Dunlop's new Sportmax Q2 pushes the performance envelope using the latest tire technology, and I pounded out lap after lap at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch to put the tires to the test.
Dunlop Sportmax Q2: What's New?
Dunlop's new Sportmax Q2 replaces the company's previous sporty mainstay, the Qualifier. With Dunlop's Sportmax Roadsmart model offering street sport and sport touring capabilities, and their Sportmax GP-A model geared towards race and track applications, the Sportmax Q2 is intended primarily as a street sport tire that can be ridden on the track, if the rider has that itch.The multi-tread compound is intended to give the Sportmax Q2 many miles of straight-line riding (thanks to harder rubber in the middle), while the edges are composed of a softer, grippier material for more secure handling. Sportmax Q2s use a slightly taller, more aggressive profile than the Qualifier, and incorporate new continuous hex beading that is both lighter and stronger, resulting in enhanced steering response and cornering stability. Rear tires have a newly developed, stiffer jointless band construction with a continuously wound aramid belt for reduced carcass distortion, and stiffer overall construction for a more consistent contact patch.
The new tires also claim higher lateral grip and longer wearing compounds thanks to the use of ultra-fine carbon black material that's denser, promising less warm-up time and what Dunlop claims is "surprisingly good tread wear for a high-performance tire."
Riding Impressions: Grip, Grip, Grip!
With a sampling of some of the finest sportbikes on hand-- including the Honda CBR1000RR ABS and CBR600, Kawasaki ZX6-R, Yamaha R1, Suzuki GSX-R1000, GSX-R750, GSX-R600, and the cute 'lil Gladius thrown in for good measure-- I spent a good portion of the day experiencing Dunlop's new Sportmax Q2s at speed.Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch is a 3.5 mile track located in Pahrump, Nevada, and its rather technical layout provides a challenging workout for tires. Between the medium and tight turns, there's no room for relaxation, and bikes spend most of their time on their sides at this track.
Ambient temperatures in the 90s didn't hurt the tire warmup process, but even at the first turn out of the pits-- a fast, wide sweeper-- cornering felt secure. It takes a few laps to become accustomed to the acceleration, handling, and braking dynamics of each bike, but the Sportmax Q2s felt sure-footed across the board. One patch of track (the last turn leading to the straight) has an uneven surface that allows for some rear tire spin while the bike is leaned over. The loss of traction due to the track surface was disconcerting, but the ease with which grip was regained proved confidence inspiring. Other extreme conditions were equally reassuring: aggressive braking before turns, constant radius bends at steep lean angles, and hard acceleration coming out of turns. Perhaps most impressively, the tires' appearance after long sessions in the desert heat revealed very little visible evidence of wear.
The Bottom Line: Good Enough for the Track? Good Enough for the Road!
Dunlop makes some big claims about their Sportmax Q2's performance gains over their predecessor, including 15% better traction, 15% better drive grip, and 25% better cornering stability. They also measured a 2.81 second improvement over Qualifiers at Virginia International Raceway, and based on my time spent with these tires, those claims sound entirely credible.If you enjoy squeezing maximum performance out of your sportbike, Dunlop's Sportmax Q2 tire should reassure you that you're getting the most out of your high-horsepower, race-bred motorcycle. Since pricing has not been announced (and it was difficult to gauge ride quality, since most of the track surfaces were relatively smooth), I've elected not to indicate a star rating for this review. But based on an afternoon spent lapping hardcore machinery at speeds approaching 140 mph, I can confidently recommend Dunlop's Sportmax Q2 tires to riders seeking to wring serious g-forces from their bikes.
Specs
- Type of tire: Sport (with track capability)
- Construction highlights: Radial design with two compounds (soft on the outside and harder at the center, for longer touring life), bonded ultra-fine carbon black and resin for low warm-up time, continuous hex beads for enhanced steering response and stability
- Claimed improvements over Qualifier model: 15% better traction grip, 15% better drive grip, 5% better responsiveness, 25% better cornering stability
- Front fitments: 120/60ZR17, 120/70ZR17
- Rear fitments: 160/60ZR17, 170/60ZR17, 180/55ZR17, 190/50ZR17, 190/55ZR17, 200/50ZR17
- Availability: Summer 2009
- Price: TBD
