Dunlop RoadSmart

Discussion in '7th Generation 2010-Present' started by VFROARR, Jul 28, 2011.

  1. Seemedo

    Seemedo New Member

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    I just replaced the factory tires with the Pirelli Angels at 7600 miles. the old rear still had some life left in her but the front look scary. Funny was told by the dealer wrench to keep the PSI at 41 pounds which just happens to be what was recommended by my old Triumph wrenchitesta. I've put a little over 200 miles on the Angels and wow it rides different just feels like the tires are have more stick to them but again I ride very few good corners on the roads I travel. For what is worth the person who sold me the Angels said that they should wear better tan the roadsmarts.
     
  2. VFROARR

    VFROARR New Member

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    Well interestingly, the RoadSmarts have worked for me on the same pattern as the Fuel Gauge: Looks good, looks good, Holly Crap, they're gone!! The rear started to square at around 4500km and now at 6000km, it's totally worn out. It did not like the 2-up riding that I've done on the past 800km. The front still looks ok though.
    I am tempted to try the Pirelli Corsa II as I am a big Pirelli fan (and I did 10K km on my CBR with them) but I'm not sure they would last long on the heavier, torquier (especially when I install the Z-Bomb) VFR.
    I ride corners fairly aggressively so I need sticky, which is why I am not sure about the Pirelli Angels (Pirelli's website doesn't rate them as very sticky).
    Decison-decision.
     
  3. Captain Happy

    Captain Happy New Member

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    Yeah, the Stock RoadSmarts were toast for me at 6800 miles. The front was hammered. Not sure what the deal is with that...maybe riding style. BUt, I put Michellin Pilot Road III's on. Holy crap do these things stick! The comfort of the ride is better too.
     
  4. Jmetz

    Jmetz New Member

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    I've always been partial to Michelin and have run them on all my bikes. The rear on the VFR is a roadsmart, and I can definitely see the p.o. Had no issues taking them all the way over to the edge. I asked him how he felt about the tire when I was buying the bike and he said he loved it. Dunlop has always been on the bottom of my (short) tire list. I'll be taking it up for some carving tomorrow so I'm interested to see how it performs. I will say that so far I've been pretty comfortable dropping over on some decent high speed sweepers in town.
     
  5. Davis5g

    Davis5g New Member

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    Dunlop did just redesign the roadsmart, now the roadsmart II. I have heard good things.
     
  6. VFROARR

    VFROARR New Member

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    I just looked at Michelin's Website and I am intrigued by the Pilot Road III. How would you qualify the handling compared to the RoadSmarts? Do they have better cornering abilities?
    Although I do not have any complains about the RoadSmarts (aside from the quick wear) behaviour, I simply did not fully trust them while riding aggressively on technical, twisty roads.
    I rarely ride in the rain so for me, cornering abilities in the dry and relative durability are more important.
     
  7. VFROARR

    VFROARR New Member

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    Would the Pilot Power 2CT last as long as the Pilot Road III? Both seem to have a medium compound in the center for the rear tire and soft compound on the front tire.
     
  8. Davis5g

    Davis5g New Member

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    The pilot power 2CT is designed as a sport bike tire and will likely wear out faster although its more aggressive profile will quicken the steering and it will have more grip than the pilot road series. Which may be exactly what your looking for in a tire. I have heard that if your looking for a fairly grippy tire and don't ride in the rain, the pilot road 2 is better than the pilot road 3 because the extra tread sipes on the road 3 cause a little more tread squirm and cause a little less feel on dry roads. My pilot road 2's look like they will make it to the 8000 mile mark with some tread left on the front. I think I'll try the new pilot road 3's this time around.
     
  9. VFROARR

    VFROARR New Member

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    Well, beeing a big Pirelli fan, I just pulled the trigger on a set of Rosso II! :)
    I should have them some time next week. I was tempted by the Angels, but Pirelli themseleves rank them 2/5 for grip. Given my love for agressive twisties, I prefer to be safe instead of sorry, so I opted for somethng a little stickier. I am prepared to sacrifice a little longevity on the tire for a sure footed grip at lean angles. I will report next week on my appreciation of the Rosso II.
    As a side note, amazing how riding style will affect longevity! Some of you guys made it over 5000 MILES on the RoadSmarts. I did 6000 KILOMETERS and the rear is dead!
    Ride hard but safe! :)
     
  10. Captain Happy

    Captain Happy New Member

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    Yes, they feel way more confident and planted to me. Though, I am still trying to sort out the suspension on my 1200. Not that it is bad, just not dialed in where I'd like it to be. I would say the Road III's give better feedback then the RoadSmarts. And the ride in "cruise" mode seems to be better...not softer just...better. lol

    Well, from the "chickenstrip" measure of traction. I have an inch on left and right side on the rear and the bike feels way more planted and comfortable with the Road III's then the RoadSmarts ever did. The RoadSmarts just felt...numb...as far as grip feedback was for me. Perhaps it's just a difference in the roundness profile between the two tires and riding style.

    All I know is, I really like the Road III's. It is the first set of Michellin's I've ever had. So far so good...just waiting to see what kind of mileage they get. Also, I just put the Z-bomb on my 1200 right before I put on the Road III's...so now that the bike doesn't do the the hokey pokey two step anymore in 2nd...that could also be a factor in the feel of the bikes cornering feedback. Smoother throttle inputs + new tires = accelerated confidence in cornering speeds....
     
  11. Befbever

    Befbever New Member

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    I don't really care much about tire life, I'm very nice on tires. However I thought I was never gonna get rid of embarrassing (just to me) chicken strips until I had these PP2CT's. Without trying or barely dry roads, I now have half an inch left. Pretty sure I can use these all the way if conditions allow. Best tires I've had barring Dunlop slicks.
    Very confidence-inspiring and let's face facts, that's all we're looking for. Extremely good in the wet, awesome in the dry. It'll be a cold day in hell until I switch to anything different/better. Had the OE Roadsmarts, then the Power Road 2 CT's, but the Powers 2 CT's win by a large margin. The front just seems to be stuck to the asphalt and the neutrality is second to none. Not that I'm a journo who can try different tires each week, mind.

    Let's not forget - and I always rode Bridgestone - all the experience Michelin got in MotoGP and other classes. One of the reasons you barely hear from Dunlop. Until you go to a track day where the Dunlop slicks are in abundance, at least here.

    The Pilot Powers are not cheap. But I don't think about money with this kind of confidence in the bike. The Bazzaz Z-Bomb has made it a much safer and much more enjoyable bike as well. .Shame on you for that, Honda!
     
  12. ZEN biker

    ZEN biker New Member

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    I had the dunlop OE roadsmarts, I had no confidence in them, they didnt feel like the had good grip and just left me making over compensating movements to handle the bad feel.

    Now I have Prelli Angel ST's. Very responsive tire, good life and under an inch on my chicken strips. And the best part is they were cheaper than the OE Dunlops that only lasted about 6000kms for backs and 8000km for my front. I did have a Pilot Road 2 on the front but I prefer to run the same front and back.
     
  13. jugornot

    jugornot New Member

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    I know I'm flying against the grain here, take my comments as my opinion. I loved the roadsmarts except for longevity. 3800 until way bald. I replaced them with pr3's and have not been happy at all. Maybe 1/4" chicken strips on the roadsmart rear. At least and inch on the pr3s. Mileage is better at 4400 and some left. The front pr3 is noisy and makes a shudder jiggle movement under hard braking just before stopping. SWMBO does not like my tire appetite so I want to hear about someone trying a commander 2 (I know its a cruiser tire) to get better mileage. I'm not a racer and most mileage is from daily commuting and my tires flatten in the middle not the sides. Having said that I enjoy spirited rides on weekends. My VFR12 is a year old with a little over 8000 miles on it now. Overall for just riding I really liked the roadsmarts better than the pr3s except for longevity. My next pair may be pr2s or a commander 2 and pr2 up front. Really want info on the commander 2.
     
  14. Tori

    Tori New Member

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    I am very satisfied with my Roadsmarts. I feel i ride fairly sporty, late braker, and no rear chicken strips (not trying to brag - just info on my riding style) I don't do alot of slab riding, and don't keep track of mileage either. A tire for me just needs to hold the road, and regrip if it does slip. Which these do well for me. I don't worry about mileage, a motorcycle for me is a toy and when it's tires are worn out, i get new ones.
     
  15. John451

    John451 Member

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    Has anyone tried out the new Roadsmart IIs ?

    The Dunlop blurb suggests they have addressed the wear and wet weather issues so have been thinking of trying them when my current Michelin R3s wear out and a mate keeps telling me how much he likes the Dunlop Sportsmarts on his K13S.
     
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