250-mile report: Dunlop D60A2

[Andrew Duane USG/PE <duane@zk3.dec.com>]

Well, I have now had them on for about 250 miles, in various kinds of
driving conditions. Here are my impressions.

Got them mounted (at NTW; ack!) last thursday. Shop guy says "32 pounds."
I say "36 pounds." He says "you know, these are H rated, your car says V".
I say "36 pounds, I'd like to get home, please."

He pumps them up to 36 pounds, and I'm on my way.

Most of my drives are back roads, at 40-50MPH, lots of curves and hills,
mostly good pavement, some really crappy city pavement.  I also did ~50
highway miles yesterday to test the high-speed balance and handling.

Overall impression:  they are much better than I expected. I traded in my
Goodrich Comp T/A VR4's, which you've all heard me rave about. I sorta
expected to be "settling" for the D60A2's, to save $125/set.  Instead, I
find them at least the equals of the VR4's.

Detailed impressions: they are significantly quiter than the VR4's, in
fact they are quieter than almost any tire I've ever run. Since I've
quieted down my engine, I constantly have to check if I've stalled when
I coast up to stop lights.

The handling characteristics are good. They are crisp and clean in the
turn-ins, and seem to stay predictable through some pretty hard turning. 
The sidewalls are stiffer than I had any right to expect from an H tire.
In fact, with 36 pounds, I think they may be a little harsh. I'm going
to drop them to 34 tonight and see if there's a difference. It may just
be my full-stiff Konis and the new suspension overhaul.

I have not had any chance to test them in rain (we need it desparately),
or snow (god forbid). I'll let you know.

-- 

Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7)			duane@zk3.dec.com
Digital Equipment Corporation		(603)-881-1294
110 Spit Brook Road
M/S ZKO3-3/U14
Nashua, NH    03062-2698

Only my cat shares my opinions, and she's too heavy to care.