81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
82/100
93 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Avon ZZ5 vs Dunlop Direzza DZ03 — Compared (May 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
72
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
79/100
7 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Avon ZZ5 — better comfort and wet. Pick the Dunlop Direzza DZ03 if dry and handling matter most to you.
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Category breakdown
5 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Direzza DZ03 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | ZZ5 | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 94 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
ZZ5 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | ZZ5 | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 66 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
ZZ5 leads by 35
Why this score
| Source | ZZ5 | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 47 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Direzza DZ03 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | ZZ5 | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 71 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Direzza DZ03 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | ZZ5 | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 89 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Avon ZZ5 | Dunlop Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 72 |
| Dry | 90 | 94 |
| Wet | 83 | 66 |
| Comfort | 82 | 47 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 71 |
| Handling | 86 | 89 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
72
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Avon ZZ5 is widely regarded as a high-value, performance-oriented summer tire that frequently outperforms more expensive premium brands in terms of ride comfort, noise reduction, and dry-weather grip. While many users praise its handling and wet-weather confidence, there is a notable divide regarding tread longevity, with some drivers experiencing rapid wear, particularly on high-torque or front-wheel-drive vehicles.
Pros
- Excellent dry and wet grip performance
- High value-for-money compared to premium competitors
- Noticeable reduction in road noise and improved ride comfort
- Progressive handling and predictable feedback at the limit
- Effective rim protection design
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting premature wear
- Poor performance in snow or icy conditions
- Occasional reports of increased noise or 'droning' as the tire wears
- Some users report a 'bedding-in' period where initial handling feels vague or twitchy
Observations
- Users with high-torque, front-wheel-drive vehicles frequently report faster front-tire wear compared to rear-wheel-drive setups.
- Owners of vehicles with firm, sporty suspension (e.g., Mazda MX-5, VW GTI) report the tire complements the car's handling characteristics well.
- Drivers of heavy, high-powered diesel sedans noted that while the tire improves comfort, the weight of the vehicle can accelerate tread depletion.
The Dunlop Direzza DZ03G is widely regarded as a high-performance competition tire that excels in dry track and tarmac rally environments. While it offers exceptional grip and lap time improvements over competitors, users note significant trade-offs in road noise and rapid tread wear, making it better suited for dedicated track use than daily driving.
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
- Predictable handling characteristics on track
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
- Not recommended for daily driving due to comfort and noise levels
Observations
- Users on lightweight platforms like the MR2 and MX-5 report excellent handling improvements, though rear tire wear is a common concern.
- High-horsepower AWD vehicles like the Mitsubishi EVO 9 benefit from the tire's grip but emphasize the extreme noise levels during road use.
- Users noted that the tire's performance remains consistent even when pushed to the limit in competitive tarmac rally settings.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Avon ZZ5 | B · Dunlop Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Ultra High Performance tires | Summer Trackday and Competition tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Avon
72
/ 100
Dunlop
Winner: Avon ZZ5 — better comfort and wet. Pick the Dunlop Direzza DZ03 if dry and handling matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Avon ZZ5 scores 82 vs 47 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Avon ZZ5 scores 83 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 94 vs 90 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 89 vs 86 on handling.
Tire A · Avon ZZ5
Tire B · Dunlop Direzza DZ03
More comparisons
Also compared with
Avon ZZ5 also compared with
Dunlop Direzza DZ03 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.