Cycle News Staff | April 18, 2020
The Dragmax tire is Dunlop’s first drag-racing-specific tire.
The DOT rear 190/50ZR17 Dragmax tire is made in the USA in same factory on the same machines as the MotoAmerica road-race slicks. The radial tire utilizes Dunlop’s exclusive N-TEC construction, which allows the tire to run on very low pressures for maximum traction. The soft-compound tire is wider and flatter than a typical hypersport tire, and the tire’s construction minimizes centrifugal growth, which can reduce the chance of de-beading. Price starts at $269.99.
Here’s more information from Dunlop and DME Racing, the exclusive distributor for the Dunlop Dragmax…
The Dragmax is a radial tire that utilizes Dunlop’s exclusive N-TEC technology, which combines the benefits of compliant cut-breaker construction with stiffer, continuously wound aramid-fiber, and Jointless Band (JLB) and Jointless Tread (JLT) construction for maximum grip, consistent launches, and stability going down the track. This construction allows racers to run low pressures, increasing the tire’s footprint for maximum traction.
To aid in providing maximum grip for high horsepower machines, Dunlop developed a brand new, ultra-soft compound specifically for drag racing purposes. This new compound is actually the softest street compound Dunlop has ever produced in its Buffalo, NY plant.
A new profile, specifically designed for drag racing, was developed to provide a much wider and flatter footprint than a typical hypersport tire to be able to handle the demands of the most powerful Pro Street class motorcycles.
The tire’s construction minimizes centrifugal growth to keep that footprint as consistent as possible, which also reduces the risk of de-beading.
As another added benefit to your motorcycles overall performance, Dunlop made the Dragmax as light as possible (without sacrificing stability) to minimize unsprung and rotational weight/mass by reducing the tire’s tread gauge. Having a thinner tread gauge not only reduces the tire’s weight (the Dragmax weighs nearly 1 lb. less than its closest competitor), which improves your motorcycles performance and handling, it also helps lessen blistering and chunking when the tires experience extreme temperatures.
The combination of the Dragmax’s extremely flat profile, ultra-soft compound, and N-Tec construction creates the ultimate performance package specific to drag racing that Dunlop has dubbed Maximum Grip Technology (MGT). The performance advantages of MGT will be noticed from the moment the riders leave the line and then all the way down the track until they pass through the traps.
Dunlop Dragmax Tire Specs:
- Size: 190/50ZR17
- Load/Speed Index: (73W)
- Part Number: 45246215
- Applicable Rims: 5.50, 6.00
- Overall Diameter: 24.92″
- Overall Width: 7.56″
- Full Tread Depth: 5/32
- Maximum Load at PSI: 805 at 42
DME Racing is the exclusive distributor for the Dunlop Dragmax. For dealer inquiries or general information, contact DME at dmeracing.com/dunlop-dragmax.
For more information about Dunlop, visit your local Dunlop dealer or go to www.dunlopracing.com
