Dunlop’s new Sportmax Q5 range promises sharper handling, stronger grip and real-world versatility, so we headed to SMSP to put all three tyres to the test... Photos: Pit Lane Media
Dunlop recently rolled out the new Sportmax Q5 range at SMSP, giving us the chance to test the Q5A, Q5S and flagship Q5 back-to-back on a variety of motorcycles. The format made it easy to feel the differences in construction, handling and grip across the range…
It feels like I’ve practically been living at Sydney Motorsport Park lately. I’ve been up and down the M1 so many times this year I could almost justify getting my own garage there! But on this particular morning there was a very good reason to be back again – Dunlop had invited us along to test the new Sportmax Q5 tyre range, and it had been a long time between proper Dunlop tyre launches.
That alone made the day interesting. Dunlop tyres are something most riders have plenty of experience with because they’re fitted as OEM rubber to a wide range of motorcycles, but dedicated launches where you can ride multiple tyres back-to-back are much rarer. Walking into the garage and seeing the familiar yellow Dunlop signage everywhere definitely gave the day a sense of occasion.
The testing took place on the South Circuit at Sydney Motorsport Park, a layout that’s actually ideal for tyre testing. It’s relatively tight and narrow, packed with quick direction changes, and includes a mix of slow corners and faster flowing sections.
It’s the kind of track that really highlights steering characteristics, feedback and grip, and in many ways it mimics a fast road ride – a bit like working your way out of city traffic before finally finding a great stretch of twisty road in the hills.
Weather conditions were perfect, with warm track temperatures and a dry surface. After spending plenty of time at the circuit recently, it was probably the best the track had been all month. Dunlop had three tyres available for testing during the day: the Q5A, the Q5S, and the flagship Q5. Each one targets a slightly different rider and level of performance, and the format of the day allowed us to ride them back-to-back on different motorcycles.
“My test bike for the Q5A was a Yamaha MT-07, a motorcycle I’ve ridden many times on different tyres”…
Sportmax Q5A
I started the morning on the Sportmax Q5A, which is essentially the road-focused tyre in the lineup. It’s designed as an everyday street tyre with a broad operating range, meaning it doesn’t require tyre warmers and works in a wide range of temperatures.
That makes it suitable for commuting, weekend rides and the occasional trackday. My test bike for the Q5A was a Yamaha MT-07, a motorcycle I’ve ridden many times on different tyres, so it was a good baseline for the test.
The first thing that stood out was how quickly the tyres inspired confidence. There was no drama getting heat into them, and within a few laps I was pushing harder and harder to see where the limit might be. Historically, Dunlop tyres have sometimes felt quite square in profile, but the Q5A feels more triangular, which helps the bike roll from upright to full lean more naturally.
On the tight South Circuit that translated into quick, light steering and impressive stability. The MT-07 felt nimble through direction changes while still feeling planted mid-corner.
What really surprised me, though, was the level of grip available from what is essentially a street tyre. I kept pushing harder and harder, eventually coming in to remove the hero blobs from the footpeg tips so I could increase lean angle even further. Back out on track, the tyres continued to deliver consistent grip and feedback.
Even when fatigue started creeping in and the riding got a bit scruffy – something most of us are guilty of at the end of a session – the tyres remained composed. There was no unexpected movement, no sudden slides, just predictable behaviour. For riders who want a tyre that can handle commuting, weekend blasts and the occasional trackday, the Q5A clearly delivers a lot of performance.
Sportmax Q5S
After that I jumped onto the Sportmax Q5S, which sits in the middle of the range and targets serious sportsbike or hyper-naked riders who ride aggressively on the road and enjoy regular trackdays. This time the bike was a Yamaha MT-10, which is a completely different challenge for a tyre.
The big crossplane engine produces a huge amount of torque, and bikes like this can easily expose weaknesses in tyre construction, especially when driving hard out of corners where sidewall pump can happen easily from the big torque on tap.
The Q5S scrubbed in quickly and felt ready to push after just a couple of laps. Despite the cooler tyre temperatures at the start of the session, grip levels were immediately strong. The handling characteristics were excellent. The MT-10 is a big, heavy motorcycle with a lot of engine mass down low, yet the tyres made it feel surprisingly nimble. Direction changes were light and precise, which made the bike easier to flick through the tighter sections of the circuit.
The compound felt noticeably softer than the Q5A, and the deeper tread pattern meant you could feel a little movement under heavy load. But it wasn’t instability – more a sense of the tyre working underneath you. Even under hard acceleration, there was none of the aforementioned sidewall pumping that powerful bikes can sometimes generate when exiting corners. The rear tyre remained stable, and the front tyre delivered clear feedback.
Tyre pressures on the day were relatively high – around 35psi front and 30psi rear – which was done deliberately to simulate road conditions rather than dedicated track pressures. Despite those pressures, the tyres performed impressively, maintaining stability and grip throughout the sessions.
Sportmax Q5
Finally, I moved onto the tyre that most riders were excited about – the Sportmax Q5. This is the most aggressive tyre in the range and is designed primarily for serious trackday riders and high-performance sports riders.
For this session I rode a Kawasaki ZX-6R, which was particularly interesting because I had ridden the exact same bike just a week earlier on a different brand of tyres. That made it easy to feel the difference in construction, profile and grip straight away.
The Q5 immediately delivered excellent feedback from the front end. Under braking the tyre felt incredibly planted, allowing me to trail brake deeper into corners with confidence. Through the tighter hairpins and slower corners the tyre maintained strong grip, and as lean angle increased the level of feedback remained consistent. That’s exactly what you want from a track-focused tyre, clear communication about what the front end is doing.
On corner exit the rear tyre remained stable, even under hard acceleration. There was no sliding, no pumping, just solid drive out of the corner. One section of the circuit where the new track joins the old surface includes a slightly dirty patch, especially when approaching downhill while trail braking.
Crossing that area produced just a gentle movement from the tyre – enough to let you know what was happening without causing any concern. That kind of communication is actually a good sign in a track tyre, because it builds confidence rather than hiding what the bike is doing.
Comparing the Q5S and Q5 back-to-back, the main difference became noticeable under very hard braking and maximum lean angles. The Q5 offers that extra level of grip and precision that serious trackday riders will appreciate. Testing the entire range on the same day made it clear that Dunlop has built a well-structured tyre lineup.
The Q5A works as a versatile road tyre capable of occasional track use. The Q5S suits riders who push hard on the road and regularly attend trackdays. And the Q5 provides the highest level of grip and performance for serious track riding.
One of the appealing aspects of all three tyres is their practicality. You can turn up to the track, park the bike, grab a coffee, and head out for a session without worrying about tyre warmers. When the day is over, you can simply ride home again because they remain fully road-legal tyres.
After spending a full day testing them back-to-back, it’s clear that Dunlop has delivered a modern hypersport tyre range that covers a wide spectrum of riders. Whether you’re commuting during the week, carving through your favourite stretch of road on the weekend, or pushing hard at a trackday, the new Sportmax Q5 family offers a tyre suited to the job.
View the full range and more info at the official Ficeda Accessories Dunlop page here… and read our other tyre reviews here… Find a Dunlop dealer here…
Dunlop Sportmax Q5 Launch Gallery
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