Slippy, sluggish tire
Written: Oct 09 '07 (Updated Oct 09 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Might be an improvement over stock, depending what your bike came with
Cons: Sluggish tire with poor wet performance.
The Bottom Line: Try something else. If you want mileage, try Metzeler ME880s. If you want grip, try Pirelli Sport Demons.
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| Baldwyn's Full Review: Dunlop GT501 Rear * Oversize Item |
I had a 2001 Triumph Bonneville, until I crashed into a deer with it, and now have a 2006 Triumph Thruxton. I'm a fairly aggressive street rider, spending about half of my miles on canyon roads (I have a nice commute to work). I ride in California all year round, so I get my share of rain (and once snow). And in 6 years, done about 75000 miles. Lemme tell you, that's alot of rear tires. I've gone through 11 rear tires (about 9 fronts), and have tried out 6 different models. Given that I turn over tires so often, I like to explore the options.
Handling
The Dunlop GT-501 was the third tire I tried. I have ridden with two GT-501 rear tires. The first is a 140/80-17. The stock Triumph tires are 130/80-17, so this is slightly taller, which is a popular modification, since it makes the steering quicker, and also a bit larger contact area, and possibly improves mileage. The previous tire was an Avon HKM, which completely transformed the bike after the stock Bridgestone Battlax. The Avon made the bike respond more like a sport bike, and turns were effortless, and quick. The GT-501 returned the bike to a slower, sluggish response. It was perhaps still an improvement over the Battlax, but disappointing after the Avon. It was satisfactory over rain grooves, though.
Stickiness
But that's ok, it's not always about performance, we have wear, road grip in the dry and wet, and other considerations.
Well, it sticks ok in the dry, but it's not really a "sticky", confidence inspiring tire. I know plenty of fast riders with GT-501s who seem fine with it, but I don't like to tear up the road with it as much as I would, say a Pirelli Sport Demon.
In the wet, I thought it was awful! The Avon, which was a stickier tire, was not great in the wet, but was delightful on dry roads. So going from that to the GT-501 which was adequate on dry roads, but slipped frequently on wet pavement was very disappointing. Wet painted arrows? You could almost count on them slipping.
Price
At around $130 for a rear tire, it is not a bargain priced tire, and priced about even with its peers. No advantage here.
Wear
I couldn't WAIT to wear out the tire so I could switch to something different. It finally happened at around 8000 miles, which is about mid-range for a tire. I've gotten over 10000 consistently on Battlaxs, 5000-6000 on the Avon HKMs, and 4000 on Pirelli Sport Demons. (I'm currently trying out Metzeler Marathon ME880s). So 8000 was ok, but not enough to justify the tire, in my mind.
Did I just get a bad tire?
I got a flat tire earlier this year, and had a loaner wheel with a 150/80 GT-501 tire on it. My stance on the handling still stands. Sluggish tire, with adequate grip in the dry (didn't have a chance to try it in the wet). I put around 300 miles on it before returning to my own wheel. I do know plenty of people who like the GT-501, since it's a popular tire for my model of bike. But they change from stock, which is not the best tire to begin with, so they view the GT-501 as an improvement and stick with it. I haven't talked to anyone who's tried out another tire, and gone BACK to the GT-501. But I do know other people who think the tire is dreadful as well.
Summary
The GT-501 does not excel in any category; handling, price, grip, or wear. There are plenty of other alternatives such as Pirelli Sport Demons, Metzeler Marathon ME880s, Avon HKM or Roadrunners to try instead.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Baldwyn
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Member: Baldwyn Chieh
Location: Castro Valley, CA
Reviews written: 33
Trusted by: 3 members
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