Dunlop Tyres

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Dunlop Tyres was an international United Kingdom-based company founded in 1888 by John Boyd Dunlop after he invented the modern pneumatic inflatable tyre. Its first factory opened in Dublin in 1889.

The company once had extensive manufacturing operations in the UK. With the closure of the Washington plant in 2006, Goodyear Dunlop have ceased mainstream tyre production in the UK. There is still a bespoke Motorsport manufacturing site on a corner of the original Fort Dunlop factory in Erdington, Birmingham, opened in 1891, which supports specialised vintage, motorcycle and touring car tyre production.

The main Birmingham site has been extensively redeveloped with a modern shopping centre (The Fort Shopping Centre) and several logistics warehouses. The iconic former head office building is being redeveloped into a combined residential, office and hotel complex. This can be observed between junction 5 and 6 of the M6, on the east side of the motorway.

Goodyear Dunlop still occupy a part of the site, with their head office and warehouse & distribution centre. In the UK, the company operates as a sales and distribution company importing Goodyear, Dunlop and associated brands from outside the UK. The company is in an extremely competitive sales environment and has had to continually readjust to this pressure.

The Goodyear Dunlop joint venture is managed from sites in Luxembourg and Brussels, which in turn reports to Goodyear in Akron, Ohio. The partner in the joint venture is the Japanese company Sumitomo Rubber Industries.

Dunlop is the sole tyre supplier to British Touring Car Championship for 2003 to 2006 and the Australian Touring Car Championship from 2002 to date.

Dunlop had an extensive portfolio of manufacturing operations that have been sold off to various third parties. The Dunlop brand is used for sports equipment, and separately owned companies continue to make products such as aerospace tyres and brakes under this name.

During the 1970s, Dunlop pioneered the world's first 'fail safe' tyres, permitting a vehicle to continue moving safely even following a blowout.

Dunlop do not only produce tyres but have an elaborate range of sporting equipment. Dunlop first started producing sports products in 1939 and to this day are regarded as one of the leading sports brands with elite athletes who endorse and wear their products.