Dunlop TR91 Tyre Review

[simplysounds]

Just thought i'd share my thoughts on the new dunlop tr91 with you all.

background: i've been riding for 25yrs and my gsa is my 23rd bike. i've had big triallies, sports, pocket rockets, sports, commuters, retro....etc. i commuted to london every day for 10yrs. i've had my share of broken limbs when younger - 2 own goals and 2 scored by car drivers with ping pong balls for eyes. i now i ride with care and let the bike in front go first these days. i'm no rossi so can't tell you i scrape the footpegs on my gsa but i now when a tyre makes me a more confident rider.

when i got the bike it had anakee's on and i know they are much loved but i didn't care for them too much. i then got tourances and in my opinion they changed the bike for the better but i always found them vibey and noisy and only got the best from them if i was on a perfect line through corners.

i decided after a lot of searching i'd go for the dunlop tr91. my choices were conti ta's or a full road tyre like bridgestones or michelin's. i don't choose to go off road but live on an unmade road with a mix of mud, gravel, potholes etc so i wanted something with a deeper tread pattern.

the dunlop tr91's have a good deep tread and the design puts a decent area of rubber on the road. when they arrived they seemed heavier than the tourances and well made. the surface felt stickier to the touch than other tyres i've had on the gsa. the tread is a lot deeper than pictures suggest. i'm not sure how well they would cope off road proper but i think if you want to go off road get off road tyres?

i had them fitted and sod's law...it pissed down all weekend! i'm no racer in the wet but straight away (even without scrubbing in) they just felt so much better (so much so - i found myself overtaking traffic on wide 40mph bends - just 'cause i could).

i've now had them on for two weeks. in my opinion they are fantastic in all areas. i've been on motorways, big bends, tight bends, high speeds, low speeds, unmade roads (but nothing too loose or muddy), white lines etc. they feel sticky all the time and inspire confidence. i feel i just get on with riding the bike without giving grip a second thought.

i think tyres can be a real personal thing but i'm very pleased with this set of rubber i now have. can't say about wear rate but i'd rather have grip over wear rate anytime - i find you stay on the bike more and less time picking tarmac out of areas of exposed skin.

comment's like 'you can't ride a bike', 'you pussy' and 'what do you know' are always welcome but i hope someone might get something from my findings.

Dunlop TR91. £177 (pair - delivered) from wheelhouse tyres.

 

[Giles]

No, that's useful thanks, and I quite agree with you that years of riding a bike will give you the ability to instantly tune into tyres and how they feel underneath you.

As it happens I've been googling TR91's for the last few weeks looking for reviews. The roadsmarts on my job bike are very grippy and excellent in the wet, so it's no surprise the TR91's are good too.

I've tried EXP's (Good grip, squared off too quickly though,) and Conti RA's, which I also like and have lasted very well.

Tr91's next ....

 

[simplysounds]

like you i did some searching and bridgestone bt's got a thumbs up and the older dunlop 607's were the only trail tyres that got a good review but lot's of people on the forum slated them so it was a gamble to go dunlop but i think it was money well spent on the tr91's. i'm also a sucker when it comes to tyre tread patterns and how they look so that sways my choice.

 

[oldnfat]

I was thinking of trying these but could only find dry weather reviews (which were good). So if sound in the wet then looks like I will be giving them a go...thanks for posting your report.

 

[Rasher]

Reviews here for Adventure tyres:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245150&highlight=tyre

 

[simplysounds]

hope you find the tyres ok. i love 'em but everyone's different. be good to hear other opinions.

thanks to rasher for the link. i read this prior to buying tyres but as i don't do track racing or want full blown road tyres it didn't really help making my choice.

 

[petkostas]

Got TR91's on my 1150 after examining my street options, 6000Km's later...they are the best for road usage, be it wet, dry they are just sticking on the tarmac!
I had Tourance EXP before those, they where good, sticky but I never loved that extra step they had before leaning, once you got used to it was ok but the TR91's even after 6000 continue to fascinate me!
Tomorrow I am getting my GSA (2008 used) my first request was for a pair of TR91's on it...

 

[simplysounds]

hey, glad you like them too and it's not just me. you'll love the 1200 gsa. take care out there and enjoy!

 

[petkostas]

Got it Saturday morning...today installed a fresh pair of TR91's...gonna scrab them in till Saturday and of I am!

 

[Giles]

Had these on for about a week now.

First impressions are good! I'm guessing they have a much stiffer side wall compared to the road attacks I've just taken off; the ride is noticeably firmer - I kept checking my ESA settings, and I was on 'normal' but it felt like sport on a bumpy road. This isn't a problem, it's just different. (And to be expected I guess for a 20% dirt tyre...)

It feels a very neutral tyre which (imho) is perfect for the road. it's not dropping into corners, but I don't have to push in it either. And It feels pretty grippy in the dry, went for a hoon the other day with no issues.

I haven't taken it down a byway yet, and it's not rained here for what seems like months. So more feedback on wear, wet weather and simple off road stuff, but first impressions.. I like them!!

 

[Yonkyo]

Had these on for about a week now.

First impressions are good! I'm guessing they have a much stiffer side wall compared to the road attacks I've just taken off; the ride is noticeably firmer - I kept checking my ESA settings, and I was on 'normal' but it felt like sport on a bumpy road. This isn't a problem, it's just different. (And to be expected I guess for a 20% dirt tyre...)

I was considering fitting these next (currently on Battlewings). But now i'm not so sure, as you say they give a very firm ride.

What pressures are you running Giles?

 

[Giles]

I'm on the bog standard 36 / 42 but might try dropping that a bit. I haven't had time to play and experiment yet, but will do soon.

 

[Flip]

Just done 3600 miles on TR91's on all terrains and through lots of rain and dry, Can not fault the grip levels at all in wet or dry, however there is a slight vibration and if you let go of the bars decellerating from 50 to 30 the handle bars shake like bugger. Looking in to this problem in the next few days, anyone else had similar?? just a note, my mates adv had same problem on Tourance's?????

 

[Giles]

I wouldn't put that down to that particular make or model of tyre, yes maybe that wheel needs better balancing, or maybe that tyre is a bit of a rogue, but it's not the TR91's per se.

My work bike gets through tyres quickly. I probably get a new set of tyres every three months. Just once in a blue moon I'll take it back to the workshop and ask the mechanic to give it a second opinion. I remember last year having new tyres and having exactly what you described at about 30 mph. This was exagerated if I chopped off the throttle harshly at about that speed.

Mechanic had a ride, 'Oooooo yeah, you're right, i'll stick another tyre on and send that one back to Bridgestone.....'

New (but same make / model) tyre fitted ...... problem gone.

 

[Flip]

Spoke to Dunlop technical today, outcome is they are having the tyre back to test so i'll be fitting a new one next week and await the results, they were quite helpful ..

 

[Giles]

Hopefully they'll refund you a new tyre!

 

[Richie B]

Just thought i'd share my thoughts on the new dunlop tr91 with you all.

background: i've been riding for 25yrs and my gsa is my 23rd bike. i've had big triallies, sports, pocket rockets, sports, commuters, retro....etc. i commuted to london every day for 10yrs. i've had my share of broken limbs when younger - 2 own goals and 2 scored by car drivers with ping pong balls for eyes. i now i ride with care and let the bike in front go first these days. i'm no rossi so can't tell you i scrape the footpegs on my gsa but i now when a tyre makes me a more confident rider.

when i got the bike it had anakee's on and i know they are much loved but i didn't care for them too much. i then got tourances and in my opinion they changed the bike for the better but i always found them vibey and noisy and only got the best from them if i was on a perfect line through corners.

i decided after a lot of searching i'd go for the dunlop tr91. my choices were conti ta's or a full road tyre like bridgestones or michelin's. i don't choose to go off road but live on an unmade road with a mix of mud, gravel, potholes etc so i wanted something with a deeper tread pattern.

the dunlop tr91's have a good deep tread and the design puts a decent area of rubber on the road. when they arrived they seemed heavier than the tourances and well made. the surface felt stickier to the touch than other tyres i've had on the gsa. the tread is a lot deeper than pictures suggest. i'm not sure how well they would cope off road proper but i think if you want to go off road get off road tyres?

i had them fitted and sod's law...it pissed down all weekend! i'm no racer in the wet but straight away (even without scrubbing in) they just felt so much better (so much so - i found myself overtaking traffic on wide 40mph bends - just 'cause i could).

i've now had them on for two weeks. in my opinion they are fantastic in all areas. i've been on motorways, big bends, tight bends, high speeds, low speeds, unmade roads (but nothing too loose or muddy), white lines etc. they feel sticky all the time and inspire confidence. i feel i just get on with riding the bike without giving grip a second thought.

i think tyres can be a real personal thing but i'm very pleased with this set of rubber i now have. can't say about wear rate but i'd rather have grip over wear rate anytime - i find you stay on the bike more and less time picking tarmac out of areas of exposed skin.

comment's like 'you can't ride a bike', 'you pussy' and 'what do you know' are always welcome but i hope someone might get something from my findings.

Dunlop TR91. £177 (pair - delivered) from wheelhouse tyres.

How are these wearing ???

Has anyone had any off road use ????

 

[Aidan1150]

How are these wearing ???

Has anyone had any off road use ????

I have 3000 miles on them on my 1150 and they are very good wet or dry. I don't ride offroad at all really but on some muddy boreens on the Welsh National Rally a few weeks ago I had a few small front wheel slides which didn't inspire much confidence.

 

[JMC]

This is a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question, my Anakees have done 5,500 miles with 4mm left on rear and 4.5mm on the front, how many miles can I expect to get from them?
Bike (GS) is booked in for 6K service 2nd June then going abroad for about 1500-2000 miles, do I change before I go??

 

[Yonkyo]

This is a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question, my Anakees have done 5,500 miles with 4mm left on rear and 4.5mm on the front, how many miles can I expect to get from them?
Bike (GS) is booked in for 6K service 2nd June then going abroad for about 1500-2000 miles, do I change before I go??

Thats very good mileage. i've never got more that 6000 miles from a set of any make of tyre on my GS's.

I'd be inclined to fit a new set before you go away. Especially if your going to Spain, as their roads seem to accelerate tyre wear.