Tire maker Dunlop has released details of the new 2022 RoadSmart IV aimed at the sport-touring sector.
With the sector diversifying and consisting now of conventional sport-tourers, naked roadsters, crossover designs, road-focused adventure bikes and hyper-nakeds, Dunlop carried out a research phase and found that riders sought a tire that could deliver dry performance and wet grip as well as neutral and stable handling after thousands of kilometers.
The research stage shaped the new RoadSmart IV’s design process, and subsequently a range of technologies were used to ensure the product provided high levels of handling, stability, wet grip and mileage.
For the widely used 120/70ZR17 front and 180/55ZR17 and 190/55ZR17 rear sizes, the manufacturer developed two different versions of the tire. An SP variant has been designed for use on lighter and more sport-oriented motorbikes, while a GT variant is better suited for the handling attributes of larger touring bikes. All versions of the tire benefit from a compound that features four new grip resins.
“Our research told us that road riders wanted outstanding wet grip, good mileage and confidence-inspiring handling,” commented Luca Davide Andreoni, marketing manager, Dunlop Europe.
“By bringing together a range of technologies, we’ve created a tire that can cater for the demands of an incredibly diverse sector of riders and machines. Dunlop has a Just Ride philosophy of providing riders with unparalleled grip and protection, allowing them to have the confidence to focus on the joy of riding. By applying this mindset, we’ve created a new level of tire in RoadSmart IV. It is a sport-touring tire that goes well beyond the sport-touring segment.”
The RoadSmart IV was developed for fitment to 17 out of 20 of Europe’s best-selling motorcycles including the BMW R1250GS, the Yamaha Tracer, and the Yamaha MT and Kawasaki Z ranges.
Available in 21 sizes and with a 24 SKU range, the addition of the RoadSmart IV now means that the company’s range of sport-touring tires consists of 40 sizes and covers 97% of the sport-touring radial tire sector.
