average one set/year on the rears and I've never been to a track.

 

[thetalonguyh]

I don't know what you're driving, but tires aging before they wear out is not a problem I foresee with my HC....
I average one set/year on the rears and I've never been to a track.

I qualified that one with “May”, as I know we both have Vipers. I’ve got Toyo R888rs on that one and I know I never have to worry about aging them out…maybe heat cycling…but definitely never aging. A lot Viper guys go with the Conti/Michelin’s and tend to age them out before wearing them out.

 

[2ndgen]

I qualified that one with “May”, as I know we both have Vipers. I’ve got Toyo R888rs on that one and I know I never have to worry about aging them out…maybe heat cycling…but definitely never aging. A lot Viper guys go with the Conti/Michelin’s and tend to age them out before wearing them out.

I recently watched a youtube that mentioned this being a problem for vipers. The problem is they don't get driven enough... they're meant to be driven and enjoyed, not parked and ignored... just my opinion though.

 

[thetalonguyh]

I recently watched a youtube that mentioned this being a problem for vipers. The problem is they don't get driven enough... they're meant to be driven and enjoyed, not parked and ignored... just my opinion though.

Was it that one where the red Viper was going against the Ricebox without a hood and the Viper b-lined it into a pole?
Yes, I’d say besides some kind of catastrophic mechanical failure, when Vipers do something like that in a straight line; 9/10 it’s aged tires. Most new owners of the used variety just spent a ton of money on a used car and see their tread looks fine. Every time I meet a new owner, I check their date codes and tell them. You’d be amazed when someone tells you that date code from 2002 has plenty of tread left.

Anyway, I agree. These cars (cats and snakes) should be driven. Got nearly 30k miles of all kinds of driving/racing seat time on my Viper.

Got brand new tires on both…might get that durometer to get a baseline measure.

 

[2ndgen]

Was it that one where the red Viper was going against the Ricebox without a hood and the Viper b-lined it into a pole?
Yes, I’d say besides some kind of catastrophic mechanical failure, when Vipers do something like that in a straight line; 9/10 it’s aged tires. Most new owners of the used variety just spent a ton of money on a used car and see their tread looks fine. Every time I meet a new owner, I check their date codes and tell them. You’d be amazed when someone tells you that date code from 2002 has plenty of tread left.

Anyway, I agree. These cars (cats and snakes) should be driven. Got nearly 30k miles of all kinds of driving/racing seat time on my Viper.

Got brand new tires on both…might get that durometer to get a baseline measure.

Yep, that was the first video I saw that mentioned it. Made perfect sense--they all became garage queens, and too many people don't think enough about their tires even though it's the most important part on the car.

 

[BarnCat707HP]

my Conties are 2 years old...........perfect

 

[Mobb70]

I've used DWS06 for years now w/no issues. Haven't had a set of the new DWS06-plus yet. I wonder if they screwed something up with the newest compound change?

I’m not sure, I put them on my Type R, STI and the A35 I just traded. All had an annoying rumble from one tire, and a wet rubber like noise when the tire hit the road in the same spot. Same two noise on 3 different platforms. I did buy from the same shop, might be them, dates were all recent too. But they handled cold and snow like a champ.