GusS

It looks one hell of a lot more like the Dunlop SP8000's than their predecessor, the S-02 PP.

Is this an indication that the "spectacular looking" V-shaped tread design was nothing more than just a passing fad ?
Are the other tyre manufacturers who came out with similar designs going to follow suit?

GregW-2.7T

I don't really care how they look as much as how they handle. Swapped my OEM Conti's for SS-03's last weekend and have only done 500 miles. No rain or high-speed cornering yet so can't comment that much on traction or handling. Big thing I have noticed so far is the way they follow the groves on scored concrete freeways. Not a big problem until you hit the patch where the guy scoring the wet concrete was drunk and they zigzag all over the place. To have your wheels take on a life of their own is a bit disconcerting!

eharleq

The tread design is a tradeoff. The linear elements that they went back to makes the tire quieter (air pumping) and handle slightly better in the dry. The chevron style still works better in the wet (ATBE!). The new compound is so much better that they could go back to the basic design and cheat in the rain.

Michelin is, of course, way off the back. They went to the chevron with the new sports and dropped the better dry design. In two years they'll bring it back or carry both designs.

Eddie@Tirerack

I just went thru my first monson driving up to Road America on them last week, and they are to die for in the wet on the interstates.

Appearance wise, I hated to give up the S02PPs, because, hey, they do not look as cool as the predecessor, but due to the new dual layer technlology & the tiny angles on the side of the treadblock for the enhanced wet traction, after this, I can see why it is worth it.

Its all about the technology :-)

Call me if you need them or with any questions!

Eddie

Bollinger

Look at the Pirelli P Zero Rosso and the S-03 PP. I think the S-03s borrow heavily from the heavily circumferential design of the P Zeroes. I do hear the S-03s are a little better though.