Dunlop vs Michelin

jobvfr · 10-05-2009, 06:21 PM

Well after 16k miles it was time to replace the tires...
I liked the Dunlop Road-smarts alot, good wet/cold performance and excellent wear! I have never had a set of tires last as long as these and still handle well. I ride about 15k a year in all weather so long life is important to me.
I went with the Pilot Road 2s to try something different and 'cause I heard some good things about them. At about $65 more I hope I get at least 15k out of them!
So far so good - I've only gone about 300mi, but they handle great. Very light and quick steering and the bike feels more planted in the turns. Of course comparing them to the worn out Dunlops isn't very fair! I haven't gotten caught in the rain yet, so we'll see about wet traction, but initially I am impressed.
Well time to go riding...

ewryly · 10-05-2009, 07:00 PM

I'll be interested in what you decide once you have some more miles on the Michelins. I'm running the Michelins now and I like them a lot, but was thinking about the Road Smarts. I have 10,000 on the Michelins and the front is showing more wear than the rear (actually a little cupping), but this year I didn't take any long trips so no big runs on the highways.

JBzRed07 · 10-05-2009, 07:55 PM

Had the Dunlop RoadSmarts for 5,000 miles. I liked them at first, but by 4000 miles I couldn't wait to get them off the bike. Never could get them to balance right from day 1. Of course, I might have had a bad front tire - who knows?

I recently replaced them with Michelin Pilot Road 2's. So far, I am very impressed with these. Believe I will stick with the Michelins.

vfrhusband · 10-05-2009, 08:19 PM

3200 miles on Metzler M3's and the rear was trashed on my Yamaha FZ1. LOVED the handling but I can't afford that kinda wear time. Still in search of the happy medium.

PRDATT · 10-24-2009, 03:40 AM

Pirelli! i have the diablo corsa III on mine and i can drive my interceptor sideways

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10-05-2009, 06:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
jobvfr Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Last Online: 11-19-2009 06:51 PM Location: Princeton NJ My Ride: 2001 VFR800 1998 Triumph Sprint 900 Posts: 82 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Dunlop vs Michelin Well after 16k miles it was time to replace the tires... I liked the Dunlop Road-smarts alot, good wet/cold performance and excellent wear! I have never had a set of tires last as long as these and still handle well. I ride about 15k a year in all weather so long life is important to me. I went with the Pilot Road 2s to try something different and 'cause I heard some good things about them. At about $65 more I hope I get at least 15k out of them! So far so good - I've only gone about 300mi, but they handle great. Very light and quick steering and the bike feels more planted in the turns. Of course comparing them to the worn out Dunlops isn't very fair! I haven't gotten caught in the rain yet, so we'll see about wet traction, but initially I am impressed. Well time to go riding... __________________ Jobvfr

10-05-2009, 07:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
ewryly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Last Online: 11-08-2009 07:15 AM Location: Springfield, MA - Find Me! My Ride: 2007 VFR 800 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 420 Thanks: 42 Thanked 33 Times in 29 Posts	I'll be interested in what you decide once you have some more miles on the Michelins. I'm running the Michelins now and I like them a lot, but was thinking about the Road Smarts. I have 10,000 on the Michelins and the front is showing more wear than the rear (actually a little cupping), but this year I didn't take any long trips so no big runs on the highways. __________________ Ed 2007 VFR: Helibars, Sargent Seat, Zero Gravity ST Screen, Pilot Road 2s

10-05-2009, 07:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
JBzRed07 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Last Online: Today 06:16 AM Location: Metairie, Louisiana - Find Me! My Ride: 2007 Dark Candy Red View my Photo Gallery Posts: 212 Thanks: 25 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Had the Dunlop RoadSmarts for 5,000 miles. I liked them at first, but by 4000 miles I couldn't wait to get them off the bike. Never could get them to balance right from day 1. Of course, I might have had a bad front tire - who knows? I recently replaced them with Michelin Pilot Road 2's. So far, I am very impressed with these. Believe I will stick with the Michelins. __________________ Proud Member - Sixth Gen Militia - 1st VTEC Battalion - Metairie, LA

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10-05-2009, 08:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
vfrhusband Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Last Online: Yesterday 11:14 PM Location: N/E Ohio My Ride: 1992 vfr750(wife's ride), 2004 fz1 yam, 1982 magna, 1981 k305, 1981 cb750 four View my Photo Gallery Posts: 293 Thanks: 31 Thanked 22 Times in 14 Posts	3200 miles on Metzler M3's and the rear was trashed on my Yamaha FZ1. LOVED the handling but I can't afford that kinda wear time. Still in search of the happy medium.

10-24-2009, 03:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
PRDATT Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Last Online: 11-11-2009 11:36 PM Location: Albuquerque, NM My Ride: 1998 Honda VFR800FI Interceptor 1985 Honda VF500F "Miniceptor" 1981 Honda CB750C 1984 Yamaha Radian Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pirelli! i have the diablo corsa III on mine and i can drive my interceptor sideways

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