Dunlop Launches All New DT4 Flat Track Tyre For AFT Racing

After almost 40 years, Dunlop Tires in the USA has finally replaced the iconic DT3 Flat Track tyre with the new DT4. The replacement comes at a time when the company is looking to offer racers increased levels of grip for faster lap times, without compromising on the trustworthy levels of performance that the DT3 has been offering for the last four decades.

Flat track tyre technology can be extremely hard to master and it's understandable as to why the company took almost two years to develop the new tyre.

Flat Track tyres need to be able to grip and slide at the same time. The front and rear are required to work together in this finely balanced tyre symphony which is essentially what allows racers to be a part of the American spectacle. Changing tyre surfaces are another aspect that the designer has to keep in mind; from blue-groove hard-pack to abrasive sand, track surfaces in Flat Track can change from lap-to-lap.

The revamped American Flat Track (AFT) class structure, new manufacturer involvement that has increased race-bike performance, and the addition of new tracks to the AFT schedule are a few other circumstances that forced Dunlop's hand in created a better tyre for the motorsport.

The Compound

The development of the DT4 involved testing on various tracks across the country, with the company utilizing inputs from some of the top AFT racers and champions. That input and Dunlop’s own internal testing has resulted in the DT4 being available in different compounds; a soft and a medium for the front, and a soft, medium and hard compound for the rear—the hard compound developed for Mile tracks from hard-pack clay to abrasive sand conditions like Sacramento.

Also See: Dunlop Steps Up Support For Popular American Flat Track Series

The Tread Pattern

The front tread pattern is quite similar to the previous DT3, but there are slight differences that will definitely impact performance. With the reshaped blocks, racers will now experience much greater straight-line stability while the optimised shoulder blocks will provide increased levels of grip and stability while cornering.

The rear tread pattern on the other hand has similar shaped blocks on the shoulder, but the center blocks are very different. The center blocks are now turned 90 degrees to provide more number of biting edges which is bound to give riders a huge boost while powering off the starting line.

In addition to new tread patterns and compounds, the DT4 can be run tubeless. This allows greater fine-tuning with air-pressure for changing track surfaces and conditions, and makes tyre changing easier.

Sizes Compound