The SPORTMAX Q4, a tire born and raised in the United States, has been the focus of attention since its launch. I've had a chance to experience the wild ride that's all about ramming, so here's my review!
Review condition
Location: Tsukuba Circuit, Course 1000
Date: 27 March 2019
Weather: fine
Temperature: 22-24 degrees Celsius
Track temperature: 27-29°C
Track: Dry
Tyre pressure
CBR1000RR: F/R 1.8kpa
CB1300SF/SB: F/R 2.0kpa
GSX-S1000F: F/R 1.8kpa
GSX-R1000: F/R 1.8kpa
The Tsukuba Circuit Course 1000 has a flat layout of approximately 1,000 meters in length and is famous for its excellent visibility, making it an easy course for beginners to drive. The course has several corners of various sizes and is recommended for advanced players. On the day of the impressions, the weather was fine and the track surface conditions were good, so we were able to experience the characteristics of the tyres.
What kind of tyre is the SPORTMAX Q4?
The Q4 we're introducing here is actually a completely new tire for the Japanese market, not an evolution of a tire that has been sold in Japan until now.
SPORTMAX Q4 is different from the Alpha series developed in Japan. It is a track-ready tire developed in the U.S. and can be driven on public roads.
The Q4 is considered to be in the same class as Dunlop's Alpha-13SP, with the Alpha-13SP having "sharp and nimble handling. The α-13SP is described as "sharp and nimble handling, with turning characteristics that change direction linearly with bank angle", while the Q4 is described as "wild and dynamic handling. The new Q4 is said to have 'wild and dynamic handling with aggressive steering and braking. The rear compound is a full carbon compound that does not contain silica, just like the racing slicks, and it seems to be able to show grip close to the racing slicks. In general, it is said that it is hard to warm up if you don't use silica, but Q4 can be used just like a normal track tire. However, it is only for the track, so make sure you heat it up properly.
The pattern is also designed to be very slick with few grooves.
In the explanation before the test drive, it was said that the Q4 can bring out the cornering performance as aimed by using the brakes hard before the corner and putting the load on the front. In other words, "Focus on the Plunge.
Like the α-13SP, this tire was developed for users who enjoy track driving, so it is not suitable for sports driving on public roads due to its high-temperature dependency.
It's very unusual for a high-grip tyre to be launched in the same class but with a different character. With the Q4 and Alpha-13SP at the extremes, you can now choose the tire that best suits your riding style. According to the American rider who tested the tyre, 'It's like a slick tyre. The handling is straightforward and you can slow the brakes and open the throttle wide with ease. In fact, in Q4 he recorded a maximum bank angle of 62 degrees, something no other Dunlop street tyre has ever achieved.
Although we were not able to experience the maximum bank angle of 62 degrees during this test ride, I was able to experience a different ride and potential than the Alpha-13SP for sure!
By the way, the Q of Q4 is the Q of Qualifier, which was released in Japan in the past!
The difference in handling can be seen in the first corner.
At this test ride event, I was able to test ride the Q4 for a total of four models: CB1300SF, GSX-R1000, CBR1000RR, and GSX-S1000.
It starts cautiously because it is an unfamiliar tire. At best, I was cautious, and at worst, I entered the corner without thinking. Huh? It's not turning!
The stiffness of the front tire is so strong that a lazy approach to braking will not allow the motorcycle to fall and turn as desired. At the first corner, I was convinced that the tyres were different from the others.
According to Dunlop, you can get the best turning performance by applying the load to the front just before the corner and then releasing the brakes. This is not a cornering style that relies on the primary turning force, which is often used to raise the caster angle and increase the turning performance by dragging the front brake while entering. It turns well if you make the secondary turn the main part of the throttle opening stage of the corner escape.
Tires that make you feel aggressive
As for the grip, the speed range was low during this test ride, so of course there was no sense of danger at all. I felt as if the tyre was telling me to pick up the pace. Even if you try to drive it a little over, the front rigidity is so strong that you can drive it without worrying about it failing. The tyres were demanding 'more' and 'more' so I was very aggressive in the last part of the race!
Tire check after driving
It's hard to tell this time because I didn't compare it with other products, but I compared the tire after riding BMW S1000RR and CB1300. The roughness is standard, although it is affected by electronic control. Of course, it's a track tire, so you can't expect much life out of it.
Left: S1000RR and Right: CB1300SF rear tires
Let's bank it and get rid of the letters Q4!
Perfect for a heavyweight naked!
This time I was able to test the tires on different types of motorcycles in different genres, so I'll give you my review for each motorcycle.
CB1300
The rear grip is superb, even with the massive torque. I had the impression that it would open up and steer strongly in the secondary turn, and there were times in the second half when I leaned too far to the inside. I have the impression that the front end won't turn without load (accelerator off only), and it seems to turn better if you leave +α speed and drag the brake to enter.
GSX-R1000
The specs of the motorcycle were too high, so we couldn't attack to the point where we could show the performance of the tyres. Due to the lightweight of the vehicle, the front end has a strong impression of stickiness, which is a concern. At the pace of this test ride (gentle pace), I had the impression that I would like to use a lower internal pressure.
CBR1000RR
Just like the GSX-R, we had the impression that the speed range here was too low to get the best out of the tires. I felt that the α-13SP would be a better match for the Tsukuba 1000 class track x liter SS. On the other hand, if you think of it as a tire of such a high dimension that it cannot perform at this speed range, can you expect it to perform well on a high-speed track? Could it?
GSX-S1000
Easier to bend than the R1000. Even if the speed is not loaded, it was easy to crush the tire because the suspension moves, and I had the impression that it was easy to turn because of that. I have the impression that the spring constant of the tire itself is about two ranks higher, and I don't want to use it on rough surfaces.
Speed range and vehicle weight is the key?
In fact, it was not the Supersport but the heavyweight naked CB1300 that I felt the best match with the tires among the models I rode at this test ride. Normally, when you test drive high-grip tires, they tend to work well with supersports, but this was a surprise. However, this is not to say that any course is incompatible with Supersport, but probably because the Tsukuba 1000 does not have a very high-speed range, so I was not able to apply the full load. Because of the weight of the heavyweight naked, it was easy to put the load on the front and it was able to bring out the nimble and amazing turning performance without feeling the weight.
Recommended for these riders!
- Want to enjoy track-riding on a heavyweight naked motorcycle.
- A riding style that emphasizes penetration.
- A riding style that emphasizes secondary turns
With the introduction of the Q4, you can now choose between the Q4 and Alpha series to suit your riding style! The ride quality of the Q4 is a bit uncomfortable at first if you are used to domestically developed tires, but if you ride with an awareness of crushing the front end, you will find that it is a tire with deeper pockets than you thought. Above all, it is a tire that is fun to ride with an aggressive riding style not found in domestic production. Track users should try them on! They are pure fun tires!
- Q4
- α-13SP
Click here for more information about SPORTMAX Q4
See Accessories of DUNLOP
See HONDA Moto Index Page
See SUZUKI Moto Index Page
See Accessories for HONDA CBR1000RR Fireblade
See Accessories for SUZUKI GSX-S1000
See Accessories for SUZUKI GSX-R1000 (Gixxer ,GSXR)
