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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec vs Nitto NT 01 — 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.

Tire A Dunlop

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

Summer Extreme Performance tires

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
86/100
6 owner reviews
Dry
92
Wet
83
Comfort
82
Treadwear
77
Handling
88
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Nitto

Nitto NT 01

Nitto NT 01 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
74/100
9 owner reviews
Dry
94
Wet
46
Comfort
46
Treadwear
73
Handling
83
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec — better wet, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) NT 01 leads by 2
A
92
B
94
Why this score
SourceDirezza Sport Z1 Star SpecNT 01
Tyre Reviews owners 92 94

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec leads by 37
A
83
B
46
Why this score
SourceDirezza Sport Z1 Star SpecNT 01
Tyre Reviews owners 83 46

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec leads by 36
A
82
B
46
Why this score
SourceDirezza Sport Z1 Star SpecNT 01
Tyre Reviews owners 82 46

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec leads by 4
A
77
B
73
Why this score
SourceDirezza Sport Z1 Star SpecNT 01
Tyre Reviews owners 77 73

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec leads by 5
A
88
B
83
Why this score
SourceDirezza Sport Z1 Star SpecNT 01
Tyre Reviews owners 88 83

Scores at a glance

CategoryDunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star SpecNitto NT 01
Relative Score 83 66
Dry 92 94
Wet 83 46
Comfort 82 46
Treadwear 77 73
Handling 88 83

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

Tire A

Tire B

From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec

The Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is widely regarded as a high-performance tire that offers exceptional dry grip and handling feedback at a competitive price point. While users consistently praise its spirited driving capabilities and stiff sidewall construction, the consensus notes a trade-off in terms of rapid tread wear and inconsistent wet-weather performance.

Pros

  • Exceptional dry grip and handling feedback
  • High value-to-performance ratio
  • Stiff sidewall construction for improved cornering
  • Reduced tire squeal during spirited driving

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear compared to OEM alternatives
  • Mediocre performance in wet conditions
  • Increased road noise levels
  • Potential quality control issues regarding tire balancing

Observations

  • Users noted that the tire requires significantly more balancing weight compared to premium competitors like Bridgestone.
  • The tire exhibits a shorter lifespan, with reports of replacement intervals occurring around 24,000 kilometers.
Tire B Nitto NT 01

The Nitto NT01 is widely regarded as a high-value, track-focused semi-slick tire that excels in dry conditions, offering impressive longevity compared to its competitors. While it provides exceptional grip and consistent performance for track enthusiasts, users must exercise extreme caution in wet conditions due to a significant risk of hydroplaning.

Pros

  • Exceptional dry traction and grip levels
  • Outstanding tread life and durability for a track-oriented tire
  • Quick warm-up times, even on heavier vehicles
  • High value-for-money proposition for track day participants

Cons

  • Severe hydroplaning risk in standing water or heavy rain
  • High levels of road noise
  • Poor traction on painted road markings, especially when wet
  • Limited communication/feedback compared to top-tier racing slicks

Observations

  • Lightweight FWD vehicles, such as modified MINIs, benefit from rapid heat-up and high confidence during hillclimbs and circuit use.
  • Heavy, high-torque vehicles (approx. 2 tons) report that the tires handle power well, though they may experience heat saturation after 6-7 consecutive laps.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec B · Nitto NT 01
CategorySummer Extreme Performance tires—
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover—
Sizes available—17
Rim diameters—14″ – 19″
Tread depth—6.3/32″
UTQG—100 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—51 psi
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop

Nitto

Winner: Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec — better wet, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec scores 83 vs 46 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec scores 82 vs 46 on comfort.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec scores 88 vs 83 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec scores 77 vs 73 on treadwear.

Tire A · Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Nitto NT 01
Check price on Amazon

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.