Dunlop TrailMax long term review

[Kelvin Allen]

What I thought I would do here is provide a regular update on how my tyres are doing so that perhaps we can build up a reference for various makes of tyre.

Up here in the highlands the only tyres I could choose from (at a workshop who actually seemed to care about my situation) were Trailwings and the Dunlops.

Metzelers Tourance and Pirelli Scorpions are reported to be having serious supply problems.

Having seen mixed comments about the Trailwings I thought I would give the Dunlops a try ...

... so watch this space !

[Kelvin Allen]

Dunlop TrailMax tyres fitted at 6685 miles - I am not sure that they are the latest version of this tyre as seen on the Dunlop web site. Will post some tread pictures and techy details soon.

90/90-21 front and 120/90-17 rear.

Approximately £120 including wheel removal/balancing.

Replacing original Bridgestones - rear in a very bad state by then.

The initial handling seems quite strange so will be checking pressures and wheel alignment again in the morning. Bike seems to fall into corners half way round and responds more to handlebar pressure than weight transfer.

It was damp on way into work this evening so took it very easy as tyres still pretty 'green'.

[Kelvin Allen]

Day 2 ..

Did not get round to checking pressures/alignment yet - slept all day after hard night shift. Will do this tomorrow.

On way in to work tonight had showers, torrential rain and the occasional frog to contend with - after a few hot, dry & dusty days it was a half decent test of the tyres' initial ability to handle wet & greasy.

The handling seems to be settling down and there were no signs of the tyres letting go just because of the conditions. They feel at least a little more sure footed that the original Bridgestones.

Just to explain - at this time of year along Loch Ness and Glen Urquhart there is a plague of frogs that have a few crossing points which often coincide with exit lines of tight corners. After a few days there can be quite a 'frog slick' in some places - gross :?

[Kelvin Allen]

End of Week 1 ..

Rear pressure was a couple of pounds over, after adjustment handling is much improved .. the simple things count !

Checked alignment as best I could, all looks OK.

Handling today in pretty wet conditions seems very stable. Will try to push it a little harder when the sun comes back out.

Plenty of tourists and timber lorries around to spread oil, woodchips and stones on the bends on the A82 Loch Ness road so no shortage of tests for the handling !

[wheeliebin]

Still impressed ?

Curious
:roll:

[Kelvin Allen]

So far I cannot fault the tyres but have to admit I am only doing regular commuting on them, i.e. 20 miles from Glenurquhart into Inverness.

My route is the A82 from Drumnadrochit alongside Loch Ness, not the fastest or trickiest of roads but it has some challenging individual and series of bends and corners if pushed a little.

The regular timber lorries have a nice habit of leaving scraps of bark and stones they have kicked up from the verge just on the racing line !

I have not ventured on to the rough with the TA yet, something to think about next spring/summer perhaps - if the Forestry will let me.

[Kelvin Allen]

The last coupel of weeks have seen some pretty awful spells of weather, usually when I am starting or finishing one of my shifts around midnight !

Despite the heavy rain and fierce winds the tyres have continued to work pretty well.

Even hitting wet road markings or edges of tarmac patches have not caused serious panic.

Sadly (?) I have succumbed to the weather and invested in a second car for the winter. We get serious frosts in our Glen and I do not fancy tackling sheltered corners at 06:30 in the morning and ending up sharing a field with grumpy sheep.

There are also a lot more timber lorries around at the moment and they tend to slide around on the wet & leaf strewn corners - can do without getting side swiped by one !

Will give the TA a seriously good clean before putting it away until the spring or any nice days that present themselves in the mean time.

Good luck to all the hardy souls who stick with it through the winter.

[wheeliebin]

putting it away until the spring ????

winter's not here yet :twisted:

[DaveS]

He he.... I don't know all these fair weather riders!!

[Kelvin Allen]

I truly apologise to the Die Hards for being such a wimp but my 49 year old extremities can't hack it any more !

It is hard enough starting shifts at 23:30 or 07:30, let alone having to suffer the weather as well.

Some mornings were -7 degrees last year and we have an interesting 1-in-4 hill/corner combination in our lane which in entertaining in the wet let alone frost/ice ... could always ride across the neighbours garden I guess.

Neighbours park their Discoveries at the bottom of the hill rather than risk it !

Anyway more on the tyres again next year, sorry I won't be doing a snow report.

Cheers, Kelvin.

[DaveS]

Some mornings were -7 degrees last year and we have an interesting 1-in-4 hill/corner combination in our lane which in entertaining in the wet let alone frost/ice ... could always ride across the neighbours garden I guess.

In that case we'll excuse you.... :wink:

[Unmutual]

You Jocks have gone soft you know! :lol:
In Wales we'd crawl 20 miles on our hands and knees on broken glass just to get to the Pit.
And that's after a hard night's partying with farm livestock :lol:

[YEN_POWELL]

Yeah but I've heard that in Scotland, you can get some nasty injuries if someone steps on your hand as you make your way home from the pub!

[Kelvin Allen]

I have an excuse - I am an English newcomer, up here from the south coast (Southampton) - even have to wear thermals under the kilt !

So far have seen lots of dear, tawny owls, red kites, red squirrels, even a pine martin but as yet no wild haggis. And how come when you see haggis in the butcher's they have always taken the legs off ... ?

hey ho ...

[louis]

Hi,

I'm using the Dunlop Trailmax for 2 years now, all year long,every day.
Longevity +/- 17.000 Km
Never had a bad surprise, always enough grip.
Made a perfecting drive training course on very wet roads with the Dunlop: you can trust it !