Topic: Dunlop Summer Performance Tire Opinion

[JohnnyMac]

The dealer I am buying my Civic Si from was supposed to be putting on my preferred summer performance tires, which are General Tire G-Max RS, but I think they waited till last minute and now can’t find them.  This obviously could have been avoided if they had ordered them two weeks ago when the car arrived and we agreed on a deal.  So he called me all in a panic at 3:50pm asking if I would be okay with what their shop suggested instead, that would be the Dunlop Sportmax RT 2, and he needed to know by 4pm. 

Now these are a free upgrade, from the standard performance all seasons that come on the Si, but still I wasn’t overly impressed that they likely waited until today to find my preferred tires.  In the end I had a quick look and found that they are similar high performance summer tires and gave them the go ahead and order them.  Now I’m questioning if I should have asked for something else.  I’m not that familiar with the second tier performance tires and really only know that the Generals and the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500’s are good.

Just wondering if anyone has experience with this brand.  I doubt anyone here has owned these specific ones before.  All the reviews seem to be from Europe.

[rrocket]

The dealer I am buying my Civic Si from was supposed to be putting on my preferred summer performance tires, which are General Tire G-Max RS, but I think they waited till last minute and now can’t find them.  This obviously could have been avoided if they had ordered them two weeks ago when the car arrived and we agreed on a deal.  So he called me all in a panic at 3:50pm asking if I would be okay with what their shop suggested instead, that would be the Dunlop Sportmax RT 2, and he needed to know by 4pm. 

Now these are a free upgrade, from the standard performance all seasons that come on the Si, but still I wasn’t overly impressed that they likely waited until today to find my preferred tires.  In the end I had a quick look and found that they are similar high performance summer tires and gave them the go ahead and order them.  Now I’m questioning if I should have asked for something else.  I’m not that familiar with the second tier performance tires and really only know that the Generals and the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500’s are good.

Just wondering if anyone has experience with this brand.  I doubt anyone here has owned these specific ones before.  All the reviews seem to be from Europe.

I think you're splitting hairs here for what is a street tire....

[quadzilla]

I agree with Ron but here is more reading if you want to drive yourself crazy over this. Also, I don't think Dunlop is a 2nd tier brand if that is what you were saying of course.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Dunlop/SportMaxx-RT-2.htm

[JohnnyMac]

I agree with Ron but here is more reading if you want to drive yourself crazy over this. Also, I don't think Dunlop is a 2nd tier brand if that is what you were saying of course.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Dunlop/SportMaxx-RT-2.htm

I would call them second tier similar to Firestone, General Tire and Cooper Tires.  The parent company is Goodyear, so this is their budget brand.

I’m going to accept this and not let it taint an otherwise great deal.  I mean, it’s only a mildly sporty Civic and I’m not taking to the track, plus it’s free and likely better than the stock all seasons.  So should t complain.

[blur911]

I agree with Ron but here is more reading if you want to drive yourself crazy over this. Also, I don't think Dunlop is a 2nd tier brand if that is what you were saying of course.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Dunlop/SportMaxx-RT-2.htm

I would call them second tier similar to Firestone, General Tire and Cooper Tires.  The parent company is Goodyear, so this is their budget brand.

I’m going to accept this and not let it taint an otherwise great deal.  I mean, it’s only a mildly sporty Civic and I’m not taking to the track, plus it’s free and likely better than the stock all seasons.  So should t complain.

If it's the 18" it's probably also 240 treadwear rating.  I think they might be being discontinued and on sale.  They should be relatively sticky.
Dunlop and Goodyear merged and are un-merging, Dunlop wasn't really a second tier company like Kelly or Cooper, which Goodyear also bought.  IIRC   
There was some rebranding and cost-cutting of some cheaper Dunlop tires, but I think that might be in the past.

I have DZ102 on the Miata, they're good for the price, which is cheap, but not great in rain.  YMMV with the RT2

[JohnnyMac]

I agree with Ron but here is more reading if you want to drive yourself crazy over this. Also, I don't think Dunlop is a 2nd tier brand if that is what you were saying of course.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Dunlop/SportMaxx-RT-2.htm

I would call them second tier similar to Firestone, General Tire and Cooper Tires.  The parent company is Goodyear, so this is their budget brand.

I’m going to accept this and not let it taint an otherwise great deal.  I mean, it’s only a mildly sporty Civic and I’m not taking to the track, plus it’s free and likely better than the stock all seasons.  So should t complain.

If it's the 18" it's probably also 240 treadwear rating.  I think they might be being discontinued and on sale.  They should be relatively sticky.
Dunlop and Goodyear merged and are un-merging, Dunlop wasn't really a second tier company like Kelly or Cooper, which Goodyear also bought.  IIRC   
There was some rebranding and cost-cutting of some cheaper Dunlop tires, but I think that might be in the past.

I have DZ102 on the Miata, they're good for the price, which is cheap, but not great in rain.  YMMV with the RT2

I think the stock tires are 235/40R 18’s.  I believe the stock tires are Goodyear Eagle Sport all seasons.

If they are decent or close to the General Tires I wanted, I won’t care. 

[rrocket]

I agree with Ron but here is more reading if you want to drive yourself crazy over this. Also, I don't think Dunlop is a 2nd tier brand if that is what you were saying of course.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Dunlop/SportMaxx-RT-2.htm

I would call them second tier similar to Firestone, General Tire and Cooper Tires.  The parent company is Goodyear, so this is their budget brand.

I’m going to accept this and not let it taint an otherwise great deal.  I mean, it’s only a mildly sporty Civic and I’m not taking to the track, plus it’s free and likely better than the stock all seasons.  So should t complain.

If it's the 18" it's probably also 240 treadwear rating.  I think they might be being discontinued and on sale.  They should be relatively sticky.
Dunlop and Goodyear merged and are un-merging, Dunlop wasn't really a second tier company like Kelly or Cooper, which Goodyear also bought.  IIRC   
There was some rebranding and cost-cutting of some cheaper Dunlop tires, but I think that might be in the past.

I have DZ102 on the Miata, they're good for the price, which is cheap, but not great in rain.  YMMV with the RT2

Agreed

[tortoise]

With a 240 treadwear rating I wouldn't sweat it, you'll be replacing them soon enough anyway.

[JG20]

Those Dunlops are stock tires on WRX and STI. They're pretty good as a street tire. Decent grip and predictable imo. People who track don't like them and usually upgrade to stickier (more expensive) tires.

[Gurgie]

With a 240 treadwear rating I wouldn't sweat it, you'll be replacing them soon enough anyway.

^this!

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

[Angry Chicken]

I had those tires for a season of mixed DD and track use about 5 years ago and quite liked them. Dunlop is a premium brand, right up there with Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, and Bridgestone. It they were able to get them for the same price as the Generals, then it sounds like a great deal. They will wear quickly, however, but will give you many smiles on their way down to their tread wear indicators.

[JohnnyMac]

I had those tires for a season of mixed DD and track use about 5 years ago and quite liked them. Dunlop is a premium brand, right up there with Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, and Bridgestone. It they were able to get them for the same price as the Generals, then it sounds like a great deal. They will wear quickly, however, but will give you many smiles on their way down to their tread wear indicators.

Any idea on how many kms you think you would have gotten with them?  I only drive about 7,500kms per year, and half of that would be with winter tires, so at most 4,000 kms per year on the summers.  Even if they only last 20,000kms, that would be 5 seasons.  I don’t track my cars, just back road blasts occasionally.

[Angry Chicken]

I had those tires for a season of mixed DD and track use about 5 years ago and quite liked them. Dunlop is a premium brand, right up there with Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, and Bridgestone. It they were able to get them for the same price as the Generals, then it sounds like a great deal. They will wear quickly, however, but will give you many smiles on their way down to their tread wear indicators.

Any idea on how many kms you think you would have gotten with them?  I only drive about 7,500kms per year, and half of that would be with winter tires, so at most 4,000 kms per year on the summers.  Even if they only last 20,000kms, that would be 5 seasons.  I don’t track my cars, just back road blasts occasionally.

They will do you fine! I liked them just as much as the Michelin Pilot SuperSports that I put on after them. Great grip, balance well, and quiet. Awesome in the rain, too. Google around and you might find the slightly hyperbolic review that an Australian wrote on these. Dunlop is a very big brand in Asia and Oceania

[LanderGX]

I had those tires for a season of mixed DD and track use about 5 years ago and quite liked them. Dunlop is a premium brand, right up there with Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, and Bridgestone. It they were able to get them for the same price as the Generals, then it sounds like a great deal. They will wear quickly, however, but will give you many smiles on their way down to their tread wear indicators.

My friend DD them and he's very impressed with the grip and longevity.