Monteblanco Circuit is certainly proving popular with tyre manufacturers this year, as Dunlop became the third to launch a new tyre their this year last week.
Dunlop’s new SportSmart TT sits between their latest hypersport tyre for predominantly road use, and their dedicated track day rubber for the serious circuit enthusiast.
Incorporating Dunlop’s highly acclaimed N-TEC Technology, they allow riders to safely reduce their rear tyre pressure on track for a larger contact patch, while also being able to run manufacturer recommended pressures on the road – all without the need for tyre warmers.
We were lucky enough to be invited along to the launch, where a wide array of bikes were put on for dealers to test the tyres including BMW’s superb S1000R and Kawasaki’s latest Ninja 400. The latter would prove to be a great choice for the short, twisting inner circuit.
After the huge downpours that blighted Michelin’s Road 5 launch just a couple of weeks earlier it was nice to be greeted by wall-to-wall sunshine which meant we could get in some serious track time around the abrasive Monteblanco.
The new SportSmart TT has been 2 and a half years in the making, and Dunlop’s engineers have done a superb job, The innovative ‘SV’ tread pattern not only looks good, but also works to reduce excessive heat build-up, while also ensuring an optimum footprint for amazing outright grip in the dry.
A week earlier, Dunlop had welcomed members of the press to Monteblanco, including MCN’s Michael Neeves who commented:
“Testing the SportSmart TT at the Monteblanco circuit, near Seville, on machines as diverse as a Kawasaki Ninja 400, to a selection of boxer twin BMWs and a Yamaha R1M, the new rubber impresses in dry and damp conditions. As Dunlop claims, both front and rear offers more grip, confidence and easy handling than sports rubber, making it a tyre you’d be happy to hammer all day on track.
They work particularly well on the smaller bikes, which will be music to the ears of A2 licence holders and budding ‘Supersport 300’ racers. It offers great stability, you don’t need tyre warmers for them to work on track and they’re durable, too. Dunlop claims the rear will do well over two days on a circuit. Sizes are all 17” and range from 110/70 and 120/70 fronts to 140/70 and 200/55 rears.
Steering is on the slightly heavier side of neutral, but the tyres still roll in and out of corners with ease and don’t cause any problems, but unless you plan to use the SportSmart TTs on track you’re still best off with longer-lasting sports rubber.”
You can check out his full review on the MCN website.
Find out more about the SportSmart TT here – now in stock at Cambrian Tyres!
