Dunlop Mutant Hybrid

Description

The Two Tyres 1-minute guide to the Dunlop Mutant

What is it: Dunlop’s Mutant has been revised and relaunched. Looking like a Supermoto wet, it’s a hybrid tyre combining the grip of a sports tyre, with the tread pattern of a racing wet. Billed as the world’s first crossover tyre, Dunlop claim the Mutant is the one tyre that any road rider needs. It is designed with a profile that promote sharp handling but with all-weather performance and a compound that’s designed to warm-up quickly and return good mileage.

What tyre it replaces: Introduced in 2020. This is an all-new product but based on the ‘H’ rated Supermoto Mutant.

Who is it aimed at:  If you ride purely on the road, in all conditions, the Mutant could appeal to you. If your weapon of choice is anything from an A2-licence commuter right up to a top-0f-the-range Sportsbike. Anything from a V-Strom 650 to a Tracer 900, a Z900 to an R1250GS.

Typically seen on: This tyre is too new for it to have found a core, loyal following. It’s a good option for naked bike riders who want a sharp-steering tyre that can handle any weather. It’s also a good commuter option.

Mutant highlights: Mud & Snow rated. Superb wet performance. Touring-tyre wear characteristics with sporty handling.

Dunlop Mutant sizes: 17″ front and rear sizes that enable these tyres to be used on pretty much any modern road bike. There is also a 19″ front which opens the Mutant up to be fitted on a wide range of Adventure bikes.

A more road-focused option: If trailblazing isn’t your thing and you want a more conventional-looking road tyre, check out the Dunlop Roadsmart 3

A sportier option: If you’re not as concerned about all-weather performance but you want a top-handling grippy sports tyre, try the Dunlop Sportsmart TT.

The competition: Despite the fact Dunlop claim the Mutant is the world’s first cross-over tyre, there are some similar options out there. For lovers of unconventional-tread patterns on road bikes, check out the Bridgestone AX41S, the Pirelli MT60RS and the Anlas Winter Grip Plus.

Dunlop says:

Premium all-weather sport touring tyre.
Todays ever more popular and powerful crossover bikes demand a new breed of do-it-all tyre – for all roads, usages and conditions. Dunlop Mutant’s M+S technology gives you the kind of handling you expect from hypersport tyres, the very best grip in wet conditions this side of racing wets, and the kind of durability that you would find among touring fitments.

The NEW Dunlop Mutant is a Hybrid All-Road tyre offering riders:

• Mutant M+S tyres provide you with the kind of handling and stability you expect from hypersport tyres, the very best grip in wet conditions this side of racing wets, as well as the kind of durability that you would find among touring fitments.
• Supreme versatility to provide rider confidence in all conditions throughout the year.
• Superb wet performance thanks to a tread pattern taking elements from wet racing, supermoto and dirt track tyres.
• Sports tyre handling and stability courtesy of tyre contours developed using DFF (Dynamic Front Formula).
• Using state of the art compounds and resins combine performance and durability.

“Wet, dry, hot, cold, motorway-cruising or corner-abusing, on rough roads and glassy ones – and light off-road trails – they’ve been superb. But the best of all has been the increase in feel and confidence” – MCN January 2022

DISCOVER THE CROSSOVER TYRE
The Mutant is the worlds first crossover tyre – boasting hypersport-level handling, grip as close as possible to racing wets and exceptional touring durability. Mutant can be fitted to a wide range of bikes – from the fast-growing crossover segment, adventure bikes, roasters, supermotos and scramblers – to even more powerful bikes too.

KEY BENEFITS:

• M+S RATED TREAD PATTERN – The high sea ratio and many grooves provide ample grip and quick warm-up in poor conditions and on roads paved and unpaved.
• DFF-OPTIMISED MOULD PROFILE AND SECTION SHAPE – Using Dunlop’s proven DFF (Dynamic Front Formula) the front and rear tyres’ section shapes have been intricately optimised to offer both responsive handling and confidence-inspiring stability, even when riding two-up and carrying luggage. This is key on today’s fast crossover models, which often have wide bars combined with a centre of gravity, making them more sensitive to weaving at higher speeds.

DUNLOP TYRE TECHNOLOGIES:

• MULTI-TREAD (MT) TECHNOLOGY – Years of success in global Superbike, Endurance and GP championships have resulted in the development of a pioneering multi-compound, which is transferred to many of our current Sportmax track and road products. By mixing compounds, the same tyre can display different performance properties at maximum leaning angles than when upright during straight line speed.
• JOINTLESS BELT (JLB) CONSTRUCTION – All our radial street tyres are designed using a combination of Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) as well as JointLess Belt (JLB) construction (either front or rear). JLB construction eliminates the belt overlaps resulting in smoother handling and a more stable contact patch with the road.
• DYNAMIC FRONT FORMULA (DFF) – The front tyre section shape and mould profile have been optimised using Dunlop’s Dynamic Front Formula (DFF) design approach. This provides the ideal balance between steering effort, stability and feedback, delivering unparalleled rider confidence and enjoyment.
• HISILICA – An increased Silica content is used to promote compound flexibility at low temperatures. Used to reduce a compound’s reliance on temperature to offer optimum grip in wet and less than ideal conditions, as well as to increase mileage.
• 4 SEASON TECHNOLOGY – Tyre architecture, ply materials and compound definition are carefully selected to ensure optimum operation in sub-ideal climatic conditions. With improved wet and cold grip, this provides increased safety, rider confidence and comfort.
• RAYON PLY CASING (RPC) – Rayon is used as casing ply material, to improve mileage & shorten warm-up time.