Dunlop Pumps Up Its Popular SP Sport Maxx Tire Lineup

AKRON, Ohio, June 1 -- Dunlop's flagship ultra-performance tire for luxury sports cars is racing up the performance scale - to fit the likes of Acura NSX, Audi S6, BMW 760Li, Mercedes SL 500, and Porsche Boxster.

Ten new sizes of the flagship SP Sport Maxx tire are available to fit a wide variety of ultra-performance cars. Marketing Manager Warren Croyle said the 16- through 19-inch rim-diameter fitments "boggle the mind - everything from Aston Martin Vantage to a Panoz Esperante as well as the Ford Mustang GT and Lexus SC430."

Developed by Dunlop in Hanau, Germany, the SP Sport Maxx earned high marks when it was introduced in Europe. In its annual Autocar magazine tire test, the weekly British publication tested five leading tire brands on a Vauxhall Monaro and declared the new Sport Maxx the quickest in its handling test.

On-line tire retailer Tire Rack recently said the ultra-performance summer tire out-performed three leading tire brands on four identical BMW 330Ci sports sedans. The retailer said, "The Sport Maxx achieved the highest lateral g's, which aided driver confidence, and easily set the fastest average overall lap time in this test."

Croyle said the tire "is proving its worth as a driver's tire" in North America. "These 10 sizes will further cement the tire's bond with 'in-the- know' drivers. A race-inspired Multi Radius Tread construction provides the maximum contact patch on the road surface, even when cornering."

The new sizes include: 205/50ZR16 87Y, 225/50ZR16 92Y, 205/45ZR17 88W, 235/40ZR17 94Y, 245/45ZR17 95Y, 255/40ZR17 98Y, 245/40ZR18 93Y, 275/40ZR18 99Y, 245/35ZR19 and 245/45ZR19 98Y. Dunlop now offers 36 sizes of SP Sport Maxx tires in North America.

As part of the SP Sport Maxx line expansion, in the coming months, five new sizes also will be introduced, including: 245/50ZR18 100Y, 265/30ZR19, 275/40ZR19 101V, 235/30ZR20 and 255/35ZR20.

Dunlop is a global tire brand with an excellent reputation among performance car enthusiasts. Well known for its prestigious original-equipment fitments and sports car racing heritage, Dunlop is also a key supplier to sport compact enthusiasts featuring "tuner" tire sizes and race series sponsorships.

For more information on the SP Sport Maxx, go to www.dunloptires.com .