Dunlop SP Sportmaxx
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Letchworth
Dunlop SP Sportmaxx
Thought I would post my thoughts on a different tyre which I have not seen mentioned on here.
First of all the tyre's web sites - US page and UK page.
I moved away from the RE050s which I really liked but, after the factory set which lasted over 9K, I was getting through rear sets from 8mm to 1.6mm every 4.5K miles. Car was laser aligned to Honda UK specs for 04 car before the second set went on and the wear pattern was perfect in Bridgestone UK's opinion as I sent them in for examination. Said it must be my driving style so you may draw the conclusion I drive the car hard (all road driving) but I am still on original brake pads and clutch at 19.5K miles
Anyway the Maxxs here in the UK are a bit cheaper than the RE050's and do come in 04 OEM sizes. Physically the ratio of tyre width between front and rear is less than the Bridegstones according to the data on Tire Rack. The Maxx does not have that flat surface profile with the vertical drop off to the tyre side wall of the 050's but is more rounded. However the side wall is very stiff like the 050's and there was no noticeable difference between the two.
In terms of handling response, I found the front seemed to responding better to steering inputs with a quicker turn in than 050's. This could be down to newer tyres but the front 050's still had 6mm left so I give the Dunlop's the edge.
In terms of traction in the wet they seemed excellent but are new and I don't drive hard in the rain or wet roads. In the dry I am less sure what to think. They seem to communicate earlier and clearer when they are starting to lose traction than the 050's did. The car's rear also seems to come around quicker at speed with them than the 050's which feels more disconcerting as I was worried it would keep going. I think the 050's are better at gripping in the dry but overall the Maxx's still allow spirited driving in the dry and inspire confidence in the wet. My guess is that the flat shape of the 050's and their softer compound is giving them the edge but to a skilled driver (not including me here
) i think you could extract a lot from the car as regards road driving.
Wear rating is 240 to the 050's 140 and at 2.4K miles of driving I am at 6mm with the rears. New they were over 7mm. At this point, based on my last 2 sets of 050's, I would be down to 4mm or so and halfway to buying a new pair.
On tyre pressure, I found 32psi fine but higher pressures of 34psi unsettling. Road noise ? In a convertible? No idea, as I have the music on and/or the top down
Will I be sticking with the Maxx's? Yes, I am getting the thrills without the
First of all the tyre's web sites - US page and UK page.
I moved away from the RE050s which I really liked but, after the factory set which lasted over 9K, I was getting through rear sets from 8mm to 1.6mm every 4.5K miles. Car was laser aligned to Honda UK specs for 04 car before the second set went on and the wear pattern was perfect in Bridgestone UK's opinion as I sent them in for examination. Said it must be my driving style so you may draw the conclusion I drive the car hard (all road driving) but I am still on original brake pads and clutch at 19.5K miles
Anyway the Maxxs here in the UK are a bit cheaper than the RE050's and do come in 04 OEM sizes. Physically the ratio of tyre width between front and rear is less than the Bridegstones according to the data on Tire Rack. The Maxx does not have that flat surface profile with the vertical drop off to the tyre side wall of the 050's but is more rounded. However the side wall is very stiff like the 050's and there was no noticeable difference between the two.
In terms of handling response, I found the front seemed to responding better to steering inputs with a quicker turn in than 050's. This could be down to newer tyres but the front 050's still had 6mm left so I give the Dunlop's the edge.
In terms of traction in the wet they seemed excellent but are new and I don't drive hard in the rain or wet roads. In the dry I am less sure what to think. They seem to communicate earlier and clearer when they are starting to lose traction than the 050's did. The car's rear also seems to come around quicker at speed with them than the 050's which feels more disconcerting as I was worried it would keep going. I think the 050's are better at gripping in the dry but overall the Maxx's still allow spirited driving in the dry and inspire confidence in the wet. My guess is that the flat shape of the 050's and their softer compound is giving them the edge but to a skilled driver (not including me here
) i think you could extract a lot from the car as regards road driving.Wear rating is 240 to the 050's 140 and at 2.4K miles of driving I am at 6mm with the rears. New they were over 7mm. At this point, based on my last 2 sets of 050's, I would be down to 4mm or so and halfway to buying a new pair.
On tyre pressure, I found 32psi fine but higher pressures of 34psi unsettling. Road noise ? In a convertible? No idea, as I have the music on and/or the top down
Will I be sticking with the Maxx's? Yes, I am getting the thrills without the
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