Q5 vs Q5S vs Q5A in Australia
Three new tyres, three distinct roles
The Dunlop Q5 Sportmax vary has been on sale in main abroad markets for a while, however it’s now lastly arriving in Australia. Provided in street-focussed Q5A, sport-oriented Q5S and track-targeted Q5 kind, the vary provides one other real high-performance choice for Australian riders, with the breadth to swimsuit a large unfold of expertise and supposed use.
I had the prospect to pattern all three variants on the Australian launch at Sydney Motorsport Park and got here away impressed throughout the board. The truth is, the tyre that stood out most was not the one I anticipated getting into…
The Q5 is the newest step in Dunlop’s efficiency street tyre story, a lineage that may be traced again to the unique Sportmax Qualifier of 2005. It replaces the This fall vary that had been bought right here since 2019, so the transfer from This fall to Q5 is hardly a shock in naming phrases.
Tyre design and development have at all times appeared a little bit of a black artwork to me, and the ever-improving compounds and layering strategies are the key sauce. What may seem on the floor to be comparatively small tweaks right here and there clearly make a considerable distinction to the tip product.
I really like a chart as a lot as the following individual, however I notably love an excellent spider chart. This one tells the majority of what you’ll want to know in a single snapshot. It exhibits how the three variants evaluate when it comes to warm-up time, outright grip, really feel, sturdiness and wet-weather efficiency. From there, it’s price wanting a bit of extra intently on the development of every tyre earlier than stepping into how they carried out on observe.
A number of the key options of the brand new Q5 embody 2CUT belt expertise on the entrance tyre, which layers aramid wire piles in a crossed configuration to ship excessive cornering efficiency.
The rear tyre makes use of what Dunlop calls JLT (Jointless Tread Expertise), which winds the tread compound over the carcass in a slender, steady strip for enhanced stability and extra constant footprint throughout braking, cornering and acceleration.
Each entrance and rear use a selected Carbon R expertise within the tread compound. A finer grade that helps with tyre warm-up time in addition to rising total grip.
Each the Q5S and A function a multi-tread design, which has a longer-wearing compound within the centre for elevated mileage. The A will get twin compound on each the entrance and rear, whereas the S opts for twin compound solely on the rear.
As you may think, sidewall top is decreased from A to S and from S to the track-focussed Q5.
This enables for a lot increased braking hundreds on observe whereas nonetheless giving nice suggestions – the flip facet being the extra street-oriented A tyre will get the best ranges of consolation from an elevated sidewall.
So, some new tech when it comes to development and compound. Which is all effectively and good from an anorak perspective, however how do they really feel on the observe?
Which Q5 fits your driving?
We had been greeted with clear skies, heat temps and a mess of bikes to get a really feel for the assorted compounds. A stable recipe for an excellent day trip. The day itself was one for each invited media and Dunlop sellers to get a correct really feel for the tyres.
Having not had the pleasure of driving the SMSP observe earlier than in both the lengthy or brief circuit, I figured I’d begin on the bike that will be most acquainted to me. And so made a beeline for the KTM 990 Duke R, understanding it could be fairly rattling near my very own private Duke 990. By the way, my very own bike is within the means of getting a full system and tune… regulate the YouTube channel for extra on that within the coming weeks.
The 990R was shod with the sports activities ‘S’ variant, which additionally appeared like an excellent tyre to exit and study the strains on. And certainly it was. We had been led round for a few laps, and positively on these first couple of laps on stone-cold, unscrubbed, brand-new rubber, I needed to be cautious. I may really feel the entrance tyre strolling round underneath braking particularly.
The observe felt surprisingly greasy to me, although I’d been informed that it wasn’t a very high-grip floor. After I quizzed some native riders with extra saddle time at SMSP, I later discovered that the observe situations as a complete proper now aren’t superior.
As soon as just a few laps had been within the bag, nonetheless, my confidence rapidly grew consistent with the rising tyre temps. Now, a few laps may sound like a very long time, however keep in mind that a lap of the brief circuit is barely a minute, so not lengthy in any respect. Realistically, it could have taken barely greater than a good sighting lap on the total circuit to get them as much as temp.
And for many who haven’t ridden the brief circuit at SMSP, there are 13 corners in that minute. It’s a busy lap with little time for relaxation!
What I seen immediately was how communicative the tyre was. And the way good it was on the collection of path adjustments from flip two to 6. By means of that part, you’re basically flicking the bike from one facet to the opposite with no actual pause – 5 instances in a row.
Left via flip two, take a large, late entry straight into the following right-hander as you begin the climb. Mid-track, late entry into the following left, then right into a proper; goal the bike on the inside curb, then begin tipping left once more as you descend in direction of a good left hairpin with a fast burst of throttle. What a stunning part of observe. And one that basically highlights getting the bike to show rapidly, and ensuring you could have line accuracy.
Very impressed with the profile. Change of path was a standout, and the bike rolled actually predictably onto its facet with loads of suggestions.
Subsequent up, I nabbed an MT-07 with the A tyre. A lighter bike appeared a sensible choice for the extra street-oriented tyre. This was the largest shock of the three for me. Lots and lots more and plenty of grip on the MT-07! And with the deepest sidewall of the three variants, it was the smoothest and most compliant tyre of the group. I didn’t count on it to hook up that effectively for a avenue tyre.
To be truthful, the ‘little’ MT-07 was most likely the proper bike for that SMSP brief circuit. Light-weight, nice on change of path, and never overpowered. That session was F. U. N., and although I used to be beginning to push on at an inexpensive tempo, I didn’t discover the restrict of the A tyre. That’s an enormous tick for what’s the most sturdy of the brand new Dunlops.
After which to the Q5 observe tyre. I needed one thing with a bit of extra efficiency with out it being excessive for the twisty circuit. The R9 appeared the suitable selection and was immediately extra severe. The journey place was extra focussed, it had extra energy, extra weight, higher suspension, extra pace, and required extra focus… Time to placed on my large boy pants.
Observe temps had been peaking round this time, too, so it was a correct grip and really feel take a look at. Two issues stood out. Regardless of the R9 being heavier, the change of path was nonetheless tremendous spectacular. I used to be pushing tougher once more this time, understanding there was extra grip available, and I did discover the purpose of slide on the rear just a few instances.
What was actually spectacular was how early I may really feel the rear beginning to slide and the way gently it got here again in line. Little doubt there was some TC at play right here as effectively, nevertheless it felt completely predictable and underneath management. All it took was a tiny, instinctive weight adjustment to get the rear hooking again up once more with out upsetting the bike and with out rolling off the gasoline.
Magic. Simply magic. quarter-hour of arduous charging on the R9 was about all I may deal with, and I’ll admit to on the lookout for the chequered flag to finish the session after what was approaching 200 corners in fast succession. I used to be cooked. However the tyres seemed mint. No indicators of uneven put on or something untoward after having been punished by varied people of a variety of abilities and driving types all through the day.
If something, they seemed higher on the finish of the session than initially!
In order that’s an enormous tick from me. Each the Q5S and Q5 can be found as I write this, and I’m informed good shares of the Q5A avenue tyre can be in shops in a month or two.
I believe these are positively price a glance. Tyres might be very a lot a private desire, however after a day on the brand new Dunlops, I’d haven’t any challenge in any way with throwing a set of those by myself Duke 990.
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