Dunlop recently launched its newest, innovative passenger car tyre – the StreetResponse2 for small-sized cars on European roads. This product is available in sizes ranging from 13”to 15” and fits four of UK’s five best selling automobiles of 2013.
The Newest Dunlop on the Block
The Dunlop StreetResponse2 aptly fits the best-seller, Ford Fiesta, and three more of UK’s five top-selling car models of 2013. There were over 72,000 Ford Fiestas sold in UK alone last year. Dunlop’s StreetResponse2 features enhanced performance characteristics compared to StreetResponse – its predecessor. Dunlop says that the newer version has a longer life span and facilitates shorter braking distances.
StreetResponse2 – The Conception
Andy Marfleet, the brand manager at Dunlop Tyres, stated that the company wanted their StreetResponse2 to be capable of boasting performance capabilities equivalent to their tyres from the ultra-high performance clan. The new tyre range, hence, was developed ensuring the same. He added that the new tyre’s solid grip under dry as well as wet conditions is a testimony to their tyre engineering team’s continuous efforts to achieve performance without any compromise.
Tyre Architecture
The tyre construction and design features include an innovative cavity shape, which has a more curved footprint. Such a shape has been developed so that the tyre can efficiently traverse through water layers on wet road surfaces. The tyre tread design features two broad circumferential grooves that serve to absorb water effectively from wet roads.
Moreover, the multiple lateral groove design facilitates better evacuation of water from the tyre tread. These enhanced tyre features have aided reduction in the possibility of hydroplaning and also in shortening braking distances on damp roads.
On regular dry roads, Dunlop’s latest StreetResponse2 provides high level of grip, thanks to its solid centre rib, during lateral manoeuvres. The tyre pattern, due to its multiple grooves and blades, makes enhanced grip and excellent dry braking possible. Additionally, the overall tyre construction and reduced weight facilitate lower rolling resistance.
Why For Small-sized Vehicles?
Andy Marfleet also said that buying smaller vehicles is quite in vogue these days. He attributed the existing proclivity to increasing consumer focus towards reducing running costs and boosting fuel efficiency.
He also said that today is the time when automobile makers are striving towards enhancing the performance of small-sized four-wheelers. And that Dunlop, by developing and offering a product that blends performance with 10% higher overall mileage compared to StreetResponse, has met the challenge.
He further explained that the new StreetResponse2 delivers reduced braking distances under both, dry and damp conditions, as compared to their earlier StreetResponse model. Overall, the wet braking performance of the new tyre has been improved by 6 percentages. This is equivalent to reduction in braking distance by 2m, in case of braking at 80km/h to stop the vehicle on a wet surface. The dry braking performance of StreetResponse2 is now improved by 4%, which is equivalent to braking distance reduced by 1.5m, while braking at 100km/h to standstill on a dry road.
Talking about the label ratings, 18 out of 20 sizes of this new tyre have been ranked B and C for wet grip and rolling resistance respectively. These label attributes make StreetResponse2 one of the most excellent tyres in the European tyre market in its category at the moment.
Source: Tyre Blog
Published: 05 Mar 2014