Much of my riding is done in the Southern California high deserts and there is no shortage of sand. When it came time for new rubber on my Honda CRF450R, it was time to test the Dunlop Geomax MX14. The MX14 is a scoop-style tire, which has gained some extra attention of late due to its successful use by Eli Tomac in the MX and SMX series.
The Dunlop Geomax MX14 is a rear-only tire, so I paired it with the Dunlop Geomax MX3S. The MX3S is a soft to intermediate off-road, making it an obvious choice.
Dunlop boosted the height of the blocks by 18 percent over its previous scoop-style tire, going all in for traction. Dunlop also claims the MX14’s V-BT tread design has improved angles for better cornering and predictable sliding—a must for a rider such as Tomac. Finally, the MX14’s new sidewall is designed to cushion the rider better. Used by the Japanese and Austrian brands as standard equipment, the MX3S is a well-established directional tire, as is the MX14.
The rear MX14 is available for wheel sizes ranging from 10-inch to 19-inch, while the front MX3S comes in just one size. I mounted the 110/100 x 18 MX14 and 80/100 x 21 MX3S and headed for the Mojave Desert.
My riding buddies were the first to notice the rooster tail the MX14 throws from the rear of the big thumper. I tried to be considerate of who was behind me on the trail, but the MX14 was going to do what it was designed to do—eat up the terrain and spit it out.
On trails that are a mix of hard-pack single-track with sand washes, both tires felt planted and made for a fun ride. In rocks and deep sand, which are not the MX14’s strong point, it survived and handled surprisingly well. The sand is, of course, where the scoop-style MX14 shines. The confidence it gives to twist the throttle and hook up. Up front, the Dunlop Geomax MX3S took me in the direction I wanted to go.
The real test for the tires came when I put them on my new Husqvarna TX 300 two-stroke off-road racer. This was also an excellent opportunity to compare with the stock Dunlop Geomax AT81 rear and MX33 front combo.
The AT81 and MX33 tires feel great on the bike. I had no complaints while getting to know the new ride, and they took me almost everywhere I wanted to go. However, when it came to deep sand and hills, I hit the traction limit of the AT81 back tire. There were several huge hills that I had a difficult time climbing. That was the perfect baseline to see how the MX14 compares.
Mounting the Dunlop Geomax MX14 on my Husqvarna TX 300 changed the entire attitude of the bike—the scoops on the MX14 just look mean. Even after four rides on a 450 four-stroke, the tires looked excellent.
On the first hillclimb, I could instantly tell the difference compared to the stock tires. The front MX3S wanted to lift, and I had to actively work to keep the Husky from looping out due to the traction the MX14 was delivering. Needless to say, I made the hillclimb with no issues—the scoop keeps scooping. Subsequent attempts let me explore a higher gear and climb the hills faster than ever.
Coming down the hills is the time to test the MX3S. It kept me in control in the soft sand, and the MX14 performed great as I was hard on the brakes. Descending a steep hill climb involves riding and sliding, and the MX14’s scoops offered security.
For the desert riding I do, the Dunlop Geomax MX14 and MX3S tire combination is superb. Performance has been outstanding, and they aren’t wearing out, even multiple rides on a 450 four-stroke and 300 two-stroke—that’s versatility.
Location photography by Don Williams
