Dunlop RoadSmart II Tires

Don't know if this is the correct part of this forum to post this but here goes.

Need experienced opinions as to the longevity and handling of the Dunlop Roadsmart II's in twisties. More specifically, do they "fall or drop into a sharp mountain turn" easily? I ride the Smoky Mountains which are some of the best and most challenging anywhere as some here know.

I ride very hard in the twisties and need grip too. I would consider Q3's or similar but they wouldn't make more than 1500 miles with me I suspect. I've been lucky to get 2200 miles out of anything. Since I ride my VFR hard in the turns, I need them to last as long as possible under the conditions.

Thank you very much for experienced opinions on this tire.

 

I know a couple of riders who use the Roadsmarts IIs and they like them but I haven't spoken with either rider in a while. Although one of them I recall, his front tire wearing out rather quickly but the grip and feel was good, at least in our last conversation we had. For longevity, you need to look into a sport touring tire, something that will still give you grip but also more mileage.

Check out these two threads and see if this will be useful to you...


http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/50495-Whats-the-best-tyre-choice

http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/50004-Disappointed-in-the-Pilot-Road-4

 

I'd recommend the PR4 tires. They didn't last add long as the PR3, but the aren't as flat of a profile. They even worked at the track. I currently have the Bridgestone T30 tires and they tip in very easily, but I can't comment on grip yet. Google T30 & Ron Haslam, he uses them on all his bikes in his riding school on the track. The T30 EVO are supposed to be even better

 

The dunlops came stock on my bike. Got 9,300kms out of the rear tyre. Very close to wear bars in centre. Probably good for another 1000km. The front tyre is still in good shape. Recently did a 2000km ride over 11 days with a pillion and luggage. I'm a moderately quick rider and had no issues with grip in the Twisties when vtecing in second gear. Put on a continental road attack 2 evo on the rear for an upcoming fun day on the track. The conti seems to need longer warmup period than the dunlops before it gets grippy. Be interesting to see the difference as I really liked the grip, wear and feedback from the Dunlop.

 

I went from Roadsmart IIs to Pirelli Angels and the Roadsmarts aren't even in the same category. I strongly suggest going with Pilot Road 4s or Pirelli Angels, and if you don't do long distance touring or commuting, I would go a step further and run with Dunlop Q3s or Pirelli Diablos.

 

Have had dunflops on many bikes, and even though I like their grip, I hate the way they wear out. Will never buy any dunflop tires again.

 

Ya Q'3 aren't worth the dough, mostly worn out at 3,000 miles

 

I've never gotten 3000 miles out of any kind of tire on a VFR. Told you I rode hard in the twisties. That's why I don't use Q3's, M3's, or the like. I like their grip but I can get good grip out of a dual compound Sport/Touring tire along with a little better mileage. Just wanted opinions on the RoadSmart II's. The non-dual compound Dunlops that come with new 8th gen. VFR's have zero road feel giving me absolutely no confidence in them. So, back to those with RoadSmart II experience. Thanks.

 

I'm surprised you don't like the OEM Dunlop. They are basically the same tire as the RS2, but in a single compound. I found the RS2 to be quite similar in feel to the OEM (which I thought were pretty good, just didn't last).

I've had the original Roadsmart and Roadsmart2 on a 6th gen and 8th gen. The RS2 was a good tire for hard riding in the twisties, but didn't last as long as I would have liked. I went from those to the Angel GT and couldn't be happier. The GT just loves the curves. All my riding is super fast and aggressive in the mountains of CO, so I know what you're looking for. I don't think you would be disappointed in the RS2, but I'm sure you would be very happy with the Angel GT. I think the price is similar...they're both on the expensive side.

On a side note, don't bother with the PR4. It's a great sport touring tire for the average rider, but it doesn't wear very even, or last that long for us hardcore twisty speed demons!

 

I will NEVER put another Pirelli on either car or bike as they were the major contributor to a very bad car wreck I had in 2010 due to zero lack of stick with Z rated tires that should have gripped after someone ran me into a wall. Trust in tires is almost everything in a motorcycle tire. There is nothing Pirelli can do to get my business back when they almost killed me.

My experience is that dual compound tires do stick much better than single compound tires. If the RSII doesn't stick or feel any better than the OEM Dunlops, (which I consider junk due better experience with other tires) then I will never buy another Dunlop. I can always go back in time to the PR2's which do stick and do have good feel for me. My best friend did just that after trying all the new "wonder tires". We, the customer are an experimental population for tire companies. Newer and better doesn't always mean better.

 

I guess I should have been more explicit. I ran Roadsmart IIs for the first 8,000 miles on my '09 VFR. I didn't have any reference, so I just thought the VFR handled like sh*t. WHen I put the Pirelli Angels on, it transformed the bike. So when I say I strongly dislike the Roadsmart IIs, I am coming from 8k miles of riding experience, from commuting, to slab, to mountain twisties.

Also, people keep talking about getting 3k miles out of (insert brand name) tires here, and it makes no sense. Sure, Q3s will last a few thousand miles, but Roadsmart IIs will go 5-10 depending on how you ride. Same with Pirelli Diablos versus Angels. You can't discuss the mileage potential of a brand when they make many different tires - it's like making sweeping comments about Hondas based on the NSX.

 

If your riding HARD in the twisties, don't expect mileage of any kind from any tire. I've run many different brands on the VFR. Some feel better than others in different situations. My sport touring tire tend to last longer but lack the confidence inspiring tackiness. But when I'm pushing a bike, which is a track only CBR600 I'm looking at performance only not longivity. Id love to have your problem. My advice is each of us will have a prefrence that will differ. I like the road smart lls.

 

I agree. When I ride hard, I don't expect great mileage from any tire. That said, some still last longer than others in the twisties. Your second to last sentence really sums it up. Each of us has to find the tire that works for our own riding style. After being away from bikes for 5 years, tires have changed A LOT thus my original post. I'm searching for, hopefully, a better longer lasting tire the way I ride. If nothing else, I can always go back to the PR2 because it on the rear and a Pilot Power on the front work quite well, FOR ME. I just wanted to hear some opinions on Dunlop since my front OEM tire is still good. I hate to throw it away but I will if I have to in order to get a good set of tires.

Lastly, the only "sweeping comment" I made was about Pirelli's. If a supposedly sticky tire fails to stick when it should have and it almost gets you killed, you won't buy that brand again. Drive into a high solid concrete interstate divider head on at 70mph and let me know how you feel after that, if you live. That will tell you a little about my prejudice with Pirelli products. Everyone has their experiences and feelings which they are entitled to have.

 

:bananaerhaps the tire isn't the fault but the rider who doesn't learn the tires limits and goes stupidly over it.

 

Specifically that comment was in reference to? Thank you, you're a very helpful, positive, and considerate contributor.

 

Twisted, I wasn't even responding to you. There are like 2 other brand-wide comments in this thread about longevity (which, if you actually read my post you'll see that's what I was referring to). Incidentally, I think you're completely wrong about Pirelli's and that your bias is irrational, but I also understand that sometimes there's nothing rational about bikes, so if Pirellis make you feel unsafe, you should absolutely not use them.

 

ya, very rarely its the tires fault-the rider just tried too go over the tires limit

 

So, after looking at my tires yesterday, I actually have Bridgestone T30 EVO tires. I thought they were regular T30's when I had them installed. Nice to know I have the upgraded version. I still like them, Although I only have about 400ish miles on them. They turn in a lot easier than the PR4, so much so that the stock 5th Gen I'm riding seems to turn better than the 6th Gen I had which had the rear shock shimmed and the the forks raised 12mm in the triples.

I'm not familiar with the Roadsmart tires. My tire shop has them, but I know nothing about them.

 

Please accept my apology. You're right, I should have read the thread better.

I don't doubt someone else's experience with Pirelli's but when you strongly feel they didn't do their job and it nearly costs you your life, you will be biased. Riding a motorcycle and wondering about the tires on it isn't a good thing.

Ride safe.

 

Twisted, I can't speak for the Roadsmart II but I just replaced my PR4s with Q3s. Got 10k out of the PR4s but honestly just not much fun in the twisties. I know I might only get 2500 miles out of the Q3s but they have transformed my '04. Many more giggles on the viffer. At $275/pair it's an acceptable trade off for me.