Tag Archives: Dunlop SportSmart TT

Dunlop, Industry News, Latest News, Tyres

Dunlop SportSmart TT impresses at Suzuki GSX-8R launch

Dunlop SportSmart TT impresses at Suzuki GSX-8R launchDunlop SportSmart TT was the chosen tire of Suzuki to equip the launch of its new GSX-8R in January, helping to extract maximum performance out of the new model.

The launch took place at the same Monteblanco Circuit that Dunlop used to launch SportSmart TT six years ago.

The Suzuki GSX-8R, announced at EICMA in 2023 and commercially launched in January 2024, is based on its naked GSX-8S predecessor, but features a host of updated features to focus it more as a sport bike. The GSX-8R comprises an exposed 776cc parallel twin-powered engine and seat rail, and is equipped with a fairing and separate handlebars, making it suitable for track riding.

Engineered for versatility across road and track riding, Dunlop SportSmart TT was expertly placed to highlight the advanced capabilities of the GSX-8R, with both products demonstrating the ability to strike an impressive balance between sporty, track riding and comfort.

SportSmart TT: Race-winning technologies for track and road
A track-capable bike requires a track-capable tire. In fact, the TT in the tire name refers to ‘Track Technology’ and signifies Dunlop’s commitment to superior performance on track.

SportSmart TT’s NTEC RT technology allows for its rear pressure to be lowered for track use, giving more grip by enlarging the tire’s contact patch. Its Speed Vent Tread, meanwhile, is a tread groove pattern that opens and closes when the tire turns, improving heat dissipation. On the front tire, a revised dynamic mould profile gives the rare balance between lower steering effort and optimum turn-in grip, delivering enhanced feedback and confidence when braking and turning.

Suzuki invited 50 journalists from more than 10 countries to the test, many of whom commented favourably on the bike’s behaviour with the SportSmart TT tires, noting it had “improved” when turning into corners, and that the tire gave “much more support” for the bike, resulting in good grip, stability and control when riding on tarmac.

“We are honoured to have played a crucial role in the launch of the new Suzuki GSX-8R,” commented Dmitri Talboom, Product Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe: “Dunlop SportSmart TT’s combination of track-focused performance and road versatility perfectly complements the new GSX-8R, making it a great choice for riders that want to excel on both the road, and the track.”

Roberto Finetti, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, added: “We developed SportSmart TT to allow riders to combine road and track riding, and are proud that this successful collaboration with Suzuki serves as a testament to the capabilities of both the GSX-8R and SportSmart TT. Congratulations to Suzuki for a highly successful launch.”

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Industry News, Tyres

Dunlop SportSmart TT chosen for BMW M 1000 RR

BMW Motorrad has unveiled the new M 1000 RR, the first M motorcycle from the manufacturer. It is based on the S 1000 RR and designed for riders who demand extreme, pure race-bred performance. BMW has chosen the Dunlop SportSmart TT for the road-legal version of the limited edition M 1000 RR. In a similar vein to the bike, the SportSmart TT offers race-derived technology in a tyre that’s equally at home on the street or the circuit.

Compared to the standard superbike, the M 1000 RR has additional competition-proven parts such as carbon fibre winglets and wheels. It is tuned to deliver 212 HP at a searing 14,500 RPM.

A race-inspired bike requires a race-inspired tyre. The SportSmart TT features the same NTEC RT technology as Dunlop’s Isle of Man TT winning tyres. This allows the rear pressure to be lowered for track use, enlarging the contact patch and maximising grip. A unique feature of the SportSmart TT is the Speed Vent Tread which has a tread groove pattern that opens and closes when the tyre turns. This creates a vent-like effect to improve heat dissipation.

Miguel Morais, Original Equipment Manager, Dunlop Moto Europe said: “We are proud that BMW has awarded Dunlop with an exclusive supply agreement for the first ever ‘M’ motorcycle. Every M 1000 RR will be fitted with SportSmart TT, which underlines and endorses the high performance and technology of the tyre.”

Winning in racing and in magazine tests

Dunlop has a proud history of success on track with the racing version of the S 1000 RR. The BMW Motorrad Team is within touching point of the lead of the FIM Endurance World Championship that concludes at Estoril this weekend. In the French Superbike Championship, Kenny Foray dominated the Ledenon races earlier this month on his Dunlop-shod BMW. On the roads, Peter Hickman has relied on the BMW and Dunlop combination to win the Isle of Man TT, the Macau Grand Prix and set the road racing lap record at the Ulster Grand Prix.

Magazine testers also rate the SportSmart TT as a winner. The UK Fast Bikes team rated the SportSmart TT as best superbike tyres in a ‘blind’ track test1 and it was awarded the accolade of ‘Best handling tyre’ by the German magazine ‘PS’ 2.

Luca Davide Andreoni, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Moto Europe, added: “Dunlop’s hypersport range features a tyre for every kind of superbike rider. From the road-orientated SportSmart Mk3 through to the race winning GP Racer and GP Pro tyres, Dunlop has the most comprehensive hypersport range. The SportSmart TT straddles both road and track, offering fantastic rider feedback and grip in both arenas. That’s why it is the perfect tyre for such highly-developed sport bikes such as the BMW M 1000 RR.”
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Dunlop, Tyres

Dunlop SportSmart TT – race winning technologies for track and road

Dunlop has revealed more detail on the technologies included in their latest hypersport tyre.

The SportSmart TT is the fourth new Dunlop hypersport tyre to be launched since the beginning of 2017, underlining Dunlop’s ambitious product development strategy. The Dunlop SportSmart TT has been developed to meet the needs of riders who want to use the same tyres on road and track, and who demand the highest level of pure performance which is still suitable for road use.

A new tyre for every hypersport rider 

Professional Rider  – D213 GP Pro – Launched Summer 2017

Seasoned Track Rider – GP Racer D212 – Launched January 2017

Experienced track rider with road use: SportSmart TT –Launch March 2018

Road Rider with occasional track use – SportSmart2 Max –Launched March 2017

Isle of Man TT and FIM Endurance World Championship winning technology 
The TT in the tyre name refers to ‘Track Technology’ and this is backed by an impressive pedigree. Dunlop has applied learnings from the 2017 success of Ian Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop in winning the Isle of Man TT Superbike and Senior races and the experience gained with GMT94 in winning the FIM Endurance World Championship, including both the Bol d’Or and Le Mans 24h races.

In these races, Dunlop developed a new motorsport polymer for grip and durability. The new Dunlop SportSmart TT uses this as part of a MultiTread compound. This is proven to provide consistent performance and a versatile operating range – vital for combined road and track use.

NTEC evolves into NTEC RT 
Dunlop has introduced innovative NTEC RT (Road and Track) technology on the SportSmart TT. The new NTEC RT technology allows a tuning of rear inflation pressure to maximise the footprint on trackdays. It allows riders to keep the standard manufacturer pressures for road use, but increase the contact patch by up to 24 percent when riding on track. NTEC provides grip that is close to 100% track-biased tyres.

SV Tread makes its debut 
The most visually impactful feature of the SportSmart TT is the distinctive tread pattern featuring a Speed Vent. This ‘SV Tread’ optimises temperature control with an intricately calculated tread groove pattern and footprint. The front tyre is cooled by aerodynamic effect in a straight line. When turning, the SV Tread improves the way the tread grooves open and close, ensuring both optimum grip and improved heat dissipation.

Dynamic Front Formula 
The Motorsport-proven construction and section shape gives the kind of precise feedback that race riders crave. Dunlop’s experienced test team focused on achieving the sweet spot of agility and stability, leading the engineers to develop a new formula comprising JLB (JointLess Belt) construction and Rayon Plies. This, coupled with the new compound technologies, gives SportSmart TT users the supreme confidence they need for fast riding.

Xavier Fraipont, Managing Director, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, is proud of the development team’s efforts: ‘To launch four new hypersport tyres in one year proves the ability and agility of our technical centre. Our race and road tyres are developed by the same team and this synergy has allowed us to apply Endurance and Road Racing winning learnings to our road range very quickly. Dunlop SportSmart TT showcases the very latest technologies, such as the innovative NTEC RT and SV Tread, and completes the youngest and most innovative hypersport tyre range on the market’


Dunlop, Tyres

One year, four new tyres. Dunlop leads in hypersport tyre development

GP Racer D212

The addition of the Dunlop Sport Smart TT to the tyre manufacturer’s portfolio gives Dunlop the youngest and most innovative range in the hypersport sector. 

The SportSmart TT is the fourth new Dunlop hypersport tyre to be launched in the past year and completes the strategy, announced last year, of taking a new approach to the segment. Dunlop chose to redefine their hypersport range around the goal of a ‘tyre for every rider’.

The launch of the SportSmart TT marks Dunlop’s comeback to a segment of the hypersport market where they last competed with the renowned Qualifier RR over a decade ago.

Dunlop has the youngest and most innovative hypersport range. 

Professional Rider  – D213 GP Pro – Launched Summer 2017

Seasoned Track Rider – GP Racer D212 – Launched January 2017

Experienced track rider with road use: SportSmart TT –Launch March 2018

Road Rider with occasional track use – SportSmart2 Max –Launched March 2017

“Because of this proactive and continuous development, Dunlop now has the youngest and most innovative range in the market. This intensive year of launches shows Dunlop’s focus on developing new technologies. We have taken the time to listen to the needs of riders. This has helped us define a range that proves we understand the subtly varying needs of the different types of hypersport rider. In some cases, the bikes may be the same, but the type and mix of riding may be very different. Our new range gives riders the choice they need to ensure they have a tyre that exactly matches their needs” commented Dmitri Talboom, Product Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe.