Despite considerablefame with racing fans and go-fast enthusiasts since its founding in 1888, theDunlop brand of tires in recent years has become something of a triviaquestion: Still sold, or just a name on a famous bridge at Le Mans?
The correctanswer is "Both,'' and now Dunlop's latest owner wants to return the brandto some of its former glory. That's why the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is goingto a lot of trouble to re-establish the Dunlop lineup after five years of ennui-basedpromotion with three new tire models.
Which explainsthe second key question: Why is theUniversity of Nevada Las Vegas
The correctanswer there is because that's the kind of thing that gets dealer and mediaattention at the huge aftermarket show in Las Vegas, causing both groups to putDunlop tires on display for an upscale crowd of buyers.
In a move thatDunlop likes to call ''bold,'' Goodyear is targeting these new tires at some ofthe industry's fastest growing markets -- high-performance luxury cars, SUVs,and sport-compacts. A fourth model will be launched in January.
Dunlop's newflagship tire is the ultra-performance SP Sport Maxx, which Andy Traicoff, the directorof Dunlop consumer tire marketing, said ''emphasizes ultimate traction on dryand wet pavement.''
SP Sport Maxxhas already gained attention in Europe from enthusiast magazines and automakersseeking original-equipment tires for their high-horsepower models, saidTraicoff, and he expects the same thing to happen inNorth America .
The success ofthe SP Sport Maxx is due in large part to the fact that it employs MRT (MultiRadius Tread) technology, Traicoff said, ''to place more rubber on the road forimproved traction, a requirement among driving enthusiasts.''
The DunlopDirezza DZ101 line of ''tuner'' tires is available in 15- to 19-inch
rim diameters and is ''well-positioned for use on highly modified sport compactcars,'' Traicoff said. For the uninitiated, this is the Fast and Furious groupof cars, and the tread of this tire is the one shaved onto that student's head.
''With retailgrowth of performance products used to modify sport compact
cars growing nine-fold in the past six years,'' Traicoff said, ''Dunlop standsready to
help tire dealers gain share and sales'' by servicing an ever-growing group ofconsumers.
Dunlop GrandtrekAT20 is meant to appeal to ''those who are tired of the truck ride of an SUV,''Traicoff said. ''It is engineered for responsive handling and a comfortableride, while delivering an aggressive appearance, he added.''
The luxury highwaytire is designed specifically for mid-size SUV models built on car platforms,which are sometimes called crossover vehicles and which have experienced dramaticgrowth in the past five years.
These tires willnot be inexpensive in any size, though of course tires are like cars in the waythe prices are negotiable. But an informed source suggests that they'll cost from $125 to $550 apiece, depending upon the brand and size.
For moreinformation on these new tires and where to buy them, consult www.dunlop.ca.
photo:Dunlop Tires
The correctanswer is "Both,'' and now Dunlop's latest owner wants to return the brandto some of its former glory. That's why the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is goingto a lot of trouble to re-establish the Dunlop lineup after five years of ennui-basedpromotion with three new tire models.
Which explainsthe second key question: Why is the
The correctanswer there is because that's the kind of thing that gets dealer and mediaattention at the huge aftermarket show in Las Vegas, causing both groups to putDunlop tires on display for an upscale crowd of buyers.
In a move thatDunlop likes to call ''bold,'' Goodyear is targeting these new tires at some ofthe industry's fastest growing markets -- high-performance luxury cars, SUVs,and sport-compacts. A fourth model will be launched in January.
Dunlop's newflagship tire is the ultra-performance SP Sport Maxx, which Andy Traicoff, the directorof Dunlop consumer tire marketing, said ''emphasizes ultimate traction on dryand wet pavement.''
SP Sport Maxxhas already gained attention in Europe from enthusiast magazines and automakersseeking original-equipment tires for their high-horsepower models, saidTraicoff, and he expects the same thing to happen in
The success ofthe SP Sport Maxx is due in large part to the fact that it employs MRT (MultiRadius Tread) technology, Traicoff said, ''to place more rubber on the road forimproved traction, a requirement among driving enthusiasts.''
The DunlopDirezza DZ101 line of ''tuner'' tires is available in 15- to 19-inch
rim diameters and is ''well-positioned for use on highly modified sport compactcars,'' Traicoff said. For the uninitiated, this is the Fast and Furious groupof cars, and the tread of this tire is the one shaved onto that student's head.
''With retailgrowth of performance products used to modify sport compact
cars growing nine-fold in the past six years,'' Traicoff said, ''Dunlop standsready to
help tire dealers gain share and sales'' by servicing an ever-growing group ofconsumers.
Dunlop GrandtrekAT20 is meant to appeal to ''those who are tired of the truck ride of an SUV,''Traicoff said. ''It is engineered for responsive handling and a comfortableride, while delivering an aggressive appearance, he added.''
The luxury highwaytire is designed specifically for mid-size SUV models built on car platforms,which are sometimes called crossover vehicles and which have experienced dramaticgrowth in the past five years.
These tires willnot be inexpensive in any size, though of course tires are like cars in the waythe prices are negotiable. But an informed source suggests that they'll cost from $125 to $550 apiece, depending upon the brand and size.
For moreinformation on these new tires and where to buy them, consult www.dunlop.ca.
photo:Dunlop Tires