TYRES: Dunlop releases new high-performance tyres

Motoring enthusiasts who use their road car on the race track will know the hassle and expense of having one set of tyres for road use and another for track work.

Leading tyre manufacturer Dunlop claims it has come up with a solution with its new range of performance-oriented tyres, suitable for both road and race applications.

The tyre maker describes its new Dunlop Sport Maxx Race and Dunlop Sport Maxx RT as “a new breed of sports road tyres” that are suitable for the “road, racetrack and in between”.

Dunlop says its new Ultra High Performance (UHP) Sport Maxx RT (Racing Technology) road tyre offers race-derived grip and braking and has been designed specifically for driving enthusiasts. The tyre is claimed to deliver enhanced grip thanks to a motorsport-derived compound, increased adaptability to different road surfaces, and the enhanced handling stability of a strong outer-shoulder block.

The Sport Maxx RT also promises a shorter braking distance, especially at high speed, thanks to extra stiff short-braking blocks set into the tread pattern of the tyre, according to Dunlop.

“The Dunlop heritage stands on its achievements in racing and with the driving enthusiast on the road,” said Dunlop Marketing Manager, Tony Kiernan.

“We are introducing the Sport Maxx RT to ensure we can continue to claim a leading position in the Ultra High Performance (UHP) tyre market,” he added.

Meanwhile, the company says its new Dunlop Sport Maxx Race has been specially designed for some of the world’s fastest production cars, to enable drivers to switch seamlessly between road and track without the need to change tyres.

Dunlop says the Sport Maxx Race delivers solid grip on dry road and track surfaces, supported by a motorsport-derived compound that delivers higher adaptability to the driving surface.

The company says that unlike most “R” spec tyres, Sport Maxx Race provides drivers with confidence on wet roads and track surfaces, thanks to four inner circumferential grooves for better water drainage.

Superior high-speed stability is driven by an overlay featuring Aramid, a high-strength and heat-resistant synthetic fibre that’s also used in aerospace technology and bullet-proof vests.

“Our new Sport Maxx Race tyres are the perfect choice for the serious sports car driver that wants to take his car to and on the track,” said Dunlop Motorsport & Motorcycle Manager, Ken Wieden.

The company says the new tyre has already been selected as original equipment for the special “Track Package” on the C63 AMG Coupé Black Series.

“Throughout its long history, Dunlop has always had a racing tyre for the track enthusiast and today we are putting ourselves back in pole-position in this category with the introduction of the Sport Maxx Race,” Mr Wieden said.

The release of the new tyres coincides with Dunlop unveiling its new 18-inch Dunlop Sport Maxx V8Supercar Championship control tyre as part of the “Car of the Future” program which kicks off in 2013.

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