Dunlop Mission Trailmax

old1959

Active Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2018
Messages
141
Location
Texas
I bought a set of Mission Trailmax tires to try something different. Normally I don't use tires oriented for dirt but since I do ride an occasional dirt road I thought why not. My first impressions were a little rough riding but surprisingly quiet. Also, good traction on pavement. Yesterday, I rode a dirt road for five miles or so and found the tires to work extremely well. The bike was stable and steered well. I was so impressed that I wanted to share. I still have not ridden in the rain, mud, or deep sand as I only have approximately 800 miles on the tires.
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ballisticexchris

Guest
Glad you like them!! Your first picture is a great example of what kind of riding these big bikes are designed for. Keep us updated on these....
 

old1959

Active Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2018
Messages
141
Location
Texas
Another update. Today I got on the interstate which I rarely do and got the tires up to 95 and they felt fine. However, I wouldn't want to do a lot of high speeds with these as they are a little rough riding and found my right hand falling asleep a bit.

But in the big news, I rode in the rain... And, a bit disappointed. The rear was easy to loose traction in both braking and acceleration. I wasn't pleased and even felt it was best to ride a little slower. The front behaved well; never noticed a difference. However, I did get to ride one hard pack wet dirt road and found the tires to be well behaved and in a construction area with some sloppy mud I was definitely impress. So impressed I might add that I now feel the tires offer a good compromise.

I'm just over a thousand miles so too early to tell about wear characteristics. More to come.
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14kmtnman

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Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
476
Location
Yakima, WA
I have read good things about this tire too, so I am thinking these are going to be the replacements to the Mitas E-07+ tires I have now. The main issue of the E-07+ is rear wear rate. This is my 4th Mitas E-07 rear (1st + series) and the others have lasted to 12,000 miles. This + one is going to be lucky if it makes to 6000. At 3000 miles I'm right at 50% of the new tread depth. A buddy made it to a little over 5000 on his + rear.
 

old1959

Active Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2018
Messages
141
Location
Texas
What tires did you have on before these?
First was stock tires; okay but didn't last too long. Next was Michelin Anakee 3's; rear howled when new but otherwise really like the tires. Rear lasted approximately 15k but front was a complete shocker with needing replacement before 9k. Weird. Next I tried Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2; similar to Anakee 3's but no rear howling. Rear lasted approximately 12k and front was similar. A friend suggested the Dunlops which is why I bought them. As of right now, my thought on a good setup, for me, will be a rear Michelin Anakee 3 and on the front a Dunlop Mission. Reason: the rear Anakee 3 has been the longest lasting tire with better traction in the rain and for the front I like the dirt traction of the Mission. If the Mission can surpass 12k, it will be the longest lasting tire I've tried.
 

SuckSqueezeBangBlow

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Joined
Sep 6, 2018
Messages
370
Location
Whitby, Ontario
So just a quick update on these as I have about 3500km on them.
In the rain they are really good in my opinion, went through driving rain both on pavement and on gravel roads and they felt planted and not like there was any slippery parts. Probably one of the best rain tires I have ever run.
On the highway there seems to be a howl when riding between 80 kph and 100 kph, only on the pavement and chip tar pavement. When going those speeds on the dirt or gravel there was no noise.
They did feel really hard and loud for the first 1000km and the mileage kind of sucked, since then they have been decent, no different than the Shinkos I had on before and maybe slightly better. Grip on dry pavement has been excellent, way better than the Shinkos, they really feel like a sticky tire on the asphalt and I have confidence when doing tight fast corners. Maybe just me but it does seem a bit harder to turn into the bends but once in it holds the line well.
On gravel they seem ok, just ok though. From a stop or slow start they did grab really well and the traction control was not always being tripped. I would say they did better than the Shinkos did. In the sand I felt the Shinkos were way better, the TrailMax Missions seem to wander a bit, not enough to be unnerving but enough that you would notice it.
As for wear, they don't really seem to have worn at all after 3500km.
The only thing that bugs me is that howl but that may be fixed once the bike is unloaded or if I adjust the pressure. Front was set at 33 cold and when warm gets up to about 35 or 36 according to my tpms. Rear is at 39 cold and gets up to about 45 when warm.
 

Sierra1

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Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
14,812
Location
Joshua TX
Yup, no yard stick. You'd have to get ONE guy to test all tires, and review them. Then, you find YOUR tire. . . . see where it falls on his scale. . . . and go from there to find where other tires come in. 'Cuz, "sticky" will mean something different to me, you, and the fence post.
 

SuckSqueezeBangBlow

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Joined
Sep 6, 2018
Messages
370
Location
Whitby, Ontario
Yup, no yard stick. You'd have to get ONE guy to test all tires, and review them. Then, you find YOUR tire. . . . see where it falls on his scale. . . . and go from there to find where other tires come in. 'Cuz, "sticky" will mean something different to me, you, and the fence post.
Exactly! I based my selection off the Youtube video series from Kyle Bradshaw at Chaperral Motorsports, he tested about 20 different tires (50/50) and about the same for 70/30 and then I took what he said about the tires I know and based it on that. A really good series, watch the individual episodes on the tires you have used see where you agree with him and then watch the final episode to see where he ranks the tires and then choose what is important to you.
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
Kyle Bradshaw and his crew do solid tests on tires. Very accurate info and feedback. I have ridden a lot of the areas they do on my dual sport.
 

jeckyll

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May 11, 2016
Messages
651
Location
Lotusland
Another variable that didn't occur to me was riding style. Does he ride aggressive, tame, or w.f.o.? I also forgot to add. . . . I hate buying tires. . . . 'cuz you know. . . . they're so cheap.
Exactly. And, does he use TC all the time, turn it down or off all the way even... Different results.

:)
 

SuckSqueezeBangBlow

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Joined
Sep 6, 2018
Messages
370
Location
Whitby, Ontario
He takes the tires on the same course and you get his 'seat of the pants' opinion as he rides, he really only has them on for maybe 500 miles but I just used it as a guideline. I think he is more aggressive then I am but I was looking for a back to back comparison to get a feel for everyday riding and then some dirt on the side.
Another variable that didn't occur to me was riding style. Does he ride aggressive, tame, or w.f.o.? I also forgot to add. . . . I hate buying tires. . . . 'cuz you know. . . . they're so cheap.
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
He says that he turns off TC and ABS for tire tests.
Yes that is true. I might also add the videos do no justice to where he takes these beasts. The terrain is very hard core. The wash is super rocky and deep sand. The jeep trail to Marshals Peak and Pipeline Road to Lake Arrowhead is really challenging. What blows my mind is he actually takes that 990 up the hard ways on Pipeline Road. Some of them are challenging even for a dual sport.
 
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