With Sea Otter taking place at the Laguna Seca Raceway, it didnt seem too odd to see huge Dunlop Tires banners around the expo area. It came as a bit of a surprise, however, to learn that Dunlop had a booth in the expo and was launching its new Geomax range of mountain bike tires. While these are the first bike tires that weve ever seen from the brand, I quickly learned that John Dunlop created the first practical pneumatic tire for his sons tricycle in the late 1800s, which led to him founding the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company shortly after.So, technically, Dunlop is returning to the cycling market with its new Geomax MB (mountain bike) tire range. In doing so, the brand aims to apply its decades of experience developing tires for the highest levels of motocross and supercross racing to the mountain bike market. Thus, the designs of the new Geomax MB tires borrow heavily from the brands MX tire design principles and rubber compounds.Screenshot of a cool image from the Dunlop website. The brand is hoping to transfer its motocross expertise to the MTB market.At present, Dunlop has its Geomax MB tires split into two lines, both with front- and rear-specific tread designs, and offered in Downhill or Enduro casings. The Geomax MB34 line is built for maximum traction and control for aggressive riders and terrain, while the Geomax MB53 is more focused on rolling speed and efficiency. Dunlops tire naming may be a touch confusing, but the tires look solid. Dunlop Geomax MB34Dunlops descriptions of the MB34 tires.According to Dunlop, the Geomax MB34 dominates soft, technical terrain with unmatched traction, control, and confidence. These tires were designed specifically for aggressive riding and maximum traction in loose conditions and technical terrain. Thats visually obvious with the taller tread lugs, sharper edges, and generally aggressive appearance. These tires look grippy. As with Dunlops motocross tires (and lots of other mountain bike tires), the front and rear have significantly different tread patterns designed to handle their differing demands.Both the front and rear MB34 tires will be available in the more robust Downhill casing with a dual-ply 60 tpi construction and a DH Advanced Apex design to provide sidewall support, lateral stiffness, and flat protection. The MB34 tires are also available in the more supple Enduro casing with a single-ply 60 tpi construction and an EN Advanced Apex design that claims to reduce rotational weight while remaining supportive and durable.Geomax MB34FThe MB34F is Dunlops aggressive front tire.The F stands for front, and the MB34F has been specifically designed for use as a front tire. According to Dunlop, the MB34F is designed to deliver consistent, ultra-predictable handling with precise turn-in and strong mid-corner stability. Drawing from Geomax MX front tire design principles, the goal was confidence through accuracy and feel at the limit. The MB34F comes in 29 only with 2.4 and 2.6 width options.The center tread consists of an alternating pattern of tall soft-touch hex blocks and larger hexagonal split blocks. According to Dunlop, the sipe, or recess, in the soft-touch hex blocks allows them to better absorb impact and damp the ride feel. At the same time, the ramped center channel in the split blocks allows them to effectively pierce through the dirts surface yet keeps the knobs together to reduce knob flex and enhance braking stability.The intermediate zone is home to an alternating pattern of transition knobs. Half of these feature Dunlops PCBT (Progressive Cornering Block Technology), which refers to the small raised sections that provide additional biting edges without sacrificing stability. A stout row of rectangular shoulder knobs ties it all together. According to Dunlop, theyve given the MB34F a slightly rounder side-to-side profile, which they claim provides a lighter steering feel and a larger contact patch at lean.Geomax MB34RThe MB34Rs center tread looks like it will probably provide heaps of braking bite in loose conditions. The PCBT design is clearly visible on the transition and shoulder knobs.Not surprisingly, the R stands for rear, and the MB34R is designed specifically for use as a rear tire. Dunlop says this tire applies similar traction-first thinking from Dunlops motocross program, built to generate powerful forward drive and lateral bite while maximizing braking control and rear-end stability. Every knob shape, edge, and spacing decision was made to optimize ground penetration and terrain conformity.Looking at the MB34Rs tread, its quite obvious that braking traction was a big priority. The wide, rectangular paddles in the center tread are quite tall with broad faces to dig into loose soils, whether youre on the brakes or on the gas. The intermediate zone features transition knobs with Dunlops PCBT to provide lateral grip and control when cornering. Likewise, the large shoulder knobs also feature the PCBT tech with extra biting edges.Compared to the MB34F, the MB34Rs profile isnt quite as round. The slightly flatter profile in the middle is claimed to result in a broad accelerating and decelerating surface area. When cornering, this emphasizes the transition and shoulder knobs, which are numerous. The MB34R comes in both 27.5 and 29 diameters and in 2.4 and 2.6 widths.The MB34F (left) and MB34R (right)Geomax MB34 Sizes, Weights, and PricingMB34 Downhill Casing $110Geomax MB34F (Front) Downhill Casing/Ultra-soft Compound29 x 2.4: Claimed weight: Not specified29 x 2.6: Claimed weight: 1425gGeomax MB34R (Rear) Downhill Casing/Ultra-soft Compound27.5 x 2.4 Claimed weight: 1354g27.5 x 2.6 Claimed weight: 1442g29 x 2.4 Claimed weight: 1475g29 x 2.6 Claimed weight: Not specifiedMB34 Enduro Casing: $100Geomax MB34F (Front) Enduro Casing/Ultra-soft Compound29 x 2.4: Claimed weight: Not specified29 x 2.6: Claimed weight: 1319gGeomax MB34R (Rear) Enduro Casing/Soft Compound27.5 x 2.4 Claimed weight: 1253g27.5 x 2.6 Claimed weight: 1272g29 x 2.4 Claimed weight: 1347g29 x 2.6 Claimed weight: Not specifiedDunlop Geomax MB53While the MB34 tires were designed for maximum control, Dunlop says the MB53 tires were engineered with rolling speed as the primary objective. The MB53 platform was built to feel fast, fluid, and controlled at high pace. Compared to the MB34, these tires have different tread patterns, slightly shorter knobs, and ramped leading edges. Dunlop goes on to say that they were intentionally designed to deliver a slightly looser, more progressive drift character while maintaining forward momentum.The MB53 tires feature front- and rear-specific tread designs. They come in both the burlier dual-ply Downhill casing and the more supple and slightly lighter single-ply Enduro casing. Geomax MB53FThe MB53F is a front tire thats more focused on rolling speed. All of the knobs feature Dunlops signature PCBT tech.According to Dunlop, the MB53F features strategically distributed open spacing to support weight on hardpack while still allowing enough edge engagement to bite into intermediate terrain. The pattern promotes smooth steering input and predictable feedback at higher speeds. The knobs are medium height with generously ramped leading edges on the alternating 1-2-2 wide-2-1 center tread pattern. The pattern leaves a fair bit of space between knobs, yet they look evenly dispersed in the intermediate zone and along the shoulder. All of the knobs on the MB53F feature Dunlops PCBT tech for extra biting edges. They also state that the center knobs have Foundation Bracing, meaning they are tied at the base to reduce knob flex and squirm under hard braking. As with the MB34F, Dunlop has given the MB53F a rounder profile, which they claim provides a light steering feel and larger contact patch at lean. The MB53F comes in 29 only, and in 2.4 and 2.6 widths.Geomax MB53RThe MB53R had broad but offset center tread knobs and no shortage of transition along with a uniform layout of transition and shoulder knobs with PCBT.At the rear of the bike, Dunlop says the new MB53R utilizes offset knob distribution to maintain roll efficiency at every lean angle. Transition knobs are tuned for smooth engagement, delivering controlled slides and progressive traction as the rider loads the rear tire under braking or acceleration. This tire has a fairly substantial row of wide, but slightly offset, rectangular knobs down the middle. These have ramped leading edges and squared-off braking edges.The intermediate zone is packed with transition knobs with Dunlops PCBT tech for extra biting edges, as is the row of substantial shoulder knobs. Similar to the MB34R, the tire profile has been flattened slightly in the middle to increase surface area and enhance braking and acceleration performance. The MB53R comes in both 27.5 and 29 diameters, and in 2.4 and 2.6 widths. With an emphasis on rolling speed, the MB53 tires come in Soft and Soft-Medium compounds no Ultra-soft. The MB53F (left) and MB53R (right)Geomax MB53 Sizes, Weights, and PricingMB53 Downhill Casing $110Geomax MB53F (Front) Downhill Casing/Soft Compound29 x 2.4: Claimed weight: Not specified29 x 2.6: Claimed weight: 1469gGeomax MB53R (Rear) Downhill Casing/Soft-Medium Compound27.5 x 2.4 Claimed weight: 1363g27.5 x 2.6 Claimed weight: 1381g29 x 2.4 Claimed weight: 1443g29 x 2.6 Claimed weight: Not specifiedMB53 Enduro Casing: $100Geomax MB53F (Front) Enduro Casing/Soft Compound29 x 2.4: Claimed weight: Not specified29 x 2.6: Claimed weight: 1293gGeomax MB53R (Rear) Enduro Casing/Soft-Medium Compound27.5 x 2.4 Claimed weight: 1239g27.5 x 2.6 Claimed weight: 1309g29 x 2.4 Claimed weight: 1343g29 x 2.6 Claimed weight: Not specifiedThe new Geomax MB53F (left) and MB53R (right) and Dunlops other MTB tires will be available soon.Dunlop Geomax MB Tires: AvailabilityThe folks at Dunlop told us that the tires are currently in production and expected to be available in June. So, if youre interested in trying out some new rubber, youll have to wait a couple more months. Were definitely intrigued, and were hoping to get our hands on some for testing as soon as theyre available. In the meantime, you can check them out on Dunlops new bike website.bikedunlop.comThe post Dunlop Enters the MTB Tire Market With Geomax Tire Range Launched at Sea Otter appeared first on Bikerumor.