Tag Archives: Motorcycles Tyres

Dunlop, Industry News, Latest News, Racing, Tyres

Peter Hickman forges closer partnership with Dunlop

Five-time Isle of Man TT winner Peter Hickman has announced a deeper relationship with Dunlop Motorcycle Europe  that will include an Official Brand Ambassador role, adding to his duties as a Dunlop test tyre rider.

The 34-year old Englishman chose Dunlop tyres to help him achieve success at the Isle of Man TT and other challenging road races such as the Macau and Ulster Grand Prix. He won his first TT in 2018, setting an all time lap record of 135.452 mph (217.989 km/h) on the final lap on his BMW S 1000 RR.

The following year, he stamped his name in the Ulster Grand Prix record books, establishing the Northern Ireland road circuit as even faster than the Manx lap with a stunning 136.415 mph (219.539 km/h) average, with peak speeds well over 200 mph (322 km/h).

The pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of the key road races in both 2020 and 2021, but Hickman has been able to stay sharp in his role as official Dunlop tyre tester. Testing Dunlop’s latest development tyres for road and track at venues such as the brand’s proving grounds in Mireval, France, means that Hickman has been able to have a direct input into the future generations of Dunlop hypersport tyres.

The new partnership involves Hickman becoming an Official Dunlop Brand Ambassador, giving Dunlop customers an opportunity to meet him at post-lockdown events. Dunlop Motorcycle Europe’s social media channels will also feature thrilling and exclusive content from the record-breaking racer. Fans will be able to see his content by following @DunlopMoto on Facebook and Instagram.

Hickman has a family history with Dunlop, explaining: “My dad used to race in the 1970s and was also a Dunlop test rider. I grew up around the Dunlop team and it’s appropriate that my best results have been achieved on their tyres. In road racing, the speed, precision and variable conditions mean I need to put faith in products you can trust at the limit. That’s why I’m proud to work with Dunlop.”

Luca Davide Andreoni, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said: “Peter has enjoyed success on a range of different bike models and that vast experience is valuable to Dunlop when developing tyres for racing, track day and for road-going hypersport bikes. We have exciting plans to develop engaging social media content together. This will bring racing fans even closer to the action.”

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Dunlop, Industry News, Latest News, Tyres

Dunlop off-road tyres gain new ratings to increase versatility

Two of Dunlop’s highly durable off-road tyres have been updated with new designations that are set to provide substantial benefits to leisure riders and hardcore enduro enthusiasts alike.

The Dunlop D952, a tyre designed for recreational off-road use, has received ECE R75 certification. This means it can be used legally on the road as well as on tracks, saving riders the expense and resources associated with transporting specialist equipment.

The new categorisation has been granted to four of the six sizes within the D952 range and is available from April 2021.

The road-legal specifications of this hardy tyre are 110/90-18 61M, 110/90-19 62M, 120/90-18 65M and 80/100-21 51M.

Designed to work across a wide variety of terrain, the D952 is based on a high-durability construction that promotes long wear and supreme traction. Its pattern is derived from the popular D752, while the addition of road legality further highlights its status as a perfect tyre for off-road leisure use.

Another significant development within Dunlop’s extensive off-road range is the application of M+S (mud and snow) marking to all three sizes of the D908 RR enduro tyre.

This means that Dunlop’s road-legal dual-sport/desert pattern can now be fitted to bikes with a higher top speed than the tyre’s speed rating, opening it up to an even wider range of machinery.

Recent off-road enduro bikes such as the Honda CRF 1100L Africa Twin Adventure Sports, Yamaha Tenere 700 and several KTM models ranging from the 250 EXC all the way up to the 1290 Super Adventure R can be equipped with Dunlop’s D908 RR in its updated M+S form.

The Husqvarna 701 Enduro, BMW G450X and SWM RS650R are also covered, along with the PR7 Adventure 650 from AJP and the EC 450 Raid from GasGas.

The exceptional durability of D908 RR, stemming from its rally-raid competition roots, provides unbeatable performance on the toughest riding surfaces including sand, rocks and hard ground.

Dmitri Talboom, Product Manager Dunlop Motorcycle EMEA: “Off-road is a key arm of Dunlop’s motorcycle division and we are proud to continue developing our products in this field to meet the needs of the modern rider. The ECE R75 certification for D952 is a game-changer for enthusiasts who can now ride to their favourite tracks and get going right away without changing tyres. Furthermore, the M+S marking for D908 RR is important for introducing a new range of machinery to this pattern’s rally-raid attributes.”

Left: D908 RR – Right: D952

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Dunlop, Industry News, Latest News, Tyres

Dunlop extends Mutant range to fit more than 140 further bike models

Dunlop has expanded its Mutant range with the introduction of two new rear sizes, enabling more than 140 models to use the world’s first crossover tyre and its range of smart technologies.

Mutant has been made available in the 150/60ZR17 and 160/60ZR17 sizes. Both cover a comprehensive range of bikes covering the naked, roadster and crossover sectors.

The large group, which includes sportier models as well as entry-level machines, can now be equipped with Dunlop’s innovative Mutant crossover pattern which provides exceptional wet grip and safety in all riding conditions throughout the year.

The narrower rear tyre size – 150/60ZR17 – can fit to an impressive set of more than 60 bike models including the KTM RC390 and Kawasaki Z400. Aprilia, BMW, Honda and SWM are also among the manufacturers with machines that suit this particular Mutant specification, opening up Mutant’s all-weather performance to a range of entry-level sports bikes.

The wider 160/60ZR17 offering fits to more than 70 bikes containing a higher engine capacity such as the Honda CBR 500R, Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin and 2020’s Kawasaki Ninja 650 and Z650, as well as the Versys 650. Husqvarna’s Vitpilen and Svartpilen 701s and the 2019-spec KTM 690 SMCR are also freshly Mutant-compatible.

Aprilia, Benelli, CF Moto, Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Voge and 20 other OEM’s all produce bikes that can be equipped with both new sizes.

The Mutant range brings together several Dunlop technologies to create a tyre that’s as versatile as the bikes it’s designed for.

MultiTread (MT) technology fortifies side grip when cornering, while the front section contours designed using the Dynamic Front Formula (DFF) enhance stability and rider feedback. Both technologies are also found in Dunlop’s high-performance road products, highlighting the sports handling attributes of the Mutant.

Furthermore, Rayon Ply Casing in the tyre compound gives a short warm-up time and strengthened durability. Mutant is suited to wet and cold conditions thanks to the use of High Surface Area (HSA) silica and 4 Season technology.

These advanced features combine to form a crossover tyre that thrives in all settings, all year round.

Dmitri Talboom, Product Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle EMEA: “Introducing two new rear tyre sizes for the pioneering Mutant crossover is an important step for Dunlop. Our engineers have dedicated many of our spearhead technologies to this product so that riders can safely conquer all conditions and enjoy exceptional durability. We are pleased to have extended Mutant’s reach to more than 130 further bike models from 26 manufacturers, giving even more riders the option to enjoy its supreme crossover versatility wherever they ride.”

For more Dunlop Tyre news check out our dedicated page Dunlop Tyres

or head to the official Dunlop Tyres UK website visit dunlop.eu/en_gb/motorcycle.html

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