Dunlop SportMax Tires

GotRoad? · 05-06-2004, 06:01 AM

I burned up enough rubber at the GA Mtn Rally that I decided to get a new set of shoes before going home, but only ones I could find to fit my bike were Dunlop SportMax at a Kawasaki dealer in Blairesville. I've got to say that these new tires run better in both the wet & dry than the Pilot Sports that they replaced. I'm going deeper into corners and leaning it over a lot harder than I did on the Pilot Sports. Anyway, I like'em. Don't know how they'll wear. Anyone else tried them ?

JustAnotherSquid · 05-06-2004, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GotRoad?
I'm going deeper into corners and leaning it over a lot harder than I did on the Pilot Sports.

So are we to assume that you were able to corner the Pilot Sports to the limits of traction where they started drifting mid-corner, and that the SportMax tires are able to maintain an even faster pace before drifting?

If so, I'm impressed. I've drifted the 010's on the street but have yet to drift the Pilot Sports, and that's at knee-down, dragging-hard-parts, all-while-hanging-off-like-a-monkey lean angles.

repoe3 · 05-06-2004, 06:47 AM

or it could be the new tire syndrome

repoe3

blakebird · 05-06-2004, 07:14 AM

I like the Pilot Sports tremendously on the S.
I have gone thru a set of D208's, which did not last as well mostly due to the front cupping.

There's a place in Denver that sells Dunlops half price, so I'm getting rears for $95 - and that's keeping me using Dunlops out of economic necessity

(I'm on my 7th rear and 6th front in less than a year on my '04 Prep at 27,000 miles, so half price is good.)

So.... before this most recent 3,300 mile trip last week, I had a D220 put on the back, hoping for extended life. Not only did I get great mileage out of this tire - I thoroughly enjoyed the tire edge to edge. I will put D220's on the rear without hesitation - a very good tire.

GotRoad? · 05-06-2004, 07:16 AM

Don't get me wrong I like the Pilot Sports. It was out of necessity that I changed up when I did. And maybe it could be new tire syndrome, but at the rally, in the wet I felt the bike sliding through the corner apexes and throttle roll-ons. Am I a super-sqid ? No, but I do know something about taking my bike down a curvy road lickety-split. Anyway, the question was has anyone elese run these Dunlops.

JustAnotherSquid · 05-06-2004, 07:20 AM

So the answer then is no, you haven't ridden the Pilot Sports to the limits of traction, nor the SportMaxes. Just trying to qualify your comments, and thanks.

My experience in the wet is like yours - the PS' stink. The BT010 is still far-and-away the best wet-weather tire I've ever ridden.

repoe3 · 05-06-2004, 07:28 AM

oh sorry forgot the question...nope havent ridden them..and i thought the sportecs were the best in the wet...oh wait i wrecked on sportecs in the wet...they are still better...really, JAS.

repoe3

peakrunner · 05-06-2004, 08:15 AM

Just picked up a set of Dunlop D208 GP-A takeoffs from the MRA race down in Pueblo last weekend. I haven't had a chance to put them on yet. Worked a deal with Mark from Rocky Mountain Race Tires. They had some good wear on the very edges but plenty of center rubber..figured I would get maybe 1000 miles on them. He said that he would mount and Balance for free so what the hell, worth a try I guess.

The Metzler M1's are just about gone and you can't beat free tires even if they were used for 1-2 races.

cheers

roger albert · 05-06-2004, 08:21 AM

Yeah, the PSs are mediocre in the wet. I've only run earlier SportMaxes, which is not a fair comparison, but in the dry, the PSs have always stuck much better than the sportmaxes. At any rate, my experience with them both is on the duc, not the S, so that's another variable. I'd still guess new tire syndrome.