Dunlop SP Sport tires- observations

redmed · Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:03 pm

Got rid of the Dunlop's and put on Michelin Defenders. Now rides like a different car smoother much quieter and more sure footed.

twoqttsdad · Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:06 pm

Got rid of the Dunlop's and put on Michelin Defenders. Now rides like a different car smoother much quieter and more sure footed.

Hi Redmed,

What sold you on getting the Defenders? I believe they're classified as a standard all season tire.

~tc~ · Mon Mar 17, 2014 12:11 am

UTQG of 820 and 90000 mile warranty is pretty compelling

Woodie · Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:51 am

Holy Mackerel, 820 ?????? That's plastic, not rubber! Can't possibly have any grip.

I generally buy nothing above 400, and I think 300 is a better place to be. I'm happiest if I can stop even though it's raining.

redmed · Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:29 pm

I decided on Defenders after reading many reviews and my previous experience with Michelin's. My first choice was Hankook Optima H727's to replace the Dunlop's. I got a puncture on the sidewall of one of the Dunlop's and got a Hankook H727 to replace it expecting to get all Hankook H727's in another 10000 miles. The Hankook never did balance well even after having it rebalanced three times and it also wore unevenly. So I went with the Michelin Defenders after a friend raved about his. The Defender's balance well and the ride quieted down, which was my main goal, from the rough noisy Dunlop's. The Dunlop's where horrible in the rain, the Defenders are great in the rain. As for being plastic, my friend has told me that when the temp is down in the low teens he has chirped the tires from a stoplight a few times. I don't drive the Kizashi much in winter, trying to not get salt on it. So the few times I have driven on cold dry pavement I have not noticed any traction problems. Overall I'm happy, except I expected a few extra mpg from them since they are advertised as low rolling resistance tires and I'm only getting 1 extra mpg so far.

twoqttsdad · Mon Mar 17, 2014 9:14 pm

Yeah I've read people being unhappy with them in cold weather but happy in summer. I wouldn't buy a tire because of their "low rolling resistance" claims. At most the rolling resistance coefficient of these tires are a reduction of around 2%. Often the extra cost of an "eco" tire will negate any fuel savings. Better to bump up the pressure an extra 5 psi for the same reduction in RR. You should see an improvement as they wear down though. Hope they work out well!

twoqttsdad · Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:06 pm

Btw

What was the load index and speed rating the Defenders you have on?

Just curious. Thanks.

redmed · Sat Mar 22, 2014 3:49 pm

twoqttsdad wrote:Btw

What was the load index and speed rating the Defenders you have on?

Just curious. Thanks.

I got 215 60R 16T Defenders
Load rated @ 690 Kg / 1521 Lbs
Max Pressure @ 300Kpa / 44 Lbs
Tred 820 Traction A

redmed · Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:33 pm

twoqttsdad wrote:Yeah I've read people being unhappy with them in cold weather but happy in summer. I wouldn't buy a tire because of their "low rolling resistance" claims. At most the rolling resistance coefficient of these tires are a reduction of around 2%. Often the extra cost of an "eco" tire will negate any fuel savings. Better to bump up the pressure an extra 5 psi for the same reduction in RR. You should see an improvement as they wear down though. Hope they work out well!

I didn't buy the Defenders because they are LRR tires. I had read that they did not improve mileage very much. But I did hope for more than one MPG, maybe after they wear in I might get another MPG out of them. What I wanted was a quieter ride, which I got and I hope to get even quieter after they wear. I have a Corolla that I have been getting 40 MPG consistently for years using Goodyear Integrity's (3 sets). Last year I put Michelin Harmony's on and dropped 5 MPG to 35. I was shocked at the difference and figured it was because of the age of the car. Last summer I put the Goodyear Integrity's back on for the summer and MPG went back up to 40. So like you I was skeptical of the value of LRR tires but experienced a 12% difference between the Integrity's & Harmony's.

SamirD · Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:56 am

redmed wrote:I have a Corolla that I have been getting 40 MPG consistently for years using Goodyear Integrity's (3 sets). Last year I put Michelin Harmony's on and dropped 5 MPG to 35. I was shocked at the difference and figured it was because of the age of the car. Last summer I put the Goodyear Integrity's back on for the summer and MPG went back up to 40. So like you I was skeptical of the value of LRR tires but experienced a 12% difference between the Integrity's & Harmony's.

A lot of MPG difference can be more because of tire pressure than the tire itself. Less rolling resistance is obtained from higher pressures, but don't exceed the max on the tire.