73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
75/100
11 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Avon ZZR 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.
VerdictToo close to call: Avon ZZR and Dunlop Direzza DZ03 are within 2 points overall. Avon ZZR is stronger on comfort. Dunlop Direzza DZ03 is stronger on dry, wet and handling.
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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 5
Why this score
| Source | ZZR | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 94 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Direzza DZ03 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | ZZR | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 61 | 66 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
ZZR leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | ZZR | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 47 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Direzza DZ03 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | ZZR | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 71 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Direzza DZ03 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | ZZR | Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 89 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Avon ZZR | Dunlop Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 72 |
| Dry | 89 | 94 |
| Wet | 61 | 66 |
| Comfort | 70 | 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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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 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 ZZR is a specialized track-focused tire that delivers exceptional dry-weather grip and performance, particularly for lightweight sports cars like the Caterham and Lotus Elise. While highly regarded for track use, users consistently warn that its wet-weather capabilities are severely limited, making it unsuitable for year-round road driving or inclement conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and traction
- Strong performance consistency during consecutive track laps
- Lightweight construction ideal for track-oriented vehicles
- Good longevity and wear characteristics when used appropriately
Cons
- Poor wet-weather performance and high risk of aquaplaning
- Sensitive to low temperatures
- Thin sidewalls provide minimal rim protection
- Prone to flat-spotting if left stationary for extended periods
Observations
- Highly praised by owners of lightweight, track-focused vehicles like the Caterham 7 and Lotus Exige.
- Users noted that tire pressure management is critical for optimal performance, with some reporting significant handling improvements at higher PSI settings.
- Performance on heavier road cars is mixed, with reports of uneven wear and less predictable breakaway characteristics compared to dedicated track platforms.
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 ZZR | B · Dunlop Direzza DZ03 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Trackday and Competition tires | Summer Trackday and Competition tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Avon
72
/ 100
Dunlop
Too close to call: Avon ZZR and Dunlop Direzza DZ03 are within 2 points overall. Avon ZZR is stronger on comfort. Dunlop Direzza DZ03 is stronger on dry, wet and handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Avon ZZR scores 70 vs 47 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 94 vs 89 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 66 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Direzza DZ03 scores 89 vs 86 on handling.
Tire A · Avon ZZR
Tire B · Dunlop Direzza DZ03
More comparisons
Also compared with
Avon ZZR 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.