MXA TEAM TESTED: DUNLOP MX34 MOTOCROSS TIRES

WHAT IS IT? Dunlop launched the new MX34 tire combo (front and rear) to replace the MX33, which replaced the MX3S that came to market in 2018. While many of the MXA wrecking crew adapted to the MX33 rear tire without any problems, the MX33 front tire was mostly better because it didn’t throw knobs like the earlier MX3S. The MX34 has been designed to mate durability with performance. 

WHAT’S IT COST? $126.89 (front 80/100-21), $174.06 (rear).

CONTACT? www.dunlopmotorcycle.com or your local dealer. 

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Dunlop Geomax MX34 front and rear tires.

(1) Tire weight. The front weighs 8.35 pounds. The rear weighs 12.6 pounds. 

(2) Enhancement. Dunlop has a new front tread pattern with 10 percent more spacing between the middle blocks and the shoulder blocks to help prevent mud clogging. The new-release MX34 has a new rear tread pattern with 11-percent-taller center blocks and Progressive Cornering Block Technology (PCBT) to help improve cornering grip.

(3) Front Dunlop. We ran the recommended 13.5 pounds of air pressure. The MX34 did not push like the MX33 did at steep lean angles and felt more planted with less wiggle midway through the turns. The new MX34 also had a smaller air-pressure range difference between the faster and slower test riders, ranging from 13 psi to 14 psi. A percentage of MXA test riders still prefer the MX3S front tire, in spite of its tendency to throw knobs and limited supply.

(4) Rear Dunlop. We ran a 120/90-19 rear tire, which is what Dunlop had the most test time on. We started with 12 psi in the rear and were pleased with the improved straight-line traction on harder track surfaces. On tracks with deep, loamy dirt, a few test riders bumped the psi up to 13 to get more bite in deeper dirt.

(5) Durability. Thanks to an all-new carcass, we were able to keep the air pressure closer to the starting point than on the MX33. At the seven-hour mark, we had worn the rear tire down to the wear indicator line, but the MX34 had not gotten close to the wallowy feel that would have forced us to bump the tire pressure up 1 more psi. With the softer blocks at the 10-hour mark, we could see the crease marks at the bottom of the tread blocks where they had been flexing, but there was no cracking or peeling of the knobs. 

(6) Mounting. Don’t forget that this front tire is directional. It must go on with the arrows pointing forward. The new Geomax MX34 tire combo has a similar mounting feel to that of the MX33. Tire mounting lube and cornstarch or baby powder will help with pinch flats.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? Traction was good and so was durability, but we did notice a significant difference between the effects of 1 and 2 psi on how the tire performed; however, as long as we stayed on top of the tire pressure, it was no problem. 

MXA RATING: We loved the MX3S, but Dunlop back-burnered it because the front tire, which worked great, threw knobs. The main goal of the MX33 was to not throw knobs. The MX34 was designed from the git-go as a high-performance intermediate tire—and it shows. There is a new Dunlop tire combo set to release fairly soon.

 

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