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Dunlop Direzza DZ03 looks discontinued: no new owner reviews or road tests in five years and no current EU tyre label.

Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop Direzza DZ03 vs Dunlop Direzza ZIII — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 1 road tests and 7 + 2 owner reviews. How we score

Direzza DZ03 leads, 68–66 Narrow edge

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Dunlop Direzza DZ03
Tire ADunlop

Direzza DZ03

Summer

± 8Provisional

Tests – · none yet Owners 67 · 7 reviews

Dunlop Direzza ZIII
Tire BDunlop

Direzza ZIII

Summer

± 9Provisional

Tests 65 · 1 test Owners 66 · 2 reviews

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 73

    Dry

    Direzza DZ03 +8
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Direzza ZIII
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 71 (est.)65
    Reviews found online7566

    Direzza DZ03: 60% × 70.8 (est.) + 40% × 75 = 73

    Direzza ZIII: 60% × 65 + 40% × 66.3 = 65

    No road tests of dry for Direzza DZ03. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 68

    Wet

    Direzza ZIII +1
    69
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Direzza ZIII
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online6768

    Direzza DZ03: 60% × 68.4 (est.) + 40% × 66.5 = 68

    Direzza ZIII: 60% × 69.1 (est.) + 40% × 67.8 = 69

    No road tests of wet for Direzza DZ03. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

    No road tests of wet for Direzza ZIII. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 57

    Comfort

    Direzza ZIII +4
    61
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Direzza ZIII
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 65 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online5158

    Direzza DZ03: 40% × 65.2 (est.) + 60% × 51.1 = 57

    Direzza ZIII: 40% × 66.6 (est.) + 60% × 58 = 61

    No road tests of comfort for Direzza DZ03 or Direzza ZIII. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  4. 64

    Treadwear

    Direzza ZIII +3
    67
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Direzza ZIII
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 65 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online6268

    Direzza DZ03: 60% × 64.9 (est.) + 40% × 62 = 64

    Direzza ZIII: 60% × 66.9 (est.) + 40% × 67.5 = 67

    No road tests of treadwear for Direzza DZ03. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

    No road tests of treadwear for Direzza ZIII. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  5. 74

    Handling (owners)

    Direzza DZ03 +8
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Direzza ZIII
    Reviews found online7466
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop Direzza DZ03Dunlop Direzza ZIII
Relative Score 68 66
Dry 73 65
Wet 68 69
Comfort 57 61
Treadwear 64 67
Handling (owners) 74 66

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Direzza DZ03

± 9

Direzza ZIII

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Direzza DZ03

Pros

  • Exceptional dry grip and cornering confidence
  • Significant lap time improvements compared to entry-level semi-slicks
  • High durability and consistent performance under intense heat cycles

Cons

  • Extremely high road noise, often compared to failing wheel bearings
  • Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
  • Poor performance in standing water with high risk of aquaplaning
All owner themes in the Direzza DZ03 review

Tire B Direzza ZIII

Pros

  • High level of predictability and ease of handling
  • Consistent performance during extended track sessions
  • Good durability and tread life for a 200tw tire

Cons

  • Lacks the peak grip required for top-tier competitive autocross
  • Tendency to 'grease up' or lose optimal grip after prolonged hard driving
  • Not the fastest option in its category for pure lap times
All owner themes in the Direzza ZIII review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Direzza DZ03 B · Dunlop Direzza ZIII
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Direzza DZ03

Dunlop Direzza ZIII

Narrow edge: Dunlop Direzza DZ03 — better dry and handling. Pick the Dunlop Direzza ZIII if comfort and treadwear matter most to you. Dunlop Direzza DZ03 rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 7 reviews), so read this result as provisional. Dunlop Direzza ZIII rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 2 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 73 vs 65 on dry.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 74 vs 66 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop Direzza ZIII scores 61 vs 57 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Dunlop Direzza ZIII scores 67 vs 64 on treadwear.

Tire A · Dunlop Direzza DZ03
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Tire B · Dunlop Direzza ZIII
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Direzza DZ03 or Direzza ZIII?

Which is better in the wet, Direzza DZ03 or Direzza ZIII?

Neither, by our numbers: 68 vs 69 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Direzza DZ03 or Direzza ZIII?

Dunlop Direzza DZ03, 73 vs 65 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, Direzza DZ03 or Direzza ZIII?

Dunlop Direzza ZIII, 61 vs 57 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Direzza DZ03 or Direzza ZIII?

Dunlop Direzza ZIII, 67 vs 64 on our treadwear score.

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology