Dunlop recently launched a high performance tire for classic cars named Dunlop Sport Classic. The tire is meant to cater to the needs of classic car drivers and has been optimized for high performance models of the 60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.
Dunlop has always been strongly associated with motorsports and its range of high and ultra-high performance tires. The company has extensive expertise in the racing arena and as an outcome of this has developed several innovative technologies that it has adapted for use on the road.
Strong Vintage Heritage
Dunlop has developed several tires for vintage and classic cars and the Dunlop Sport Classic is the latest in a long line of tires for this category of vehicles. In the period from the ‘50s to the ‘70s, Dunlop’s developed a range of Racing Tires (mainly Crossply CR65 and R5 patterns) for Touring and GT Le Mans Cars. During the ‘60s, Dunlop had also launched the Aquajet tire within the High Performance segment. Dunlop has highlighted its firm commitment to the historic tire segment by keeping these two ranges in production. This will allow motorists having classic and vintage cars s to continue using authentic tires for their vehicles.
Classic Look, Modern Performance
Dunlop Sport Classic tires offer classic car owners the best of both worlds by combining a classic look and feel, with modern handling and braking performance. The tire has the most modern construction and compound technologies to provide it with a high level of stability, grip, and steering in both wet and dry conditions. The tread pattern however still closely resembles that of tires from the vintage era.
Commenting on the new tire, Martijn de Jonge, Brand Director Consumer PBU EMEA said that Dunlop came up with the classic looking but modern tire to cater to the growing market demand and to build on its heritage. Owners of classic cars will now have a new authentic, classic looking tire, that features modern high performance tire technologies.
Features and Benefits of new Sport Classic Tire
- The tire’s modern silica compound makes the tire more adaptable to the road’s surface, giving it excellent wet grip and braking performance.
- The tire has a stronger carcass thanks to state-of-the-art reinforced overlay, giving it an optimized on-road contact patch. This gives the tire better stability and steering precision, even at higher speeds.
- The tire sports a classic tread pattern, with optimized grooves and a high number of multi-oriented blocks. The tire thus has numerous biting edges for increased grip. This in combination with the efficient groove distribution design allows for better water evacuation. The tread pattern gives the tire improved wet grip and aquaplaning resistance.
- The tire has the latest shoulder block technology, with strong shoulder blocks and reinforced connections. This gives the tire a higher level of stiffness to optimize force transmission and improve dry handling and braking to the level that is commonly offered by Ultra High Performance tires. At the same time the tire retains the steering feel of typical classic cars.
The tire will be available at the retail level from May 2017.
