Dunlop Q3+

Gary in NJ

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I’ve been a fan of Dunlop’s Qualifier series for a long time. Last March I put a set of Dunlop Q3+ on my FZ6 and I thought I’d give my impressions of them. The Q3+ is actually a very different tire than the Q3. It looks the same, but there are enough changes and differences that the + is a little misleading.

Also, I’m not trying to tell you that these tires are the “best” tires and you too should want them. I fully recognize that everyone values different things in tire selection. For me, dry grip is a paramount concern/requirement. This is closely followed by dry braking, ride quality, wet performance and lastly tire life. I ride purely for pleasure, so I see very few wet days. In fact, it’s probably been 15 years since I set-out on a wet day, and a few years since I got caught in rain when it wasn’t expected. Finally, I don’t ride on the track. I’m a street rider who spends 95% of his time on twisty county and secondary roads. If I did ride on the track, I wouldn’t use my street tires. Very different operating conditions and temperature requirements.

So with my preferences noted above, it safe to say that the Q3+ clicks all of my boxes for me. Turn-in is linear with no “fall-off” or dive. This is due to the near constant radius of both the front and rear tire. A lot of street tires, especially touring tires, have a center “bump” to improve longevity. The Q3+, designed as a sport tire, does not have this feature. Warm-up is fast. Very fast. Once the bike is warm enough to safely accelerate through the first three gears a bit aggressively is about when the tires are warm and ready to play (in fact – that is the best way to warm street tires).

Ride quality is good – but it’s also hard to say. While I was having my old Qualifiers replaced with these tires I also installed an Ohlins shock. I will say that I don’t hear any pounding or slapping over expansion joints.

Wear I won’t be able to comment on for a few more years. These tires were designed for liter class bikes weighing in the 500 pound range. From what I have seen online, the liter class guys are getting 3,000 to 4,000 miles (or more depending on track use or lack thereof) out of these tires, whereas 600cc riders are getting 5,000 or more miles. I think that 5,000 miles is very good for a supersport tire. Moreover, the tires appear to wear very evenly. Once again, your type of riding effects this factor more than anything. But if you do a lot of highway riding or commuting – there are better tire choices anyway.

If you are a backroad rider looking for a tire that provides great handling and braking, and provide great feedback mid-corner, then I can recommend the Dunlop Q3+.
 

trepetti

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I’ve been a fan of Dunlop’s Qualifier series for a long time. Last March I put a set of Dunlop Q3+ on my FZ6 and I thought I’d give my impressions of them. The Q3+ is actually a very different tire than the Q3. It looks the same, but there are enough changes and differences that the + is a little misleading.

Also, I’m not trying to tell you that these tires are the “best” tires and you too should want them. I fully recognize that everyone values different things in tire selection. For me, dry grip is a paramount concern/requirement. This is closely followed by dry braking, ride quality, wet performance and lastly tire life. I ride purely for pleasure, so I see very few wet days. In fact, it’s probably been 15 years since I set-out on a wet day, and a few years since I got caught in rain when it wasn’t expected. Finally, I don’t ride on the track. I’m a street rider who spends 95% of his time on twisty county and secondary roads. If I did ride on the track, I wouldn’t use my street tires. Very different operating conditions and temperature requirements.

So with my preferences noted above, it safe to say that the Q3+ clicks all of my boxes for me. Turn-in is linear with no “fall-off” or dive. This is due to the near constant radius of both the front and rear tire. A lot of street tires, especially touring tires, have a center “bump” to improve longevity. The Q3+, designed as a sport tire, does not have this feature. Warm-up is fast. Very fast. Once the bike is warm enough to safely accelerate through the first three gears a bit aggressively is about when the tires are warm and ready to play (in fact – that is the best way to warm street tires).

Ride quality is good – but it’s also hard to say. While I was having my old Qualifiers replaced with these tires I also installed an Ohlins shock. I will say that I don’t hear any pounding or slapping over expansion joints.

Wear I won’t be able to comment on for a few more years. These tires were designed for liter class bikes weighing in the 500 pound range. From what I have seen online, the liter class guys are getting 3,000 to 4,000 miles (or more depending on track use or lack thereof) out of these tires, whereas 600cc riders are getting 5,000 or more miles. I think that 5,000 miles is very good for a supersport tire. Moreover, the tires appear to wear very evenly. Once again, your type of riding effects this factor more than anything. But if you do a lot of highway riding or commuting – there are better tire choices anyway.

If you are a backroad rider looking for a tire that provides great handling and braking, and provide great feedback mid-corner, then I can recommend the Dunlop Q3+.

Thanks Gary. I started with Pilot Roads (3's and 4's), then went to Metzler M7RR's (on my second set), but have been itching to try the Q3+. I almost did in Jan 2020 but played it safe when no one would speak to them (you posted in the thread in Mar, when I already had new Metzlers). Because of my diesel-fuel lowside in June, I put no miles on the new tires, so I may need to wait, but going nuts through Covid and shoulder PT has put me on a buying frenzy (Innov K2 dashcam, Ohlin's rear shock etc.) I may pull the trigger sooner. OH BOY!!!!!
 
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