tires again - DUNLOP SP SPORT9000
 

Did any one ever use this tires before? Any opinions? I've found a cheap set of 18" volk ce28n wheels in japan, but they are bundled with dunlops mentioned above. Does any one know how they perform?

SP9000 is Dunlop's top of the range performance tyre (excluding race rubber) and doesn't come cheap.
I've got a set standing by for fitting when my new wheels arrive from Japan this week so should be able to give you a bit of feedback after the weekend.

cheers
coatsie

IMO, they have the best performance/cost factor out there. They are not that expensive, but handle very well. I love my set.

Lou

Nuff - go to www.tirerack.com click on tires / performance tyres / Max Performance tires / Dunlop / SP9000 etc and then read all the reviews for feedback. I'm sure previous users will mention the performace of these in comparion to S03's, MPS, PZero etc.

I have not looked at these tyres because they are not available in my sizes, so cannot comment.

I've had them on mine for about 6 weeks - they are bloody good. I've done 30,0000 km so the pretenzas were pretty tired but the Dunlops have WAY more grip, so far are quieter and a bit more compliant when it comes to ride. I have not test driven a whole lot of other tyres obvioulsy but very impressed with the Dunlops.

Believe it or not but these tyres came standard on AU2 XR6 Falcons....fantastic grip but not good wearing ...got about 25k before they became dangerous

Lou

Your belief that SP 9000s are not expensive probably reflects the difference in the size of our respective markets and good old supply vs demand.
The tyres that I'm chasing (245.40.19 @ A$570 and 275.35.19 @ A$745) are not in great demand so limited number of manufacturers supply in Aus. They really have us over a barrel. Interestingly, and I know it's a dangerous practice comparing price between economies, but we pay almost twice what you pay for the above Dunlop tyres (after US$/A$ conversion).

Makes importing them yourself a real consideration except for the hassle.

cheers
coatsie

The age old problem, fantastic grip = high wear, Some manufacturers do it a little better than the others but you can't get high grip from hard tyres.
The recent use of Silica compounds has increased the wear rate with very little tradeoff.
That 25k would have been 15k max from the grip kings like Yokahama of a decade ago.

While on the subject you dont have to pay a huge amount for good tyres. Sumitomo the parent Co of Dunlop and 40% owners of Falken & joint venture partners of Goodyear Europe have the HTRZII in a limited range at quite a considerable saving. They are the Dunlop 9000 with just a subtle tread design change.

Also the Korean brands Kumho & Hankook make some very good tyres. The Kumho MX is right up there with the Pilot sports & SO3's but unfortuneatly only has a small range avaliable in OZ

We recently tested & raced on some 18' Hankook slicks & they were the equal of the Michelin's we normaly use and better than the used Pirrelli,s we compared them too

I believe Dunlop is now wholly owned by Goodyear.

Lou

There was a major alliance between Goodyear & Sumitomo in 1999 where each Co took cross sharholdings in each other to form the largest tyre co in the world. There has been some changes recently.
The made in Japan Dunlops come out of the same factory,s as the Sumitomo's