2009 Nissan 370Z Continental ExtremeContact DW Review: Structure, Tread, and Performance Levels

Continental’s Extreme Contact DW (Dry & Wet) is a max performance summer tire developed for drivers who demand superior traction but require close to all-season performance in extreme conditions for their 2009 Nissan 370Z. Designed to deliver serious performance and good ride quality on both dry and wet roads, the ExtremeContact DW drips with German quality and craftsmanship and brings the driver ever closer to that autobahn experience.

Although it is designed to handle practically anything the weather can throw at it, the ExtremeContact DW is not recommended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures. The ExtremeContact DW features an asymmetric design with stable shoulder blocks and a continuous, notched intermediate rib on the outboard side to enhance responsiveness and cornering stability. To reduce noise, continuous center ribs are used in the tread. These ribs also provide constant rubber-to-road contact that is vital to controlling the longitudinal forces experienced under braking. A combination of wide circumferential tread grooves and notched shoulder blocks on the inboard shoulder help disperse water to enhance wet weather traction and hydroplaning resistance.

One of the unique features of the ExtremeContact DW are the Tuned Performance Indicators, a series of visible letters molded into the second rib from the outboard shoulder. These can be used to indicate to drivers the tire’s performance levels. Seeing a “DW” indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry and most wet road conditions. After the “W” has worn away, the remaining “D” alerts the driver that the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions only.

Internally, the ExtremeContact’s structure is also impressive, consisting of twin steel belts reinforced with spirally wrapped jointless nylon cap plies. These structural elements reduce weight while providing long-term integrity under high speed conditions and more uniform ride quality. The ExtremeContact DW has a high tread wear rating of 340–comparable to some high-performance all-season tires. Sizes are limited, but nearly all of the stock sizes for the Z are available including 235/50R17 and 245/40R18. The Continental ExtremeContact DW is best suited for daily-driven Z’s that see occasional spirited driving.

The ExtrememContact offers a lot for any time of the year. Is it your favorite tire? What are your experiences with it? Everything it’s cracked up to be? Any complaints or criticisms? Are the performance grades reliable?

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