Dunlop Offers All Types of Motorists The Performance and Durability

Dunlop is one of the world's leading manufacturers of high and ultra high performance tyres with an impressive track record of motorsport success. Dunlop's extensive 120 year experience has led to innovative technologies for tyres designed for motorsport, everyday motoring, commercial and agricultural applications. Always looking to maximise driving pleasure, Dunlop offers all types of motorists the performance and durability of the latest tyre technologies.

Many of the world's most prestigious automotive manufacturers also fit Dunlop tyres as original equipment, including Alfa Romeo, Audi, AMG, Aston Martin, BMW, Ford, GM, Honda, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Rover, Seat, Skoda, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Aprilia, Benelli, Buell, Derbi, Ducati, Harley Davidson, HRD, Husaberg, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, MV Agusta, Piaggio, Suzuki, Vertemati and Yamaha.

Dunlop History

It was back in 1888 that John Boyd Dunlop, a Scottish vet living in Belfast, replaced the solid tyres on his son's tricycle with thin rubber strips, glued together and inflated with air. It was the first step along the road of a brand that was to provide some of the world's best known and widely known products.

Little did J.B. Dunlop realise at the time that in fashioning those makeshift tyres, he would revolutionize transport across the planet. How many of us still realise today, for instance, that we owe much of our driving pleasure and safety on the road to a little child on his trike?

Today, the pneumatic tyre is more than 120 years old. Dunlop celebrates its enduring success and the unique role that the brand has played in pioneering and enhancing the performance of tyres through the years.

The history of Dunlop is inextricably linked with the innovations introduced by the company. This history goes hand in hand with Dunlop's commitment to motor-racing competition in all its forms, because the transfer of racing technology to everyday driving on the road is a genuine tradition that goes right back to the earliest days of the Dunlop tyre company. And over the course of more than 120 years, Dunlop has achieved exceptional results on the race track, including 34 victories in the famous Le Mans 24-Hour car endurance race.

Dunlop continues to be involved right across the world in a whole range of sports on two and four wheels. For more than 120 years, the innovations pioneered by Dunlop and the company's success in motorsport have enabled the brand to build up an unparalleled reputation among car and motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere.

Today the Dunlop brand still stands for leadership in tyre development for the driving enthusiast, taking everything learnt on the race tracks and incorporating it into tyres for the most discerning drivers.

DUNLOP HISTORIC MILESTONES - OVER 120 YEARS OF CHANGING THE WORLD

• 1888 Dunlop invents the first pneumatic tyre.
• 1889 Dunlop tyres made their racing debut with a little-known bicycle rider called Willie Hume. He went on to win four races his first year.
• 1902 Dunlop's first motor race success, winning the Paris-Vienna.
• 1922 First Dunlop tyre with steel rods and canvas casing was introduced.
• 1923 Dunlop's first Grand Prix victory with Henry Segrave's Sunbeam.
• 1924 Dunlop's first victory in the 24 hours of Le Mans with the John Duff/Frank Clement driving combination and Bentley.
• 1927 Malcolm Campbell raises the World Land Speed Record to 281.44 kph on Dunlop's.
• 1927 Henry Segrave raises the World Land Speed Record to 327.98 kph on Dunlop's.
• 1930 Fourth consecutive victory in the 24 hours of Le Mans for Bentley and Dunlop.
• 1931 Malcolm Campbell raises the World Land Speed Record to over 396km/h in Bluebird 1 on Dunlop's.
• 1932 Alfa Romeo and Dunlop dominate the Grand Prix season. First victory in Monaco.
• 1935 Malcolm Campbell raises the World Land Speed Record to 484,818 kph on Dunlop's.
• 1947 Dunlop's tenth victory in the 24 hours of Le Mans.
• 1947 John Cobb raises the World Land Speed record to 630.7kmh in the Railton Special on Dunlop's. This record will stand until 1964.
• 1948 Dunlop introduces a tubeless tyre with a liquid rubber self-sealing layer on the inner surface casing.
• 1949 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Les Graham (AJS).
• 1951 Jaguar and Dunlop begin their joint domination in the 24 hours of Le Mans. Victories in 1951, 1953, 1955, 1956 and 1957.
• 1952 Dunlop invents the modern disc brake. Subsequently, all C and D type Jaguars are equipped with this major innovation, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1953, 1955, 1956 and 1957.
• 1953 Dunlop provides the aviation industry with the first anti-block braking device, called "Maxaret". This system was fitted for the first time on a car in 1965 (Jensen FF 1965).
• 1956 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with John Surtees (MV Augusta).
• 1958 Beginnings of Dunlop's period of domination in Formula 1. Wins in Monaco, Nürburgring, Monza and Sweden (Stirling Moss, Maserati).
• 1959 Dunlop wins Formula 1 World Championship title with Jack Brabham (Cooper).
• 1960 Dunlop wins Formula 1 World Championship title with Jack Brabham (Cooper).
• 1962 Dunlop conducts new laboratory and track experiments, discovering the phenomenon of "aquaplaning".
• 1964 Ferrari wins at 24 hours of Le Mans for the fourth consecutive year.
• 1964 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Mike Hailwood (MV Augusta).
• 1965 Jim Clark (Lotus) takes his second Formula 1 World Championship title, giving Dunlop their seventh consecutive Formula 1 crown.
• 1965 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Mike Hailwood (MV Augusta).
• 1966 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Giacomo Agostini (MV Augusta).
• 1967 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Giacomo Agostini (MV Augusta).
• 1968 Dunlop takes victory in the 16,000 km London-Sydney Marathon crosses Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India en route to Australia; all in 12 days. 70% of the 100 teams entered are on Dunlop.
• 1968 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Giacomo Agostini (MV Augusta).
• 1969 Jackie Steward (Matra) wins Dunlop's eight Formula 1 World Championship. Dunlop decides in 1970 to withdraw from Formula 1 to focus on rallies and racing in the Sports and Touring categories, where the major car manufacturers were concentrating their motorsport activities.
• 1969 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Giacomo Agostini (MV Augusta).
• 1970 Porsche celebrates 3 consecutive wins in the Monte Carlo Rally. Datsun wins its first East African Safari.
• 1970 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Giacomo Agostini (MV Augusta).
• 1971 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Giacomo Agostini (MV Augusta).
• 1972 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Giacomo Agostini (MV Augusta).
• 1972 Dunlop develops the first series 60 steel carcass tyre.
• 1973 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Phil Read (MV Augusta).
• 1973 Dunlop introduces DENOVO the first "run-flat" wheel/tyre system, making it possible to drive 150 km at 80 km/h with a flat tyre.
• 1974 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Phil Read (MV Augusta).
• 1975 Dunlop wins 500cc World Championship with Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha).
• 1977 Beginning of Dunlop and Porsche's domination in the 24 hours of Le Mans. Victories in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.
• 1979 Ford and Dunlop win the World Rally Championship, marking the culmination of nine years of a partnership during which they won the RAC rally for 7 years in a row.
• 1979 Dunlop introduces the DENLOC bead locking system as an integral part of the DENOVO 2 system.
• 1984 Victory in the Paris-Dakar rally with Porsche 911, a feat repeated in 1986 with the Porsche 959.
• 1984 Dunlop wins 500cc World championship with Eddie Lawson (Yamaha).
• 1984 Dunlop presents the first ultralight construction belt tyre, reducing the vehicle weight by about 12 kg.
• 1984 Development of the Instant Mobility System (IMS) as a substitute for the spare wheel - in case of a puncture a latex compound is injected into the tyre sealing it.
• 1987 Jaguar XJR8 brings Dunlop its sixth consecutive Wolrd Sportscar Championship.
• 1988 Dunlop celebrates its centenary with a 1-2 result at the 24 hours of Le Mans.
• 1990 Audi and Dunlop start a long partnership, winning the DTM (Deutsche Touring Meisterschaft) in their first season. Repeat victory in 1991.
• 1995 Domination of Dunlop and Audi in the FIA 2-litre Super Touring Championship. This association enables both companies to win the FIA's Touring Car World Cup, as well as the championships in Australia, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
• 1998 Dunlop develops the DSST system, enabling the vehicle to drive on flat tyres.
• 1999 Dunlop introduces "Warnair", the first tyre pressure loss detection system with sensors incorporated into the tyre.
• 2000 The DTM is relaunched with the support of Audi, Opel and Mercedes. Dunlop is the sole tyre supplier for 2000-2003, subsequently extended to 2009.
• 2001 Bentley returns to Le Mans after an absence of 71 years. The Dunlop shod EXP Speed 8 finishing third overall.
• 2002 Dunlop becomes the sole supplier for the Australian V8 Supercars Championship for 2002-2004, subsequently extended to 2012.
• 2002 Dunlop introduces "3S" technology, an innovative system based on an asymmetric tread design in three zones that combines silent running, sportiness and safety.
• 2003 Dunlop is appointed the sole supplier for the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) for 2003-2006, subsequently renewed to 2010.
• 2007 Dunlop win GT2 category in the Le Mans Series (LMS) with the Virgo Motorsport Ferrari 430 GT.
• 2007 Dunlop develops "Touch Technology", a unique character encapsulating all of the technologies developed by Dunlop to give drivers a better "feel" of the road, while at the same time improving reaction times.
• 2008 Virgo Motorsport retains its LMS GT2 title.
• 2008 Dunlop introduces Kevlar® in the tyre apex, stiffening the sidewall which is therefore more resistant to torsion and compression, and greatly improves the dynamic behaviour, in particular at high temperatures.
• 2009 Dunlop becomes the sole supplier for the Australian Superbike Championships Series for 2009-2012.
• 2009 Dunlop takes a clean sweep of all categories competing in the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races.
• 2009 Dunlop launches its latest ultra high performance tyres, the SP Sport Maxx TT and SP Sport Maxx GT, at the Dunlop Townsville 400 V8 Supercar race.
• 2010 Dunlop takes a second consecutive clean sweep of all categories competing in the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races.
• 2010 The award-winning SP Sport FastResponse is launched bringing excellent dry and wet handling capabilities, superior cornering stability, high aquaplaning resistance and enhanced grip and steering precision.
• 2011 Dunlop wins extension to V8 Supercar control tyre contract until 2017, meaning the V8 Supercar 'Car of the Future' to run on Dunlop rubber.