Dunlop Winter Tire Features New '3D' Sipe Technology

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 16, 2006 -- Even if you haven't yet experienced the third dimension of water - as a solid - you may want to consider a "3D" winter tire now. Dunlop has a new "3D" winter tire to combat solid water - snow - and recent colder weather.

And despite its "3D" name, you won't need special "3-D" glasses to appreciate its tread design, marketers say.

Dunlop's new SP WinterSport 3D winter performance tire features innovative "3D sipes," knife-edge-thin grooves cut into the tread elements to enhance grip for performance and ultra-performance sports cars, according to Tony Freund, segment marketing manager for Dunlop North America.

Timing is everything, however, Freund said. Don't wait for freezing temperatures to buy winter tires. It'll be too late. European tiremakers suggest switching to winter tire treads when temperatures fall below 44 degrees F.

The new directional tire actually features three types of sipes - the cutting-edge Active Traction Sipe System - each designed for changing weather conditions, as well as a new-generation, silica-rich winter tread compound, he said.

At lower speeds, the "3D sipes" in the shoulder area actually open, providing more biting edges for gripping traction in snow and icy conditions. At higher speeds or under higher loads, these same sipes lock together and close up for shoulder rigidity, creating a solid footprint for excellent handling on dry roads, he said.

The central block - with its pulling sipe design - helps provide traction and braking on ice and snow, he added. In the intermediate blocks, high- amplitude sipes help deliver enhanced lateral stability and control in wet and slushy conditions, he said.

Ben Hyder, customer contact engineer for Dunlop, said the SP WinterSport 3D also features Dunlop's Multi Radius Tread technology, which appears in its SP Sport Maxx ultra-performance tire and in race tires used in the German Touring Car Championship race series.

MRT technology delivers even pressure across the tire's footprint and a larger contact patch to help provide excellent dry handling capabilities. Improved pressure distribution across the footprint also facilitates a smooth transition from straight driving through all stages of cornering, Hyder said.

JointLess Band technology, with up to three layers of spiral wound cap ply, helps maintain the tire's ideal shape at highway speeds. The technology allows the fabric cap ply to be positioned for optimal footprint shape for improved handling and treadwear, Hyder said.

"Because the plies are spiral wound - without splices - the resulting tire uniformity and ride are great," he said.

A new cool reactive silica mixing process helps give the tread compound greater flexibility at low temperatures. This allows the tread elements to bend and grip on icy and snow-covered roads. The result, Hyder said, is firm traction at all temperatures and speeds.

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 winter tires, go to http://www.dunloptires.com/.