Dunlop claim new SportSmart Mk3 ‘tears up the rule book’
Dunlop has revealed the SportSmart Mk3, creating a new position in the Dunlop hypersport range, with the new tyre focusing on dynamic road performance, sitting alongside the recently launched SportsSmart TT which is designed for a mix of road and track use. It is the fifth new hypersport tyre from Dunlop in just two years, underlining Dunlop’s commitment to providing a tyre for every type of sportsbike rider.
The tyre features innovative new technologies with Dunlop claiming that it ‘tears up the rule book’ for hypersport tyres due to its ability to perform at a high level in both wet and dry conditions.
All new compound – don’t let the weather stop the ride
The SportSmart Mk3 features an all-new Multi-Tread (MT) compound, with a trio of compounds in the rear tyre developed to give riders extra confidence in more challenging conditions. This contributes towards a 20% gain in wet grip*, but with similar gains in the dry, proving Dunlop’s claim that the tyre ‘tears up the rule book’ in not compromising performance in the wet by improving dry weather grip.
The MT technology comprises a hard wearing central tread compound providing strong traction which also runs underneath the softer shoulder compound to help stiffen the construction. The MT shoulder compound features Dunlop’s all-new wet grip resin, blended with the latest ‘Hi Silica’ and ‘Fine Carbon’ technologies. This exotic mixture is designed to give a fast warm-up time and allow riders to accurately feel the high cornering potential, even in colder weather.
The increased ratio of silica in the compound helps the tyre gain grip and traction on colder days. It has the added benefit of reducing rolling resistance, which improves tyre mileage. The use of fine carbon, which bonds with the polymers in the compound, speeds up the warm-up time. The fine molecules also bond with the road surface more accurately, which increases the contact area under heavy cornering.
The front tyre features the same wet-grip resin with ‘Hi Silica’ and ‘Fine Carbon’ technologies. This gives confidence and stability under heavy braking as well as allowing the rider to better judge the grip levels when turning at speed.
Dramatic new tread pattern
The dramatic grooved pattern complements the compound technology by boosting wet grip, with no compromise on mileage. By maximising water evacuation but limiting the movement riders would feel on a conventional tread pattern, the SportSmart Mk3 provides exceptional handling in all road conditions, rapid warm-up and even wear for longer lasting performance.
Construction technology
The SportSmart Mk3 brings together acclaimed technologies from other members of Dunlop’s hypersport range. The Dynamic Front Formula builds on the innovation seen on the more track-orientated SportSmart TT, lowering steering effort and optimising turn-in grip. Dunlop’s Carcass Tension Control System (CTCS) controls casing stress distribution. This increases straight-line traction and provides improved feedback with the stability required for a demanding hypersport bike on a challenging road ride.
Dunlop’s Jointless Belt technology (JLB) has been well-proven in the brand’s extensive range of hypersport and sport touring tyres, offering extra casing reinforcement and reducing the tyre expansion at speed. This provides the rider with consistent and predictable feel.
These technologies combine with a new construction shape. Compared to Dunlop’s existing road-orientated hypersport tyre, the SportSmart2 Max, the cross-section of the tyre has a profile that increases the footprint when cornering, but also provides a more consistent contact patch as the tyre wears. This means there is little reduction in performance between a brand new and higher mileage tyre.
Luca Davide Andreoni, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe Marketing Manager, stated: “I’m proud of what the Dunlop development team has achieved with SportSmart Mk3. We asked them to tear up the rule book by creating a hypersport tyre that performs at a very high level in the wet and dry. They’ve done it, and as a result we now offer a tyre for every type of hypersport rider ranging from everyday road riders to Isle of Man TT winners.”
The SportSmart Mk3 sits in the Dunlop hypersport range alongside SportSmart TT (50/50 road/track use), D212 GP Racer (Track Day focused) and GP Pro D213 (the ultimate race tyre for championships that mandate road-legal tyres). The existing SportSmart2 Max will be repositioned as a mid-level hypersport tyre.
