FYI: Shortage of Dunlop M3 Winter Sports
#1
FYI: Shortage of Dunlop M3 Winter Sports
I just found out that the latest shipment of Dunlop M3 Winter Sports lacked the necessary DOT numbers stamped on the sidewalls, and thus cannot be used in the U.S. For this reason, there is apparently a shortage of these tires, and new tires are not expected to be available until after this winter season.
I have been offered Pirelli WinterSport 240s as a replacement, and was told that they are as good, if not better, than the M3s. Has anyone had experience with both? Any opinion on the Pirellis?
I have been offered Pirelli WinterSport 240s as a replacement, and was told that they are as good, if not better, than the M3s. Has anyone had experience with both? Any opinion on the Pirellis?
#2
No worries, there are plenty of Bridgestone Blizzak and Michelin Artic Alpin as well a Nokians, all are better products than the Dunlop.
BTW, who told you that about the Dunlops. It is inconceivable that tires produced overseas would EVER be shipped to the US without DOT numbers. Aside from the fact that manufacturing has about 50 checks in place, if they were produced without them they would never bother to ship them. Transportation costs are too high for that kind of mistake. I am sure there is a reason they are short, but I dont think that is it.
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BTW, who told you that about the Dunlops. It is inconceivable that tires produced overseas would EVER be shipped to the US without DOT numbers. Aside from the fact that manufacturing has about 50 checks in place, if they were produced without them they would never bother to ship them. Transportation costs are too high for that kind of mistake. I am sure there is a reason they are short, but I dont think that is it.
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#3
Originally Posted by Matt H
No worries, there are plenty of Bridgestone Blizzak and Michelin Artic Alpin as well a Nokians, all are better products than the Dunlop.
BTW, who told you that about the Dunlops. It is inconceivable that tires produced overseas would EVER be shipped to the US without DOT numbers. Aside from the fact that manufacturing has about 50 checks in place, if they were produced without them they would never bother to ship them. Transportation costs are too high for that kind of mistake. I am sure there is a reason they are short, but I dont think that is it.
BTW, who told you that about the Dunlops. It is inconceivable that tires produced overseas would EVER be shipped to the US without DOT numbers. Aside from the fact that manufacturing has about 50 checks in place, if they were produced without them they would never bother to ship them. Transportation costs are too high for that kind of mistake. I am sure there is a reason they are short, but I dont think that is it.
With respect to the other choices you list, isn't it true that whether they are better or not depends upon how you use them (e.g., if you have more ice than snow, if you have mostly dry winter conditions as opposed to sloppy snow, etc.)? If so, then it might be hard to recommend one tire over another without knowing how I would use them.
As for me, we get only about 3 to 5 snows a winter, usually not much ice, so the primary condition is cold pavement in below 40 degree weather.
What can you tell me about the other choices you listed, and why are they better than the choices I listed?
Thanks,
TD in DC
#4
TD, you are correct, one would have to know what the primary use was. If you are looking at Dunlop M2/M3 then Blizzak LM22/LM25 is right up your alley. The Nokians are probably the best for deep snow, the BS probably best for ice.
The topic could be debate all day long to be quite honest and there would still not be a definitive answer. In Japan, Yokohama's are the #2 seller behind the BS tire. It varies across Europe.
Is it your only car?
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The topic could be debate all day long to be quite honest and there would still not be a definitive answer. In Japan, Yokohama's are the #2 seller behind the BS tire. It varies across Europe.
Is it your only car?
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#5
Originally Posted by Matt H
TD, you are correct, one would have to know what the primary use was. If you are looking at Dunlop M2/M3 then Blizzak LM22/LM25 is right up your alley. The Nokians are probably the best for deep snow, the BS probably best for ice.
The topic could be debate all day long to be quite honest and there would still not be a definitive answer. In Japan, Yokohama's are the #2 seller behind the BS tire. It varies across Europe.
Is it your only car?
The topic could be debate all day long to be quite honest and there would still not be a definitive answer. In Japan, Yokohama's are the #2 seller behind the BS tire. It varies across Europe.
Is it your only car?
Thanks for the advice. Yes, I try to be in my Porsche every second that I am behind the wheel, even when it would be more practical to drive a different car (for example, I cannot tell you how many times I have amazed home depot staff with my ability to use the P-car as a utility hauler). I would like to drive this car every day through the winter, as I did my Boxster, until snow becomes high enough that clearance becomes an issue. That said, the days of true snow are relatively few, so I am mostly worried about the occasional black ice and performance on dry but cold pavement.
If you know anything about the Pirelli in particular please comment about it in comparison to your other recommendations, because that is the tire that Tire Rack is giving me a good deal on as a replacement for the M3s.
Again, thanks in advance for your advice,
TD
#6
Drifting
Hmmm...
My M3s just arrived today and will be mounted shortly. Do I have anything to worry about in terms of safety due to this mishap, whatever it may be?
Thanks.
My M3s just arrived today and will be mounted shortly. Do I have anything to worry about in terms of safety due to this mishap, whatever it may be?
Thanks.
#7
TD - I can get some info on the Pirelli for you.
SM - IF the only problem is that they forgot DOTs (which will be very obvious, just look for the number) then there would be no safety issue. If they had a safety issue then they would have held onto and scrapped the tires. The tire business is about as safe as it comes now days. They take any failure very seriously and any sort of manufacturing issue just as seriously.
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SM - IF the only problem is that they forgot DOTs (which will be very obvious, just look for the number) then there would be no safety issue. If they had a safety issue then they would have held onto and scrapped the tires. The tire business is about as safe as it comes now days. They take any failure very seriously and any sort of manufacturing issue just as seriously.
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#8
Originally Posted by sm
Hmmm...
My M3s just arrived today and will be mounted shortly. Do I have anything to worry about in terms of safety due to this mishap, whatever it may be?
Thanks.
My M3s just arrived today and will be mounted shortly. Do I have anything to worry about in terms of safety due to this mishap, whatever it may be?
Thanks.
Matt is right. Thank your lucky stars that you actually got them, because they are very hard to come by. The fact that you got them means that your probably do have the DOT numbers anyway. If you regret your purchase for any other reason, let me know and I might consider taking them off your hands (seriously).
Matt,
I appreciate any information you can give me, because I need to decide whether to accept Tire Rack's offer or go with something else.
TD
#9
I will be curious what Matt has to say on the Pirelli's also. Although the fronts are listed as special order on the Tirerack site. FYI here is review of them done in 2000. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...perftest_2.jsp
In general they were behind both the Bridgestones and the Dunlops except for a couple of catagories.
In general they were behind both the Bridgestones and the Dunlops except for a couple of catagories.
#11
TD
I just got off the phone with Tirerack. They have M3 that fit in stock but the speed rating is different H for the front and V for the rear. I ended up getting the Blizzak LM-25's.
I just got off the phone with Tirerack. They have M3 that fit in stock but the speed rating is different H for the front and V for the rear. I ended up getting the Blizzak LM-25's.