Factory Spec vs MX34 Tire | Dunlop Tire Comparison 4

For the first time since 2009, when Dunlop offered the D756RR (Race Replica), the public once again has access to a true Factory Spec tire. Initially released for 2025, this tire was only available through KTM dealerships and select retailers after KTM purchased the entire first production run of 13,500 units. For 2026, however, the Factory Spec tire is now available through most of Dunlop’s distribution channels and retailers.

With that broader availability, we’re revisiting a test we conducted in the middle of last year. We took the tires to three very different tracks—Cahuilla Creek, Glen Helen, and Perris Raceway—and kept the testing simple by relying on a stopwatch. Using a 2025 Honda CRF450R with spare wheels pre-mounted, we ran three-lap timed sessions at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at each track, comparing the Factory Spec tire directly against the standard MX34. Below are test rider Steven Tokarski’s impressions, along with the lap-time differences from each session.

To watch and hear our thoughts, click this video. To read, just keep scrolling.

Cahuilla Creek

Our first test day took place at Cahuilla Creek MX, a track that can be dry, slick, and fairly shallow when there hasn’t been much rain. With hard-packed soil and flat inside lines, it’s an excellent place to evaluate traction, especially when conditions are less forgiving. We started the day on the MX34 before switching to the Factory Spec tire, running three sprint laps on each and repeating the process later in the afternoon. The back-to-back comparisons were eye-opening. In these conditions, the Factory Spec tire was a noticeable improvement over the MX34. I had significantly more traction both front and rear in flat corners, and the bike felt much more planted overall.

Exiting corners on the MX34, the rear tire would break loose easily when getting on the gas. With the Factory Spec tire, I could be much more aggressive without losing traction, driving forward instead of spinning. This reduced the amount of rider input needed to keep the bike on line and instantly boosted confidence. The stopwatch backed it up. I was consistently nearly two seconds per lap faster on the Factory Spec tire. I could hold and choose lines more easily, cut down in corners with confidence, and maintain traction no matter what I asked of the bike. On a dry, flat, and slick track, the Factory Spec tire made riding far more enjoyable simply because traction was no longer a concern. Overall, I was extremely impressed with its performance at Cahuilla Creek.

Glen Helen Raceway

Our second test day took place at Glen Helen Raceway, where the dirt is deeper, speeds are higher, and corner ruts are more pronounced compared to Cahuilla. Because of the added moisture and looser soil, overall traction was higher, which reduced the gap between the two tires. Here, the Factory Spec tire didn’t feel like as dramatic of a gain, though I still noticed better lean-angle stability and consistency. Morning lap times reflected that, with only a slight advantage on the Spec tire, but improved consistency overall. On the MX34, pushing hard into corners or transitioning onto harder-based sections would occasionally cause a slight loss of traction, while the Factory Spec tire stayed planted and predictable.

In the afternoon session, conditions became very loose, and the single fastest lap actually came on the MX34 by a very small margin. Even so, I felt slightly more comfortable on the Factory Spec tire thanks to the consistent traction feel, despite the lap times being nearly identical. With minimal separation at Glen Helen, it became clear that one more test at a different style of track was needed to finalize which tire truly had the edge.

Perris Raceway

Perris Raceway was the final stop and a great third test location thanks to its deep ruts and tacky dirt. On Wednesdays, the track is ripped deep for pro riders, creating some of the deepest ruts in Southern California. In the morning session, I could feel a slight improvement with the Factory Spec tire, but the lap times didn’t show a large difference. With so much traction and very few hard-packed sections, the gains in forward drive weren’t nearly as noticeable as they were at Cahuilla. I still had a faster lap time versus the MX34, but by a slim margin, and my feeling wasn’t as dramatic. 

As the track dried out in the afternoon and more hard-packed sections developed, the Factory Spec tire began to shine again. I had better drive exiting corners and could hold lines in flatter turns with less effort. The Spec tire simply feels more connected to the ground in low-traction areas, which built confidence and made it easier to be aggressive on the throttle in the drier sections while still maintaining traction, which helped improve both my lap times and confidence.

Overall, the Factory Spec tire proved to be an improvement over the standard MX34, particularly in low-traction conditions and flat corners where contact feel and forward drive matter most. Those gains translated into improved confidence and, in many cases, faster lap times. We haven’t completed a full durability test yet, but with seven hours on the tires so far, they’re still showing usable life. I was impressed not only by the traction gains, but also by the improved bump comfort, which combined makes this an easy yes for me when choosing a tire. Your tires are the only point of contact between the bike and the ground, so investing in a better-performing option can have a huge impact. Any chance I get to run these Factory Spec tires on a bike I’m riding or racing, I’ll take it, because that added traction and confidence makes pushing your limits that much easier.