OEM Dunlop Sportmaxes

These things are really sticky (I'm normally not a Dunlop fan - always run Pirelli Corsa IIIs), but they're just about toast at 1200 miles. I have to admit..........they handle/stick/maintain pavement compliance better than the other (D206-207) Dunlops I've experienced, but I expected a few more miles out of them.

I'm kind of curious now - what kind of mileage has everyone here been seeing from their Sportmax OEMs?

I'm wondering if the lower tire presure (25.5/28.5 PSI) recommended by Husqvarna had anything to do with the wear.......I usually run 32/34 PSI.

At any rate, I've already got a set of Avon Distanzias to spoon on when these start getting really "greasy". I'm hoping they deliver a few more miles........heck, my 170 RWHP Kwack ZX10R doesn't eat rear tires THIS quickly.

Pic - check the wear bar:

I don't have as many miles on my bike yet. I like the feel of the tires though. Have zero experience with road tires. I’ll be asking that question "whats best" when I am close to the end of these. I am running 32psi and only notice hard braking hops in the rear. Could be I have no style too. First “Street Bike” set up I have ever owned. But I am in love.

I think the stock dunlops (D253s or whatever they are) are awesome!! I agree with the grip levels. Awesome tires. They do seem to be wearing very quickly though.

My dealer recommended 19 PSI for the stockers for an 09 SM510. Will be at the track tomorrow, so we will see how the tires really are.

I have a road race background and this is the first SM I have owned....definitly a new and fun way of doing things.

I have been running mine about 24 psi f/r, but I plan to use it for commuting a lot more than track days.

I've heard that the culprit is engine breaking/gearing down to stop?
Mine looks the same, just notice it last wash
I'm gonna start using my breaks more (especially that rear break, its just been wasted back there...)

I got 1100 miles on my first rear dunlop 253 (including running in) changed it for another as the front was still ok. After 800 miles its toast again. I agree they are very grippy but changing rear tyres every 4 weeks is well expensive at £120 a go
I get 2000ish from a rear on my tuono!!
So am about to try a pair of the Bridgestone Battlax 090,s as there grippy without being silly soft! supposedly!! lol.
Guess! ive got maybe 4-6 weeks before trying something else!

I'm going with distanzias next change. Leaned it over today with a bit of water on the road and it started slipping out with minimal lean. Plus, the distanzias on my DR-Z lasted me about 6k miles before the front needed replacing- the rear was still at ~35%.

I got 1100 miles out of the Dunlop D253s.

I am at 1382 miles and the rear is toast. I picked up a set of BT-016 in 120/70 and 150/60 I will spoon on in the next day or so. I paid $221.00 otd for the front and rear. A local dealer sells them at cost to get customers in the door. I recommend them, Family Powersports in Weatherford Tx.

I will let ya'll know how the BT-016's hold up.

Avon calling....................

Well, I got what I could (1400 Miles) out of the stock Dunlops......they were starting to slide a little too much. Fired up the No-Mar and spooned on the Avon Distanzias I had waiting. I really don't care for scrubbing in new tires, but that's the plan for tomorrow. I'm curious to see what kind of grip the Distanzias have. I know they'll be better (than the Dunlops) in the dirt & gravel, but I'm hoping for some decent pavement grip as well. I'd also like a few more miles - say at least 3500-4000 miles out of this set.

We'll see if I get to have my cake and eat it too.

Pics:

I have the SM compound ones, and I just did a track day sunday. I didn't put the front on yet, since my previous front distanzia wore out first, and the dunlop has some miles left. The distanzia seemed to grip extremely well, and after 3-4 laps to get them good and hot, they would slide (if you wanted it to) with consistancy and ease. It was awesome to help me with learning how to back it in. I wore a chamfer on the back of the tread blocks that is noticable, but other than that, they just weren't really showing any signs of wear. The front was ooey gooey and had blobs of rubber on it, but the rear looked showroom fresh- not really torn up with tiny ripples over the surface.

Spot on with both asessments.........some hard braking produced the first slides, then I experimented with feeding the clutch out prior to tip-in after downshifting to the correct gear for the corner exit. I'm not really a "back-it-in" guy, but the Distanzias do slide quite easily. It's fun to do.........but it doesn't seem like the safest/best/fastest/most efficient way around a corner to me. Eh - I'm primarialy a sportbike rider, this foot out sliding stuff is all new territory.

After the scrubbing in process, I was also surprised at the condition of the tire surface - no rubber rolling into balls/ridging/melting away........not very much indication of hard use at all. Hopefully this is an indication that they will last a good bit longer than the Dunlops.

So far I'm pleased with the Distanzias - they've got decent enough pavement grip for spirited street riding. Next thing is to try 'em off road - gotta be better than the stockers......those things juat snow-plowed straight ahead when initiating a turn with any speed at all.

Wow - I've run through a lot of Pirelli tires.......Diablo, Corsa, Corsa III, and I've never had one do that. Many of those lasted 4000 miles or more as well, but they were all on streetbikes. Something about our SuMos (couldn't be the way we ride them, could it?) that just EATS tires.

Still, that's a NASTY looking tire.