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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 Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 — 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 + 0 road tests and 7 + 27 owner reviews. How we score

Direzza DZ03 leads, 69–66 Narrow edge

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Dunlop Direzza DZ03
Tire ADunlop

Direzza DZ03

Summer

± 8Provisional

Tests – · none yet Owners 67 · 7 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 +7
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Ecsta HM KH31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online7665

    Direzza DZ03: 60% × 71.2 (est.) + 40% × 75.5 = 73

    Ecsta HM KH31: 60% × 66.7 (est.) + 40% × 64.8 = 66

    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 0.42).

    No road tests of dry for Ecsta HM KH31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 68

    Wet

    Level
    68
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Ecsta HM KH31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online6767

    Direzza DZ03: 60% × 68.5 (est.) + 40% × 66.6 = 68

    Ecsta HM KH31: 60% × 68.7 (est.) + 40% × 67.1 = 68

    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 Ecsta HM KH31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 58

    Comfort

    Ecsta HM KH31 +8
    66
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Ecsta HM KH31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online5265

    Direzza DZ03: 40% × 66 (est.) + 60% × 51.9 = 58

    Ecsta HM KH31: 40% × 68.4 (est.) + 60% × 65 = 66

    No road tests of comfort for Direzza DZ03 or Ecsta HM KH31. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  4. 64

    Treadwear

    Direzza DZ03 +2
    62
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Ecsta HM KH31
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 65 (est.)≈ 64 (est.)
    Reviews found online6260

    Direzza DZ03: 60% × 64.6 (est.) + 40% × 61.9 = 64

    Ecsta HM KH31: 60% × 64 (est.) + 40% × 60 = 62

    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 0.35).

    No road tests of treadwear for Ecsta HM KH31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  5. 74

    Handling (owners)

    Direzza DZ03 +9
    65
    Why this score
    SourceDirezza DZ03Ecsta HM KH31
    Reviews found online7465
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop Direzza DZ03Kumho Ecsta HM KH31
Relative Score 69 66
Dry 73 66
Wet 68 68
Comfort 58 66
Treadwear 64 62
Handling (owners) 74 65

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
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Direzza DZ03

± 8

Ecsta HM KH31

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 Ecsta HM KH31

Pros

  • Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
  • Low road noise and high levels of ride comfort
  • Strong dry-weather handling and cornering confidence

Cons

  • Inconsistent wet-weather grip reported by some users
  • Reports of premature or uneven tread wear on certain vehicles
  • Occasional complaints regarding sidewall durability and road hazard susceptibility
All owner themes in the Ecsta HM KH31 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Direzza DZ03 B · Kumho Ecsta HM KH31
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—3
Rim diameters—16″

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Direzza DZ03

Kumho Ecsta HM KH31

Narrow edge: Dunlop Direzza DZ03 — better handling and dry. Pick the Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 if comfort matters most to you. Dunlop Direzza DZ03 rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 7 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 74 vs 65 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Kumho Ecsta HM KH31 scores 66 vs 58 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 73 vs 66 on dry.

Tire A · Dunlop Direzza DZ03
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta HM KH31
Check price on Amazon

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Direzza DZ03 or Ecsta HM KH31?

Which is better in the wet, Direzza DZ03 or Ecsta HM KH31?

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

Which grips better on dry roads, Direzza DZ03 or Ecsta HM KH31?

Dunlop Direzza DZ03, 73 vs 66 on our dry score.

Which is more comfortable, Direzza DZ03 or Ecsta HM KH31?

Kumho Ecsta HM KH31, 66 vs 58 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Direzza DZ03 or Ecsta HM KH31?

Neither, by our numbers: 64 vs 62 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

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