Dunlop Tyres

Origin and Expansion

Dunlop is a Dublin, Ireland based tyre manufacturing brand that is being managed by different tyre companies across the world. Founded in 1890 in Dublin by Boyd Dunlop, the brand is operated by multinational tyre giant Goodyear in Europe, New Zealand and Australia, while in North America, it is operating under the Japanese company Sumitomo Rubber Industries. In India, the company is being operated with the name Dunlop India LTD, a subsidiary of Ruia Group.

Globally, the tyremaker develops products for motorcycles, scooters, passengers cars, SUVs, Vans and high-performance cars. In India, the brand started as a cycle manufacturer and seller in 1896 with a capital of INR 5 million. In 1926, it was incorporated as Dunlop Rubber Company, and two years later, renamed Dunlop India Ltd. The parent company set up its first plant in Asia in Sahaganj, Calcutta or present-day Kolkata, where it manufactured cycle, automobile and aeroplane tyres during the second world war.

After venturing into industrial products, including conveyor belts and foam cushioning and OTR tyre production by 1956, the brand established its second manufacturing unit at Ambattur, near Chennai. The company started producing Steel Chord Belt in 1987, and by 2005, the multinational conglomerate Ruia Group acquired Dunlop.

In terms of expansion, the brand in 1995, established a huge integrated hose manufacturing facility in Mysore, Karnataka. The company had set up a 50-ton capacity/day manufacturing unit near Guwahati at an investment of INR 450 crore to manufacture truck tyres and OTR. In 2010, Sumitomo, through its subsidiary Falken tyres, invested INR 550 crore to set up a new plant in Uttaranchal and upgraded the Mysore facility with another INR 350 crore investment.

In the field of technology and innovation, the company has developed Noise Shield Technology that reduces the interior sound level of tyres by 50 per cent. It has invented a Specific Bead Seat System that reinforces the link between the tyre and the rim to offer maximum control and a precise driving experience. Similarly, it has developed RunOnFlat tyres, Maximum Flange Shield, Hybrid Overlay Technology and Dual Silica Compound to boost the performance of tyres.

The brand also created success stories in the field of research and development. In 1964, the company’s tyre development manager, Tom French patented a tyre tread design that included a system of ‘microslots’ soaking up surface water like a sponge and expelling it later. The revolutionary innovation paved the way for SP 41 and SP 68 radial-ply car tyres, which garnered safety awards throughout the world.

In the 1970s, the DSST (Dunlop Self Supporting Tyre) was the world’s first ‘fail-safe’ tyre enabling the drivers to have total control on long-distance driving and high-speeds, even after punctures or blowouts. Another 3S-technology developed by Dunlop combines three features - Silent running, Sportiness, and Safety. The 3S technology optimizes the tread zones and ensures superior driving, stability and handling.

Dunlop has been active in motorsports for ages. The company has participated in every Isle of Man TT since its first race in 1907, helping more and more riders win races than any other tyre brand. All the teams that participated in the Moto2™ World Championship used series-specific Dunlop tyres. Similarly, Dunlop also supplied tyres in Moto3 Class of racing, which is considered one of the closest forms of motorsports in the world.

Likewise, in Endurance World Championship, the Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki have all chosen Dunlop for championship wins. In 2020, SERT won the title using Dunlop tyres. The brand has also supported several National Championships of Europe as well as MXGP and WMX championships.

The brand sponsored several racing and events in the past, including MSA British Touring Car Championship from 2010-2016, America’s Ultimate Long-Distance Rider Challenge 2017, N2 National Endurance Series and FIM ISDE (International Six Days Enduro) 2021 challenge.

Facilities

There are two main R&D centres of Dunlop in Europe and Asia managed by the global team. The one is located in Hanau, Germany and the other one is in Kobe, Japan. The European centre lies in the heart of the automotive industry, and the research team dedicatedly handles specific OEMs, including BMW, Audi, Porsche, Skoda, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Volvo, etc.

The other special team is assigned to look after the research and development work of winter tyres, tyres for Van/SUV/C-type and also on their specific tuning.

Achievements

• Won gold OttoCar award at AutoVision Awards for ‘One Second’ commercial, which also won the black award for best direction and best editing.
• Dunlop Aircraft Tyres got Queen’s Award in 2011.
• Bestowed with Supplier Quality Excellence Award by Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM.
• Got marketing design ‘Award’ in the Sport and Leisure category and ‘Highly Commended’ in the field of Advertising and Sponsorship.
• Goodyear Dunlop Tyres Hellas got the International Europe Award for Quality by Global Trade Leaders’ Club.

Motorcycle and Scooter Tyre

The Irish tyremaker has a strong presence in the motorcycle and scooter segment. The vast tyre range includes products made for racing, sport touring, crossover, adventure trail, off-roading and customized. All the tyres are built from quality materials ensuring top-notch performance in the respective areas of function.

The scooter tyre range includes ScootSmart, RoadSmart III, Trailmax, D115 and KR345, among others. On the other hand, the motorcycle segment has products like Sportsmart TT, Qualifier II, Roadsport 2, Arrowmax Streetsmart, Mutant, Trailmax Meridian, Trailsmart, Trailmax Mission, Geomax Mx12, and D952 Motocross, among others.

Passenger Car Tyres

The brand offers several high-performance products for the passenger car segment. These products are optimized for cold and mild weather, with the tread design focusing on solid grip and traction. Some of the notable products available at international markets, include SPORT BLURESPONSE, STREETRESPONSE 2, SP SPORT FASTRESPONSE, SP SPORTMAXX TT, SP SPORT 300, ECONODRIVE, WINTER SPORT 5, SP WINTERRESPONSE and WINTER SPORT 5 SUV, among others.

Truck Tyres

Dunlop has made inroads in various commercial segments and tied up with prestigious OEM’s. The specially designed tyres for trucks and buses are optimized for mileage and good retreadability. Some of the prominent products in India, include Mahaan, X-100 XL, XM-MAJOR, CENTURION RIB, G-227 and SPRINTER LUG, among others.

Manufacturing facilities in India and abroad

In India, the tyremaker has plants located in Kolkata, Chennai and Mysore. The Ralco tyres also plan to roll out the Dunlop branded tyres from its state-of-the-art manufacturing units in Kot Panech and Doraha, Ludhiana. These plants can jointly produce 5 million tyres annually.

As Dunlop tyre company is managed by Goodyear, the latter manufactures its products in numerous plants located across the globe. Similarly, Sumitomo Rubber which is also a joint holder in Dunlop manufactures Dunlop tyres in various locations around the world.

Dunlop Sales Network

Dunlop tyres are sold through Goodyear and Sumitomo Rubber dealerships across the country. Where Goodyear has a vast network of around 2,000 dealers pan India, the Sumitomo owned Falken tyres has 889 dealers across 3567 cities in India.

Recently, Ralson India, the parent company of Ralco tyres acquired the marketing rights of Dunlop branded tyres. Ralco has 44 sales offices and over 5000 dealerships and after-sales service across the country.