Dunlop SportmaxGP?

[mikenap]

Last year I ran all my trackdays one a set of Sportmax GP's they were awesome.... sticky as hell and lasted forever. The side walls said Made in the UK and just had Sportmax GP on them.

I ordered a set for this year and got a Sportmax GP made in the USA front and a D208GP-A rear. I called the shop I ordered from told them they sent me the wrong rear tire. They said they would send another one. It's getting close to my first trackday and no tire yet ..so I did some calling around and 3 places said the Sportmax GP rear is discontinued???

Can someone give me the low down on Dunlops for this year. I ran 208GP before and they didn't last very long.

Is it ok to run a Sportmax GP front and a D208GP rear?????

[310Turbo]

Call sport tire services and ask'em, they'll be able to tell you for sure. I doubt you'll have any problems if you were able to get an entire season out of one set of tires. The D208gp rear you've got is probably a soft compound, careful with those in the high heat. Everyone's using the D209 and now D211.

www.dunlopracing.com

[Gecko.]

To answer your question, "Is it ok to run a Sportmax GP front and a D208GP rear?"

Yes, its fine.

I don't believe Dunlop makes the 208 or the 209 anymore. If you get these they are likely left overs. You can tell by looking at the date code on the tire (e.g. [04/05] = fourth week in 2005, [34/04] thirty-fourth week in 2004).

I am not exactly sure, but I believe the 208's were made in 2004 - 2005, the 209's made in 2006 - 2007, the 211's are new for 2008.

As long as the older tires were stored properly they should be fine to run.

For track day guys in the slower to mid group, the US made Dunlop is acceptable. For those that race or are fast in the advance trackday group, then I would steer clear of the US made Dunlops.

Personally, I would recommend trying to get a set of D209's (UK made) in medium compound. They last like iron and stick like glue).
.

[mikenap]

I ride in the fast group but theirs a lot of guys faster then me. I would rather be passed then have to do the passing. Sounds like I'll be ok but the rear won't last the entire season.

Thanks for that Dunlop link. Do you think they would sell me a set....I don't have a race license?

[310Turbo]

They sell tires to anyone. The Dunlop guys have 2 distributors depending on your location; the west coast one's not too far so I get my tires next day and the price is reasonable. I paid $160+shipping for a 209 (US) rear last week. Note that it's a 190 rear so you should adjust your suspension to accommodate for the larger tire if you're currently running a 180 rear.

Believe me, if you're getting almost an entire season out of a set of tires you'll be fine on just about any tire. How many track days is a "season"? I go through a 208 soft in about 2.5 days and a 209 (US) I get about 4-4.5 days depending how many miles I put in.

Stick with the US spec tire, it doesn't sound like you need a super sticky tire and the cost of the UKs or 211s is significantly higher. But call the guys at dunlopracing.com and they'll answer all your questions, they're very friendly even to joe schmoe track guys who only want a single tire.

[mikenap]

Thanks Turbo.

Wish I and known about them sooner. Steve was great. Have a nice new set of 209GP's now.

Much appreciated.