In the latest edition of Fast Bikes, with the track day and racing season almost upon us, they have been focusing on the Dunlop D212 GP Pro in their regular “Grip Advisor” section.
The Fast Bikes ‘Tyre of the Year’ in 2013, the treaded Dunlop offers “new levels of outright grip to road-legal, treaded rubber” although neither Fast Bikes, or Dunlop, would recommend them for highway use.
As “thoroughbred race rubber” the D212 GP Pro needs tyre warmers for you to get the most out of it. Dunlop’s NTEC technology allows you to run at reduced pressures on track, for a bigger contact patch. Fast Bikes say that “without warmers, they take an age to gain heat and feel like you’re riding on marbles.”
“Get them in the right environment, and nothing can beat the Dunlop’s outright grip – particularly at full-lean – and stability” comment Fast Bikes. The tyre does feature a rather sharp profile, which can take some getting used to, but it can help to give a big boost in trail braking, pointing you towards the apex.
Like many treaded race tyres on the market, the Dunlop was developed on the track and at road racing events before it went on general sale. Michael Dunlop used this particular rubber to take his superstock Fireblade to a 131mph lap around the TT course, so it’s very much tried and tested at the highest levels of the sport!
The D212 GP Pro is now produced in France, which has made availability sporadic according to Fast Bikes. However, with more than 100,000 tyres in stock at any one time, all your dealer needs to do is call Cambrian Tyres. Don’t waste precious time phoning multiple suppliers, if we don’t have it, the chances are, the manufacturer hasn’t either…
See the full range of sizes here.
