Dunlop’s RoadSmart II to meet touring market’s expanded requirements

Dunlop’s launch of its latest touring tyre, the RoadSmart II, is a move from the manufacturer to meet “tougher expectations” in the two-wheel segment. Developed to succeed its RoadSmart, Dunlop says the new premium tyre uses Jointless Belt and Multi-Tread technologies derived from the brand’s motorsport involvement to deliver class-equalling or class-beating performance in key handling areas, alongside the substantial mileage traditionally required of tyres in the segment. “The sport touring market has seen a lot of changes in recent years,” says Sharon Antonaros, marketing director Dunlop motorcycle tyres EMEA.

The increased power present in touring bike engines – often now derived from more sporty segments – has increased the demands of a touring segment tyre, and Dunlop says its challenge was to allow the tyres to cope while not allowing traditional characteristics to suffer. “Traditional features like long-distance comfort and weather protection are of course still expected by sport touring riders, but now as just two components in a much wider and more exacting portfolio of requirements,” says Antonaros.

This is where JointLess Belt technology fits in; a tyre construction system which uses cord-density engineering techniques to generate more linear steering, richer feedback, and improved high-speed stability. The technology provides more feedback, according to the manufacturer, while also increasing tyre stiffness to help maintain the shape and integrity of the tyre grooves without compromising ride quality. Dunlop claims the RoadSmart II’s supple shock absorption properties provide enhanced comfort on longer rides.

Race-to-road technology

The inclusion of Multi-Tread technology is where the tyre derives its more sporty characteristics. Multi-Tread blends durable rubber in the central 20-25 per cent section of the tread with a softer compound on the tyre shoulders to provide improved grip in corners. The central traction compound contacts the road when the motorcycle is upright. It uses a tougher, cooler-running compound that maintains straight-line stability, traction, braking and longer tread life.

The directional tread design of the RoadSmart II also helps to improve performance while reducing step wear, says Dunlop, helping to achieve a more consistent contact area with the road surface. The tread pattern, with deeper central grooves, improves wet performance, promoting straight-line traction and all-weather handling characteristics.

The RoadSmart II also features a new, highly dispersible type of silica, for more elasticity and flexibility at lower temperatures. Ultra-fine carbon black particles buried deep in the tyres also help to accelerate RoadSmart II’s warm-up, giving it a larger working temperature window.

“In a single-carcass design, the RoadSmart II has evolved the proven qualities of RoadSmart into a new set of benchmarks of stability and performance – not just for sport tourers, but for a wide range of heavy, powerful motorcycles, from roadsters and nakeds to large road trail bikes,“ says Patrice Omont, Dunlop research and development director motorcycle and motorsport EMEA.

RoadSmart II is available in the following sizes:

Front
120/60ZR17
120/70ZR17

Rear
150/70ZR17
160/60ZR17
180/55ZR17
190/50ZR17

It will be available in the following sizes from 1 April 2012:

Front
110/70ZR17
110/80ZR18
120/70ZR18
110/80R19

Rear
150/70R17
170/60ZR17
160/60ZR18
190/55ZR17

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• Dunlop Motorcycle appoints new Motorcycle product manager
• Bike moto dealer mag awards Dunlop SportSmart
• Dunlop’s race to road motorcycle technologies