Tests 65 · 1 test Owners 66 · 2 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop Direzza ZIII vs Hankook Ventus R-S4 — 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 1 + 1 road tests and 2 + 211 owner reviews. How we score
Ventus R-S4 is ahead, 71–66
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Tests 69 · 1 test Owners 73 · 211 reviews
“I had the DW's on my Porsche 911 last year and really liked them. I liked them so much, I just installed a set on my C6 base. I waiting for the 3' of snow to melt before I try them out.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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65
Dry
Ventus R-S4 +873Why this score
Source Direzza ZIII Ventus R-S4 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests 65 69 Reviews found online 66 80 Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 98% 99% Direzza ZIII: 60% × 65 + 40% × 66.3 = 65
Ventus R-S4: 60% × 68.6 + 40% × 79.5 = 73
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69
Wet
Direzza ZIII +267Why this score
Source Direzza ZIII Ventus R-S4 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 69 (est.) ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 68 66 Direzza ZIII: 60% × 69.1 (est.) + 40% × 67.8 = 69
Ventus R-S4: 60% × 67.9 (est.) + 40% × 65.5 = 67
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 0.54).
No road tests of wet for Ventus R-S4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.54).
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62
Comfort
Direzza ZIII +359Why this score
Source Direzza ZIII Ventus R-S4 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 58 54 Direzza ZIII: 40% × 67 (est.) + 60% × 58.3 = 62
Ventus R-S4: 40% × 66.2 (est.) + 60% × 54.1 = 59
No road tests of comfort for Direzza ZIII or Ventus R-S4. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
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67
Treadwear
Ventus R-S4 +774Why this score
Source Direzza ZIII Ventus R-S4 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 71 (est.) Reviews found online 68 78 Direzza ZIII: 60% × 66.9 (est.) + 40% × 67.6 = 67
Ventus R-S4: 60% × 70.5 (est.) + 40% × 78 = 74
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 0.35).
No road tests of treadwear for Ventus R-S4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
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66
Handling (owners)
Ventus R-S4 +1581Why this score
Source Direzza ZIII Ventus R-S4 Reviews found online 66 81
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Direzza ZIII | Hankook Ventus R-S4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 66 | 71 |
| Dry | 65 | 73 |
| Wet | 69 | 67 |
| Comfort | 62 | 59 |
| Treadwear | 67 | 74 |
| Handling (owners) | 66 | 81 |
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
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
66
/ 100
Direzza ZIII
71
/ 100
Ventus R-S4
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, Dunlop Direzza ZIII finished ahead 0 times and Hankook Ventus R-S4 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | Direzza ZIII | Ventus R-S4 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% | 99% | −0.4 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #10/11 | #7/11 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre Test · 225/45 R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A 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
Tire B Ventus R-S4
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and wear resistance ("wears like iron")
- Highly consistent performance and resistance to overheating or getting greasy during long sessions
- Stiff sidewalls providing precise steering response and excellent feedback
Cons
- Slow to come up to optimal operating temperature, especially in cooler weather or for autocross
- Slightly lower ultimate dry grip compared to top-tier rivals like the Bridgestone RE-71R/RE-71RS
- High road noise and a harsh ride due to stiff sidewalls
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Dunlop Direzza ZIII
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Hankook Ventus R-S4
The community holds a very positive view of the Hankook Ventus R-S4, praising its exceptional grip, excellent treadwear, and durability on the track. Users also note that it provides a surprisingly smooth and quiet ride for street use, though some mention it requires heat cycling management as it ages.
corvetteforum.com
“I had the DW's on my Porsche 911 last year and really liked them. I liked them so much, I just installed a set on my C6 base. I waiting for the 3' of snow to melt before I try them out.”
corvetteforum.com
“Quote: Originally Posted by LbulletM Came back to say this. I bought the HanKooks and LOVE THEM!! Good wear but most of all Super Quiet. To each their own, not trying to start a war...just giving personal experience with the product....I dont drive in a matter to need High performance so I cant speak to cornering or load or any of the other gearhead tire talk....Smooth and Quiet!”
Top themes
#exceptional track grip#long treadwear life#heat cycling behavior#smooth and quiet ride#hpde and track day use
Based on 10 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Direzza ZIII | B · Hankook Ventus R-S4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
66
/ 100
Dunlop Direzza ZIII
71
/ 100
Hankook Ventus R-S4
Winner: Hankook Ventus R-S4 — better handling, dry and treadwear. Pick the Dunlop Direzza ZIII if comfort matters most to you. Dunlop Direzza ZIII rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 2 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Ventus R-S4 scores 81 vs 66 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Ventus R-S4 scores 73 vs 65 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Ventus R-S4 scores 74 vs 67 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Direzza ZIII scores 62 vs 59 on comfort.
Tire A · Dunlop Direzza ZIII
Tire B · Hankook Ventus R-S4
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Direzza ZIII or Ventus R-S4?
Which is better in the wet, Direzza ZIII or Ventus R-S4?
Neither, by our numbers: 69 vs 67 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Direzza ZIII or Ventus R-S4?
Hankook Ventus R-S4, 73 vs 65 on our dry score.
Which is more comfortable, Direzza ZIII or Ventus R-S4?
Dunlop Direzza ZIII, 62 vs 59 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Direzza ZIII or Ventus R-S4?
Hankook Ventus R-S4, 74 vs 67 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