Dunlop Geomax MX14 Sand / Mud Tire
Cycle News Staff | August 2, 2022
Dunlop recently announced an all-new rear moto tire, the Geomax MX14.
This is the latest iteration of the brand’s sand and mud tire, building on the former MX11 and MX12 soft-terrain tires. Like the previous MX12, the MX14 is designed for “soft to mid” terrain and was the same tire used by nearly every rider on the podium at the recent RedBud National. It got a lot of attention at the Spring Creek National when Eli Tomac mounted the “scoop” tire when everyone else chose a more traditional intermediate tire for this track. Tomac went on to win both motos. What does that tell you?
VIDEO | Dunlop Geomax MX14
Dunlop says the rear MX14 rear tire—which was developed and tested by MXGP riders, AMA Pros and “elite” amateur racers—is designed for “soft-terrain applications and to excel in extreme sand and mud conditions.” Dunlop’s overall goal with this tire is to “increase straight-line drive without sacrificing cornering performance” and give the rider “a more well-rounded option.”
Well, we can’t argue. We got our first taste of the MX14 when Dunlop introduced it to the media at Glen Helen Raceway and were immediately impressed. The track was ripped extra deep to create a softer environment for the scoop tire, and it performed just like the Dunlop folks said it would, if not better. On this day, our MX14 was teamed up with Dunlop’s MX33 front.
With the MX14’s knob height increased by 18 percent, the overall grip was noticeable in the deep loam. Fins behind the scoops aid in driving the bike forward while also being malleable in harder portions of the track. It’s for these reasons why Tomac chose to run the MX14 at Spring Creek because it obviously works well in the soft while still offering good traction on more intermediate surfaces. He wanted the “scoop” for Spring Creek’s long and loamy start and felt it would work well enough for the rest of the track’s harder-packed surface. He proved the MX14 works well in both soft and intermediate conditions. The same could not be said for the previous MX12.
The MX12 was sometimes criticized for being too much of a sand tire for most MX tracks and didn’t provide the traction needed when the surface dried out and got harder, so the MX12 wasn’t the tire of choice for tracks with varying conditions. The MX14, however, is, from what we can tell so far, much more versatile than the previous MX12.
The MX14 is available in eight sizes (from 10-inch to 19-inch) with an MSRP range of $60-$174. CN
For more information, visit www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com