09-30-2020, 11:42 AM
Information provided Dunlop on Roadsmart IV at 8674 miles.
----------------------
Dunlop Roadsmart IV Tire Performance Update
Motorcycle - BMW 2016 R1200RS
Darrell Penning Recording Data
Tread depth is measured in 4 spots in each of 3 areas around the tire in the order of 1” from left sidewall, center, and 1” from right sidewall. Depths listed are in 32nd of an inch.
Tire pressures are check and adjusted if necessary every 2 - 3 days regardless of miles rode. Pressures are checked in the morning before riding so tires are cold. Pressures are maintained at psi 38 front and 42 rear using a calibrated dial gauge for pressure checks.
———————————————————
Collection of Roadsmart IV Tire Information
August 12, 2020
Installed new tires at Moon Motorsports in Monticello, MN, a Dunlop Pro Dealer
Mileage at 107,000
Front - 5.0, 5.0, 5.0
Rear - 8.0, 8.0, 8.0
August 25, 2020
Mileage at 109070 - Whitewood, SD
2070 miles on tires
Front - 5.0, 4.5, 5.0
Rear - 8.0, 7.0, 8.0
Road conditions - generally flat with some sweeping curves in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Panhandle of Nebraska as I’m riding in central plains of the US. Most miles on roads of well worn black top and concrete surfaces. 300 miles of 4 lane highways.
Speeds - generally in the 65 - 70 mph range. Maximum speed of 90 mph for 200 miles on interstates I25 and I90 in South Dakota.
Temperature/Weather - ranged from 65 to 107 with the majority of the time in the mid 80’s to mid 90's. No wet roads. Skies are generally sunny so road temperatures are warm with 1000 miles of hazy skies from the forest fires in Colorado.
Darrell’s comments - Comparing to the Roadsmart III the tires (especially the front) seem more compliant (softer feel) to road surface imperfections such as expansion joints or cracks in the pavement. I sense the bike has a sharper turn in on corners but will comment on this further after I get some time in the Black Hills this week and the Colorado Rockies a few days from now. With the high temps and sun causing warm road surfaces the tires do allow the bike to move on any tar snakes running parallel to the line of travel, but no different than the Roadsmart III. My initial reaction on tire wear is surprising considering the heat, speed and flatter roads I’ve been riding on.
September 2, 2020
Mileage at 111049 - Cortez, CO
4049 miles on tires
Front - 5.0, 4.0, 5.0
Rear - 7.0, 5.0, 7.0
Road conditions - the last 2000 miles were on mostly 2 lane roads. 350 miles in the South Dakota Black Hills, 300 miles crossing plains of Wyoming and 1350 miles in the canyons and on a few of mountain passes in Utah. 400 miles was on fresh asphalt which tends in accelerate wear on tires. The roads of Utah were mostly sweeping curves on 600 miles and tighter curves on 300 miles with the remainder being straighter roads.
Speeds - the speed limit in Wyoming and Utah is 65 or 70 on 2 lane roads so the majority of miles were run at 65 - 75 mph. Most curves or corners are rode at an average of 15 mph over the posted number.
Temperature/Weather - ranged from 45 to 95 with the majority of the time in the high 70’s to mid 80’s. I had only 5 miles of rain and 15 additional miles of wet roads so cannot comment on the tire in the rain but hope to find a few hundred miles before the set wears out.
Darrell’s comments - tires continue to display a round profile with zero cupping on the front tire. Handling remains as it did the first 2000 miles so very positive. With the Roadsmart III I would wear out the front tire before the rear and I am sensing that will not happen with the RS IV. The next 1500 - 2000 miles over 8 - 9 days will be spent in the Colorado Rockies so will get a good feel of handling and wear on tighter curves.
September 14, 2020
Mileage at 113326 - Prior Lake, MN
6326 miles on tires
Front - 4.5, 3.0, 4.5
Rear - 6.5, 4.0, 6.5 (5.0 depth in tear drop near center of tire)
Road conditions - about 1600 of the 2277 miles were on 2 lane roads in the Rocky Mountains riding at an accelerated pace with many miles on tighter curvy roads. The remaining approximately 677 miles were mostly 2 lane roads across the central plains finishing with 100 miles on 4 lane roads that were very flat with few curves. The roads were mostly well worn asphalt.
Speeds - the majority of miles were run at 50 - 75 mph. 70% were run in the higher range of these speeds.
Temperature/Weather - ranged from 40 to 95 with the 50% of the time in the high 70's and low 80's and the remaining 50% in the 40 - 65 range. I did cross Monarch Pass in Colorado at 11,312 ft with about 12 miles at a temperature of 28 degrees, thick fog, blowing snow and what I assumed was some black ice. Felt comfortable at 35 - 40 mph in these conditions.
Darrell’s comments - I remain totally surprised at the wear characteristics of the front tire. There is very minimal cupping developing with no affect on handling. The front tire has maintained a very round profile which has allowed handling to be as it was when new. The rear tire has started to develop a slightly flatter center profile but not to the point it affects handling in the curves. Probably not unusual considering some the flatter roads I rode at speeds of 70 - 80 across the central US plains.
September 26, 2020
Mileage at 115674 - Prior Lake, MN
8674 miles on tires
Front - 4.0, 2.0, 4.0
Rear - 5.0, 2.0, 5.0
Road conditions - the 2300 miles were on 2 lane roads except for about 100 miles of 4 lane. About 800 miles were on generally flatter roads across southern Minnesota and Iowa with some large sweeping curves. The other 1500 miles were in southern Missouri and a little of northern Arkansas on much smaller and tighter curved roads. The roads were a mix of well worn concrete and asphalt.
Speeds - the majority of miles were run at 40 - 70 mph. 50 - 60% were run in the mid range of these speeds.
Temperature/Weather - ranged from 45 to 75 degrees with the majority of the time in the high 60’s. Again no rain was experienced so I have not rode more than the 5 miles in the rain and an additional 15 miles on wet roads.
Darrell’s comments - the bike continues to handle well with the tires in their current state of wear. The front tire continues to show minimal cupping. More on the left side then the right likely due to the crowning of the roads. Back tire has started to show some squaring off on the main traction edges likely due to the straighter roads in the Midwest. I would estimate the front and rear tires have another 1000 - 1500 miles if used on dry pavement. I personally would be hesitant to run the current tires in any heavy rain conditions and will install a new set of rubber if I decide to leave on another trip this fall of any distance or number of days. I’ve been changing the Roadsmart III tires every 8000 - 8500 miles and looks like I would change the Roadsmart IV at 9200 - 9700 miles so a gain of maybe 1200 miles based on this one set experience. I’ll give you a final update when I finally pull them off the bike and replace.
----------------------
Dunlop Roadsmart IV Tire Performance Update
Motorcycle - BMW 2016 R1200RS
Darrell Penning Recording Data
Tread depth is measured in 4 spots in each of 3 areas around the tire in the order of 1” from left sidewall, center, and 1” from right sidewall. Depths listed are in 32nd of an inch.
Tire pressures are check and adjusted if necessary every 2 - 3 days regardless of miles rode. Pressures are checked in the morning before riding so tires are cold. Pressures are maintained at psi 38 front and 42 rear using a calibrated dial gauge for pressure checks.
———————————————————
Collection of Roadsmart IV Tire Information
August 12, 2020
Installed new tires at Moon Motorsports in Monticello, MN, a Dunlop Pro Dealer
Mileage at 107,000
Front - 5.0, 5.0, 5.0
Rear - 8.0, 8.0, 8.0
August 25, 2020
Mileage at 109070 - Whitewood, SD
2070 miles on tires
Front - 5.0, 4.5, 5.0
Rear - 8.0, 7.0, 8.0
Road conditions - generally flat with some sweeping curves in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Panhandle of Nebraska as I’m riding in central plains of the US. Most miles on roads of well worn black top and concrete surfaces. 300 miles of 4 lane highways.
Speeds - generally in the 65 - 70 mph range. Maximum speed of 90 mph for 200 miles on interstates I25 and I90 in South Dakota.
Temperature/Weather - ranged from 65 to 107 with the majority of the time in the mid 80’s to mid 90's. No wet roads. Skies are generally sunny so road temperatures are warm with 1000 miles of hazy skies from the forest fires in Colorado.
Darrell’s comments - Comparing to the Roadsmart III the tires (especially the front) seem more compliant (softer feel) to road surface imperfections such as expansion joints or cracks in the pavement. I sense the bike has a sharper turn in on corners but will comment on this further after I get some time in the Black Hills this week and the Colorado Rockies a few days from now. With the high temps and sun causing warm road surfaces the tires do allow the bike to move on any tar snakes running parallel to the line of travel, but no different than the Roadsmart III. My initial reaction on tire wear is surprising considering the heat, speed and flatter roads I’ve been riding on.
September 2, 2020
Mileage at 111049 - Cortez, CO
4049 miles on tires
Front - 5.0, 4.0, 5.0
Rear - 7.0, 5.0, 7.0
Road conditions - the last 2000 miles were on mostly 2 lane roads. 350 miles in the South Dakota Black Hills, 300 miles crossing plains of Wyoming and 1350 miles in the canyons and on a few of mountain passes in Utah. 400 miles was on fresh asphalt which tends in accelerate wear on tires. The roads of Utah were mostly sweeping curves on 600 miles and tighter curves on 300 miles with the remainder being straighter roads.
Speeds - the speed limit in Wyoming and Utah is 65 or 70 on 2 lane roads so the majority of miles were run at 65 - 75 mph. Most curves or corners are rode at an average of 15 mph over the posted number.
Temperature/Weather - ranged from 45 to 95 with the majority of the time in the high 70’s to mid 80’s. I had only 5 miles of rain and 15 additional miles of wet roads so cannot comment on the tire in the rain but hope to find a few hundred miles before the set wears out.
Darrell’s comments - tires continue to display a round profile with zero cupping on the front tire. Handling remains as it did the first 2000 miles so very positive. With the Roadsmart III I would wear out the front tire before the rear and I am sensing that will not happen with the RS IV. The next 1500 - 2000 miles over 8 - 9 days will be spent in the Colorado Rockies so will get a good feel of handling and wear on tighter curves.
September 14, 2020
Mileage at 113326 - Prior Lake, MN
6326 miles on tires
Front - 4.5, 3.0, 4.5
Rear - 6.5, 4.0, 6.5 (5.0 depth in tear drop near center of tire)
Road conditions - about 1600 of the 2277 miles were on 2 lane roads in the Rocky Mountains riding at an accelerated pace with many miles on tighter curvy roads. The remaining approximately 677 miles were mostly 2 lane roads across the central plains finishing with 100 miles on 4 lane roads that were very flat with few curves. The roads were mostly well worn asphalt.
Speeds - the majority of miles were run at 50 - 75 mph. 70% were run in the higher range of these speeds.
Temperature/Weather - ranged from 40 to 95 with the 50% of the time in the high 70's and low 80's and the remaining 50% in the 40 - 65 range. I did cross Monarch Pass in Colorado at 11,312 ft with about 12 miles at a temperature of 28 degrees, thick fog, blowing snow and what I assumed was some black ice. Felt comfortable at 35 - 40 mph in these conditions.
Darrell’s comments - I remain totally surprised at the wear characteristics of the front tire. There is very minimal cupping developing with no affect on handling. The front tire has maintained a very round profile which has allowed handling to be as it was when new. The rear tire has started to develop a slightly flatter center profile but not to the point it affects handling in the curves. Probably not unusual considering some the flatter roads I rode at speeds of 70 - 80 across the central US plains.
September 26, 2020
Mileage at 115674 - Prior Lake, MN
8674 miles on tires
Front - 4.0, 2.0, 4.0
Rear - 5.0, 2.0, 5.0
Road conditions - the 2300 miles were on 2 lane roads except for about 100 miles of 4 lane. About 800 miles were on generally flatter roads across southern Minnesota and Iowa with some large sweeping curves. The other 1500 miles were in southern Missouri and a little of northern Arkansas on much smaller and tighter curved roads. The roads were a mix of well worn concrete and asphalt.
Speeds - the majority of miles were run at 40 - 70 mph. 50 - 60% were run in the mid range of these speeds.
Temperature/Weather - ranged from 45 to 75 degrees with the majority of the time in the high 60’s. Again no rain was experienced so I have not rode more than the 5 miles in the rain and an additional 15 miles on wet roads.
Darrell’s comments - the bike continues to handle well with the tires in their current state of wear. The front tire continues to show minimal cupping. More on the left side then the right likely due to the crowning of the roads. Back tire has started to show some squaring off on the main traction edges likely due to the straighter roads in the Midwest. I would estimate the front and rear tires have another 1000 - 1500 miles if used on dry pavement. I personally would be hesitant to run the current tires in any heavy rain conditions and will install a new set of rubber if I decide to leave on another trip this fall of any distance or number of days. I’ve been changing the Roadsmart III tires every 8000 - 8500 miles and looks like I would change the Roadsmart IV at 9200 - 9700 miles so a gain of maybe 1200 miles based on this one set experience. I’ll give you a final update when I finally pull them off the bike and replace.
Darrell
2016 R1200RS
2022 R1250RT
2016 R1200RS
2022 R1250RT