[Kanuk]

Hi folks
I will need to change soon both OEM tires on my 2018 (4700 km) and would like to have some feedback/comments from those who did ride the Dunlop RS4. I found several comments about the RS3 but not as much on the RS4… There is a rebate starting March 1/2022, so timing is good!

Dunlop Rebate Finder Tool - U.S. & Canada| Dunlop Motorcycle Tires

Our Rebate Finder will search through all available Dunlop rebates and find the best rebate that applies to your Dunlop tire purchase, then you can submit your rebate online!

www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com

Thanks,

 

[cymirk]

if you have not seen this rider eval yet....Although it's a BMW R1200RS, it's generally similar in function/size/style as the 1000SX
--> Dunlop Roadsmart IV Tires 10,000-Mile Test | Rider Magazine

 

[Kanuk]

if you have not seen this rider eval yet....Although it's a BMW R1200RS, it's generally similar in function/size/style as the 1000SX
--> Dunlop Roadsmart IV Tires 10,000-Mile Test | Rider Magazine

I saw that already! Thanks

 

[arthury]

I replaced my rear tire with RS4 last summer.
So far, no complaints. I used it for out-of-town trips many times and it was performing very well.

Dunlop Roadsmart 4 : looks good?

REF: Dunlop Roadsmart IV tire I wonder if anyone has tried it yet. Looks like a challenger for Michelin Road5.

www.kawasakininja1000.com

 

[kenors]

I've gone through 4 sets of RS3s and have every reason to believe RS4s will perform at least as well. I'll be going in for RS4s in March for my 2018 Ninja.

 

[Eni90]

I have been riding only 2 sets of tires till now (2021 model), the Dunlop SportSmart TT (for track use) which is the EU version of your Q3+ I think and i'm now on Metzeler M9RR for now. I was thinking of switching to a more "touring" class once the M9rr are finished and was in-between Dunlop RS4 and the Metzeler RT 01 SE. Speaking from your experience how much of a spirited riding in the twisties would I give up once I enter in this category? 1 to 10, 1 being just a little, 10 being a lot......

 

[Kanuk]

I have been riding only 2 sets of tires till now (2021 model), the Dunlop SportSmart TT (for track use) which is the EU version of your Q3+ I think and i'm now on Metzeler M9RR for now. I was thinking of switching to a more "touring" class once the M9rr are finished and was in-between Dunlop RS4 and the Metzeler RT 01 SE. Speaking from your experience how much of a spirited riding in the twisties would I give up once I enter in this category? 1 to 10, 1 being just a little, 10 being a lot......

My guess is "0". You will not give up anything. Unless you are Rossi or Marquez, it is very hard to surpass those tires limits! Before I get my Ninja 1000, I did ride a lot with Metzeler Z8 on my BMW RT1100 and I was very hard to follow in the twisties!

 

[Kanuk]

I've gone through 4 sets of RS3s and have every reason to believe RS4s will perform at least as well. I'll be going in for RS4s in March for my 2018 Ninja.

What is the mileage you got from the RS3 ?

 

[kenors]

What is the mileage you got from the RS3 ?

I generally get about 10k-12k miles on RS3s. Strange to say but the set or RS3s on my '18 now has 14,200 miles on it. Covid has kept my riding local for too long now and overnight trips to the "playgrounds" have been non-existent the last couple years. But Dunlop's rebate kicks in next month and new RS4s + a few playground trips this summer (fingers crossed) are probably going to limit the mileage of the new tires.

 

[novaks47]

Great tires, have them on my Ninja right now. Only put a few thousand miles on them but no complaints. I've been running the Roadsmarts forever. Had the originals and RS2 on a Ninja 650, then the RS3 and now 4 on the N1K. That is my go-to tire. Each iteration really is better than the last, though I suspect we're fast approaching the "splitting hairs" in differences going forward.

They work just fine in cooler weather, ridden them in 35F temps, no warm up really needed for them, though I'm not pushing hard in the corners at those temps. In 100F + temps, no change in feel either. They have a gradual, smooth tip-in, with a barely noticeable transition from the harder compound in the middle to the softer edges. If you're after a tire that kind of falls into the corners, this ain't it. I prefer the gradual, consistent tip-in feel, if that makes sense.

 

[arthury]

But Dunlop's rebate kicks in next month and ...

Oh? April is when Dunlop's rebate starts?
I may want to get a replacement for the front of my N1K just to make them even.

 

[Kanuk]

Great tires, have them on my Ninja right now. Only put a few thousand miles on them but no complaints. I've been running the Roadsmarts forever. Had the originals and RS2 on a Ninja 650, then the RS3 and now 4 on the N1K. That is my go-to tire. Each iteration really is better than the last, though I suspect we're fast approaching the "splitting hairs" in differences going forward.

They work just fine in cooler weather, ridden them in 35F temps, no warm up really needed for them, though I'm not pushing hard in the corners at those temps. In 100F + temps, no change in feel either. They have a gradual, smooth tip-in, with a barely noticeable transition from the harder compound in the middle to the softer edges. If you're after a tire that kind of falls into the corners, this ain't it. I prefer the gradual, consistent tip-in feel, if that makes sense.

Thanks for the great feedback! Do you consider the handling difference between RS3 & RS4 worth the price difference?

 

[Kanuk]

Oh? April is when Dunlop's rebate starts?
I may want to get a replacement for the front of my N1K just to make them even.

No, I believe it did start on March 1/2022

 

[kenors]

No, I believe it did start on March 1/2022

Yes, I wrote "next month" in February. In fact, I just went on-line and did a rebate check to be sure and it's going on for the month of March.

 

[novaks47]

Thanks for the great feedback! Do you consider the handling difference between RS3 & RS4 worth the price difference?

Honestly, I didn't even know the 3 was still available. As for handling differences, not much, but I'm not dragging knees on the street anyways. The 4 does overall feel softer, and rides smoother. Worth the price difference, not at current prices. They were much cheaper when I bought them. Looking at the current price, I'd go with the 3.

 

[Kanuk]

Honestly, I didn't even know the 3 was still available. As for handling differences, not much, but I'm not dragging knees on the street anyways. The 4 does overall feel softer, and rides smoother. Worth the price difference, not at current prices. They were much cheaper when I bought them. Looking at the current price, I'd go with the 3.

Hey thanks for the honest feedback! That's what I thought, I will go with the RS3 and keep the 25% difference in price to put some fuel in the bike!

 

[Squidlius]

I have been riding only 2 sets of tires till now (2021 model), the Dunlop SportSmart TT (for track use) which is the EU version of your Q3+ I think and i'm now on Metzeler M9RR for now. I was thinking of switching to a more "touring" class once the M9rr are finished and was in-between Dunlop RS4 and the Metzeler RT 01 SE. Speaking from your experience how much of a spirited riding in the twisties would I give up once I enter in this category? 1 to 10, 1 being just a little, 10 being a lot......

I think the Q3+ stick better than the M9RR but the Metzelers last a little longer. I got the M9RRs as a compromise between a sport tire and a ST tire. They worked well for that and they're a decent winter tire.

 

[Johnmark101]

I think the Q3+ stick better than the M9RR but the Metzelers last a little longer. I got the M9RRs as a compromise between a sport tire and a ST tire. They worked well for that and they're a decent winter tire.

I have been considering the M9RR for the reason you mentioned. I ran through a couple sets of the M7RR because I found a really low price on them, and the reviews were quite good. I was impressed with the tire and as you said, it seems to fall between sport and sport touring tires, a perfect compromise. I would imagine the M9 could only be an improvement on the M7.

 

[rcannon409]

Johnny, they do that, don't they? By the time they released the Road smart 3, the RS4 is already being worked with.

I'm hoping you guys see a long tread life. My commute is about 100 miles, per day. I have 3 turns on it, and that includes 2 freeway on ramps, so high speed cornering isn't a massive priority.

 

[Squidlius]

I have been considering the M9RR for the reason you mentioned. I ran through a couple sets of the M7RR because I found a really low price on them, and the reviews were quite good. I was impressed with the tire and as you said, it seems to fall between sport and sport touring tires, a perfect compromise. I would imagine the M9 could only be an improvement on the M7.

You would hope the M9s are an improvement. I haven't ran a set of M7s since they first came out and back then I preferred the Q3s for sport tires.