Dunlop SP Sport FM901 Performance Tires

[Xenon]

Dunlop SP Sport FM901 Performance Tires
Purchased at: Tire Depot, Toronto; Referenced from Mazda of Toronto, Parts
MSRP: $179.99 per Tire, Paid < $100.00/tire (Price not made Public)
Rating out of 5: 4/5

Product Page: http://www.dunloptires.com/dunlop/display_tire.jsp?prodline=SP+Sport+FM901&mrktarea=Performance

Pros:
- Nice and Grippy
- Great Performance for the Money
- Aggressive tread design with function

Cons:
- Road Noise


Comments:
I was less than satisfied with the performance of the Goodyear Eagle RS-A's, so when those tires got bald, I was more than happy to start researching for a new set. I originally was considering 3 different tires: Dunlop SP Sport FM901's, Toyo Proxy 4's and BFGoodrich g-Force.

I couldn't really find the BFGoodrich g-Force's were a little too expensive, and the review I read about it were iffy. The Toyo Proxy 4's had amazing reviews, but the price range was higher, and although it was only an increas of $30/tire, that worked out to $120 total, which put me a little out of my budget. So I settled for the Dunlops. The ratings on the tire were not bad at all, and the price was right in my budget. So I tried it.

The Dunlops are awesome. They grip very will on dry and pavement. I've gone through some nice puddles (Around 60 km/h), and not once have I hydroplaned on these tires.

The only con I have experienced with these tires is the road noise they produce. It is not excessive, but noticable. Nothing a little bit of music can't cure. But in my opinion, the performance gain of these tires more than outweigh the noise they produce.

Sure there are better tires out there, but not for this price.

[Kevin@nextmod]

You know these are discontinued tires right? Not tryign to say anything bad about them cause my frd had them and they are nice on dry and wet as you said. Just telling you the reason why there selling cheap.

[Xenon]

Discontinued or not, as long as they perform, I don't really care lol

[Kevin@nextmod]

Just telling you they might be old stock and tires do get hard and hard to warm up over time. Just telling you.

[Xenon]

That's for the uplifiting information.

[3GFX]

Hmmm, I like Dunlops, and this tire seems very good for the price!

Why the low price? Tread wear rating is only 200!!! 60 less than the RSAs!!!

But overall they are a good tire. Z-rated, AA & A ratings.

Here are some independent reviews:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=18

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=56

PS anyone ever notice how the RSAs are the benchmark tire at Tirerack?

[Xenon]

I can't believe the RS-A's performed that well in that test in the second link.

I thought the RS-A's were terrible. My Winter tires seemed to perform better than the RS-A's in any weather lol not only snow.

[cereal83]

Good review. Is the road noise so bad it would interrupt a conversation?

I have no clue why people think RS-A's are so bad. They are better then any crappy tire, tire and I have been driving on them for a week with no complaints. I don't slip when it is wet, I don't peel out when it is wet, I don't slide when it is dry. They are smooth, no noise.

[Xenon]

Good review. Is the road noise so bad it would interrupt a conversation?

I have no clue why people think RS-A's are so bad. They are better then any crappy tire, tire and I have been driving on them for a week with no complaints. I don't slip when it is wet, I don't peel out when it is wet, I don't slide when it is dry. They are smooth, no noise.

No the road noise is not loud enough to interruupt conversation. it is quieter than the hum from a Cold Air Intake (I can hear my intake over my tires). It's just a little louder than the RSA's. Probably as loud as most snow tires.

I found the RSA's to give under cornering. I found they tend to slip a lot in wet weather, and are absolutely terrible in the snow. Dry weather performance was OK, but these dunlop's put the RS-A's to shame. I personally know 2 people from the car club who have cause in excess of $2000 damage to their car because of the poor performance of the RS-A's. One happened in snow, other happened in clear, dry weather. Both accidents occured because of the lack of grip the tires provided.

[Kevin@nextmod]

but these dunlop's put the RS-A's to shame.

How can you compare an UHP tire to an all season tire? Do you think the dunlops can perform better on snow then the RSA's? RSA's do suck i know but they are all season afterall. And obviously the dunlop is much better in dry weather cause of the compound and the research that they did to make it perform in dry weather.

[majic]

I personally know 2 people from the car club who have cause in excess of $2000 damage to their car because of the poor performance of the RS-A's. One happened in snow, other happened in clear, dry weather. Both accidents occured because of the lack of grip the tires provided.

LOL.. and not due to the higher-than-recommended-for-the -condition-at-hand speed of the vehicle or poor driver a concentration/abilities? :loco .. so we've had the race card, the victim card and now the tire card.. nice

[Xenon]

How can you compare an UHP tire to an all season tire? Do you think the dunlops can perform better on snow then the RSA's? RSA's do suck i know but they are all season after all. And obviously the dunlop is much better in dry weather cause of the compound and the research that they did to make it perform in dry weather.

First of all, it is a safe assumption that I didn't buy the Dunlops for an all season tire, and I have no intention of using them in snowy weather. The point of what I wrote is to emphasize the improvement of performance by switching to the Dunlops in summer conditions, since that is the season in which I plan to use these tires.

As for comparison, how can you ask me how I can compare the two? 3GFX posted a 2nd link in which a reputable tire reseller tested these tires specifically against the RS-A's. Technically, these are both "High Performance All Season" Tires.

[Xenon]

LOL.. and not due to the higher-than-recommended-for-the -condition-at-hand speed of the vehicle or poor driver a concentration/abilities? :loco .. so we've had the race card, the victim card and now the tire card.. nice

Actually, both occurrences happened will below 20 km/h. The first was while making a left turn on a slippery road at about 10-15 km/h, the car slid into the curb. The second was on a summer's day making a right turn where the car slid while making a right turn at a red light and slid into the ditch because the front tires lost grip in the middle of the turn.

[Broli]

Glad that you are happy with the Tires Lawerence!
Great Review, it is just too bad others will have a hell of a time finding them if they want to get a set!

lol

let us know if the road noise decreases in the future.

[///M]

I don't know why everyone rags on the RS-As so much. Sure, they're not the best tires, but you can't expect much more from stock tires on a ~$20k car, and they perform decently on dry pavement. Those of you who think that RS-As are as bad as you make of them must have never driven on Goodyear Integritys, Eagle LS, Hankook Optimas and the like.

[b]

Glad that you are happy with the Tires Lawerence!

+ 1


I don't know why everyone rags on the RS-As so much.

We all can't be wrong! I can say it is the worst oem tire i've driven on. However, I haven't driven on all oem tires.

[JPAV8S4U]

I don't know why everyone rags on the RS-As so much. Sure, they're not the best tires, but you can't expect much more from stock tires on a ~$20k car, and they perform decently on dry pavement. Those of you who think that RS-As are as bad as you make of them must have never driven on Goodyear Integritys, Eagle LS, Hankook Optimas and the like.

+1

People on this forum love to bash the RS-A's.... I just gave them 7 months of pretty hard driving... from VERY spirited driving in rain and dry... as well as a whole winter on them. They are great for a stock tire.... and I do mean GREAT! They are not a UHP and thus will not give you the performance of one. You have a High Performance All Season tire.... and that is exactly what they give you. To be honest, the comments about them from many members on here had me very nervous to let them see rain and almost paranoid to have them out in the snow. Well truth be told... we didnt have a terrible winter, but mine were at work in the worst days of it. They got me to work and back home safely! as long as I drove to the conditions, and modifyed my driving style. I didnt crawl and I wasnt being wreckless. Now I do not recommend them for winter, as winters are much safer and will offer much better performance in the winter. My winter spent on them was more of a personal test to see how they are. Next winter my stock 17's will have a set of X-Ices. In final, the RSA's are a great all season performance tire that will get you through the winter if they are in good condition...... and you know how to adjust your driving style. In the summer, they are awsome! (when not comparing to UHP's) Wet or Dry, doesnt matter.. the tires do a great job for the price range of our cars.

On the topic...

Glad you are happy with the Dunlops Lawrence! I have never personally driven on them and in response to Pearly's remarks.... I am not sure how long the tires have been out of production/stock (actually never knew they werent"... But as long as they have been stored fine and havent been sitting for over a year.... You are fine and the tires will be like new. Enjoy man! The tread looks very agressive! I like! Cant wait to check em out at a meet!

[3GFX]

I don't know why everyone rags on the RS-As so much. Sure, they're not the best tires, but you can't expect much more from stock tires on a ~$20k car, and they perform decently on dry pavement. Those of you who think that RS-As are as bad as you make of them must have never driven on Goodyear Integritys, Eagle LS, Hankook Optimas and the like.

There is only one all-season I like as much as the RS-A and actually it has a V-Rating also. Its the Michelin MXMV4. You can find it on Honda Accords through to the BMW E39. It doesn't grip nearly as much as the RSA but it rides nice and lets you progress to its limit easily. Very communicative for an all season, they squeel progressively to the end of their limit. I like.

I looked around and you can still find Dunlop SP Sport FM901 if you look hard enough, they are definitly recommended. Beware of the low treadware rating though.

[///M]

There is only one all-season I like as much as the RS-A and actually it has a V-Rating also. Its the Michelin MXMV4. You can find it on Honda Accords through to the BMW E39. It doesn't grip nearly as much as the RSA but it rides nice and lets you progress to its limit easily. Very communicative for an all season, they squeel progressively to the end of their limit. I like.

I looked around and you can still find Dunlop SP Sport FM901 if you look hard enough, they are definitly recommended. Beware of the low treadware rating though.

I have run my own informal tests with both tires the MXMV4 got me much further up the snowy hill I used for testing (though I still got stuck - my Pirelli Sottozeros got me all the way up without a problem), and I found them to be much better on cold, dry pavement. In summer though, they don't grip nearly as well as the RS-A.

[3GFX]

Autoexe, did you ever notice how predictable the MXMV4s are compared to other tires? They work their way up to the limit very well, and still have some grip while they're squeeling. One of the only tires I've driven on that commicates its limit that well through sound.

I've noticed that newer bimmers no longer utilize Michelin MXMV4s but now use Continental SportTouringContact. If anyone wants refrence. I find that a company like BMW must know what they're doing when it comes to tire choice.

[///M]

I don't like tires that communicate their loss of grip through sound - it attracts way too much attention during spirited driving! I haven't really driven the MXMV4s hard enough to hit their limits though. Cars used for testing were a 06 Volvo S40 (MXMV4) and a 06 Honda Civic (RS-A).

As a side not, BMW did equip their later E46 models with RS-As for a year or two. They've subsequently ditched conventional tires exclusively for run-flats, which IMO was a bad move. I'd much rather have a traditional spare tire than deal with the weight, noise, and expense of run flat tires.

[azn_outlaw]

I am with autoexe on this one...RS-A aint as bad tire as everyone thinks

okay so the wear sucks, but meh its expected at this size of tire...

more or less those who were unfortunette to lose control on these tires, odd it happens at low speeds but there is ways to counter act, through throttle / brake control ...the RS-A tires do give you some warning when thnigs get a bit out of control...

you want the worst tires in the automotive industry, Honda or Acura are the top of my list, try the OEM firestones, god those suck in any condition including dry or even better try the Michellin XGT V4, I had those on my EL and nearly lost my life twice, once in the rain and once in the snow, I remember a small incident were the tires lost there grip in the dry...

the OEM goodyear tires my 01 CRV came with, got so shitty on a -30 degree winter day, stopping down a hill was scary as shit cause I juss slid down almost into on comming traffic..and I was going less the 15 km/h...

wanna see hydroplan and any speeds try these shitty as tires, it will make the RSA look like GOLD!!!!!

IMO the comparrison with the dunlop towards the RS-A, is sorry to say not a very good one at all.

On a stock vechile or daily driver, you might as have gotten the Falken 512 or General excalim givin you the same performance but a longer lasting tire and much quieter..in all honestly will get more benefit from a daily drivin car.

all though at least I know that they still are noisy as hell....my hommie had these and trust me show better when on a car with a full suspension, basically my friend had worked them to the bone, through auto-x, track, etc..but the worse part was damn barley and I mean barely lasted two summer seasons...

last thing in your review:

"Sure there are better tires out there, but not for this price."

I got a suggestion for a tire, less noise, last longer, affordable, excellent handing in wet and dry condition, excellent in overvalue and great for a daily driver:

General Exclaims


much respect though for the review....I learned something new...

[Xenon]

Not that I don't appreciate everyone's opinion on the RS-A's, but the point of this thread was in fact to give a review of the Dunlop tires, not get input on the RS-A's.

Just so we are clear, I purchased these tires for NON-SNOW use. I have my own set of dedicated winter tires which I use during the snowy months. Hence, snow performance of the Dunlops are irrelevant to me. What you should have taken from my review is that, in my opinion, these tires are far superior to the performance of the RS-A's for my driving style and the intended use I plan to put them in.

Whether I can compare the RS-A's to the FM901's is irrelevant, because I just did. I had the RS-A's and now I have the Dunlops and I compared them, and I like the DUnlops better. Simple as that. No need to make a big deal on UHP vs ASP or any of that fuss. It's like comparing Winter Tires and All-Season tires. The majority of us have done this, yet they too are two different tires types with different usage intentions. I don't know why some people are making such a big deal out of it.