Quick update on the Dunlop Sportmax Q3's I switched over to from the Dunlop D222 stock tires. If you drive the twisties a lot you simply can't affort not to switch over to these or equivalent tires. The Q3's are simply just awesome. The way they carve into the corners, the lean angles of the bike (the bike just wants to fall into the lean on these tires), and the lines that these tires help you keep when aggressivley pushing through is quite amazing. You really have to try them out to really appreciate them. They inspire hella confidence. If you're an experienced rider you will get so much out of these tires. Even semi-eperienced riders will benefit a lot from them. But be carefull, these tires can inspire a little too much confidence at times. No matter how good your machine is it's still ultimately being controlled by YOU.
I liked the D222's and think they are a great tire, but for aggressive carving and riding through the mountains and sweeping roads, they don't really match up at all to the Q3's. You're talking about two totally different tires for very different purposes. If you commute a lot or drive long distances as a regular rider then I wouldn't suggest these tires as you would really be wasting money on them. They are not designed for long mileage usage and you can certainly find a better tire out there suited for those needs. However, if you mainly ride hard through the cornering roads of the mountains then do yourself a favour and go buy a pair of these when you need to change out your tires. I hardly think you'll have any complaints.
R