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Dunlop continues to produce the MX3S front tire and I am happy about it. Now that I am on the east coast and riding softer dirt, I wanted to revisit these two front tires back to back on several tracks to see how they compared and which one I preferred (somewhere other than Glen Helen.)
I have not been shy in saying that the Dunlop MX3S is my favorite front tire because of lean angle traction and carcass comfort. No, the MX3S is not going to give you that durable/long lasting front tire that you may be looking for as this is a pure performance driven product. The Dunlop MX3S has given me the most front tire contact feeling when compared to other front tires that I have tried the last couple years.
However, I have been riding (and seeing other top SX/MX athletes) on the AT82 front and have come away impressed as well back at home in Southern California. I have been seeing/hearing your comments and questions about the AT82 back east so I thought I would give you all a little comparison of each on some east coast tracks in hopes it may guide you on which one is right for you.
The MX3S is engineered for soft to intermediate terrain, providing excellent traction and control. I appreciate its predictable handling and solid grip/feel on lean angle cornering. However, at times I have noted that it may not perform as well on some of that east coast chocolate cake tracks that get baked too long, where its performance can diminish. During the afternoon hours of some local central Georgia tracks the Dunlop MX3S does feel a little “washy” when pushing the tire on its edges in corners. This is not surprising though because (in my opinion) the MX3S is truly a soft terrain tire. Even though it is a soft terrain tire, I run the crap out of the MX3S back in hard pack Southern California because of how good it is (to me) on lean angle compared to other brands (yes, even the MX34 in my opinion could use more lean angle feel).
The AT82 is a slightly more versatile tire designed for a broader range of terrain, including soft, intermediate, and the occasional hard-packed surfaces I have encountered here in the southeast. It features a taller profile and a softer carcass, enhanced bump absorption and provides a compliant ride. I have felt superb front-end grip as well as stability, particularly in cornering. When inside a rut with chop or small rocks, the AT82 felt like it had a little more cornering stability/control than the MX3S. However, I have felt that the softer carcass can lead to a slightly bouncy feel in hard pack conditions if I don’t run the pressure up a little (compared to a MX3S). I have noticed that tire wear back here in the southeast particularly has had much better wear life than back in Southern California. Normally I can get around 8-10 engine hours on either of these tires but back here in the southeast dirt of Georgia that time has went up exponentially to 12-13 engine hours.
Dunlop MX3S/AT82 Overview:
The MX3S carcass is stiffer than the AT82 (still softer than the MX34 though).
AT82 is 2mm narrower and 3mm taller than the MX3S.
MX3S and AT82 have same tread pattern but the AT82 has PCBT blocks on side knobs
Both can be run at 13.5 (cold) but if you’re north of 200 pounds (and on a 450), I would run the AT82 at 14 PSI (cold).
Comparison: The MX3S excels in soft terrain more (think early morning tilled clay motos or pure sand tracks) than the AT82, as it offers more contact feel and seems like it cuts through sand better than the AT82 in these conditions. In contrast, the AT82 is more versatile, performing well on lean angle across a wider range of terrain over the MX3S, including hard-packed surfaces (and jump faces when scrubbing). The AT82 has more control when leaning when track goes from hard pack to loose and vice versa.
Handling and Comfort: The MX3S provides predictable handling (straight line on/off throttle) with predictable lean angle cornering grip. 13.5 PSI (cold) is required with the MX3S to ensure the correct amount of lean angle flex. If you’re in pure sand then going to 13 PSI is fine (if you’re below 200 pounds and on a 450). The AT82 offers slightly more bump absorption with a little more compliant ride on hard pack late afternoon bumps, contributing to improved comfort in front end feel (in intermediate terrain with sharp bumps). As long as you keep air pressure around 13.5-14PSI on the AT82 it will reward you with a wide contact patch feel when if you’re tracks dirt changes from morning to afternoon.
Durability: The MX3S knobs may wear slightly faster, potentially requiring more frequent replacements. Just like the MX3S, the AT82, may also experience increased wear over time in intermediate to hard terrain so to me durability of each tire is very similar feeling, but much better back east than on west coast dirt. The carcass feeling of the MX3S does last a little longer than the AT82 so rolling of tire doesn’t feel as apparent as the tire wears down. If you experience knobs chunking then you have gone way passed the point of where the carcass is predictable. The carcass of these tires most likely will break down before the knobbies will so just note this. I can usually get 7-10 engine hours of Southern California time on both of these tires (depending on how conditions are), but back here on the east coast the tires have been great leading up to 13 hours without having an inconsistent lean angle carcass roll.
In summary, the choice between the Dunlop MX3S and AT82 front tires depends on your specific riding conditions and preferences. If you primarily ride in soft/sandy terrain and prioritize maximum traction, the MX3S may be the preferable option. If you seek a slightly more versatile tire that performs well across soft/intermediate/hard terrain with a small amount of enhanced comfort, the AT82 could be the better choice. What I took away from this comparison is that I prefer the AT82 at the few Georgia tracks I have been too as well as Club MX. The AT82 gives me predictable lean angle feel and comfort without making my front end of my bike harsher feeling. Even though the AT82 is marketed for “off-road” I think it’s a great choice for the moto rider as well. If the professional MX/SX paddock is any indication, the AT82 front tires is also an option for riders on factory teams too.
Side Note: Maybe you won’t feel this but maybe you will. I noticed better control entering deep soft ruts with the AT82 over the MX3S as it felt like my front end didn’t dive as much with the AT82 when entering those deeper/rutty sections of the track. This is something I didn’t notice back in Southern California. I felt like I had more control inside soft ruts as my front end didn’t feel like it was as low. Ride attitude of the bike was better for me off throttle in deep ruts.
Other Tire Tests: Yes, we will be trying other brands of tires and comparing them back east as well so in case you were going to email us on when we will try the new Pirelli MX32 mid soft tire, don’t worry we will be trying that as well.
