Dunlop Tyres facts for kids
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Dunlop sport tyres
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| Owner |
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| Introduced | 18 November 1888 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
Dunlop Tyres is a well-known international brand that makes tyres. Different companies around the world manage this brand today. It was started by John Boyd Dunlop in Belfast, Ireland, way back in 1888. He was a pioneer in creating the pneumatic tyre, which is the air-filled tyre we use today.
Dunlop is one of several companies that use the Dunlop brand name. Most of these companies have historical links to the original Dunlop Rubber company.
Who Owns Dunlop Tyres Today?
The Dunlop brand is managed by different companies in various parts of the world. For example, Goodyear handles Dunlop tyres for passenger cars and light trucks in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
In October 2015, Sumitomo Rubber Industries took over the Dunlop motorcycle tyre brand in North America from Goodyear. This happened after their 16-year global partnership ended.
On January 7, 2025, Goodyear announced that it had sold all of its Dunlop brand rights to Sumitomo Rubber Industries.
In India, Dunlop India Ltd. operates the brand. They started their business there in 1926. Sumitomo also manages Dunlop Tyres in many other Asian countries. These include Japan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Russia. They also operate in South Africa and most of Latin America.
Since 2012, Continental AG has managed the Dunlop Tyre brand in Malaysia. Continental makes Dunlop-branded tyres for sale in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.
The History of Dunlop Tyres
In 1985, the original Dunlop Rubber Company was bought by a company called BTR plc. After this, Sumitomo gained the rights to make and sell Dunlop-branded road tyres. Sumitomo did not buy any part of the Dunlop company itself at that time.
In 1997, Sumitomo was allowed to use the Dunlop name in its own company name. They then changed their UK branch name to "Dunlop Tyres Ltd."
In 1999, Sumitomo and Goodyear started a joint business venture. Sumitomo continued to make all Japanese-made tyres under the Dunlop name. Meanwhile, Goodyear bought 75% of Sumitomo's tyre businesses in Europe and North America.
The company has many factories around the world. In 2006, Goodyear Dunlop stopped making car and lorry tyres in the UK when their Washington plant closed.
In 2016, Sumitomo announced a big investment of $131 million. This money was used to upgrade and expand its Dunlop tyre factory in Ladysmith, South Africa.
Until May 2014, Goodyear Dunlop had its UK office at a small part of the Fort Dunlop site in Birmingham. In the UK, the company mainly sells tyres. They import them from factories in places like Germany, Slovenia, and Poland.
The joint business venture between Goodyear and Dunlop is managed from offices in Luxembourg and Brussels. These offices report to Goodyear's main headquarters in Akron, Ohio, United States.
Fort Dunlop Factory
Fort Dunlop was a special factory that made tyres for motorsports. It was located in a part of the original Dunlop factory in Erdington, Birmingham. This factory started in 1891 and operated until May 2014.
The Fort Dunlop factory made special tyres for vintage cars, motorcycles, and touring cars. It produced about 300,000 special racing tyres each year. On May 30, 2014, the Birmingham factory stopped making tyres. This marked the end of Dunlop motorsport tyre production in the UK.
See also
In Spanish: Dunlop Tyres para niños
- Dunlop Bridge
