Our Brand | Dunlop Tires
Our Brand
SINCE ITS INCEPTION, DUNLOP HAS SET OUT TO DELIVER A SUPERIOR DRIVING EXPERIENCE
In 1888, in Belfast, Ireland, Dunlop’s founder, John Boyd Dunlop, observed his young son riding his tricycle on solid rubber tires over cobbled ground. To provide his son with a smoother ride and better handling, Dunlop took the tricycle, wrapped its wheels in thin rubber sheets, glued them together, and inflated them using a football pump. This innovation led to the development of the first air cushioning system in history, laying the foundation for the world’s first practical pneumatic tire.
Dunlop immediately patented his innovation and started turning it into a commercial venture, founding what quickly became known as the Dunlop Pneumatic Tire Co. Ltd. The first Dunlop plant opened in Dublin, Ireland, in 1890. Dunlop rendered solid tires obsolete within twenty years and evolved from a pioneer to the first global multinational tire company.
DUNLOP TODAY
By the 1940s, Dunlop was the byword for success across a wide range of sectors. The company excelled not only in tires, which dominated both on and off the racetrack, but also in brakes, wheels, golf and tennis balls, flooring, aerospace, and various industrial rubber products. In 1984, Dunlop’s European and US tire operations were consolidated with its Japanese business as part of the Sumitomo group. In 2025, Sumitomo Rubber Industries acquired the Dunlop brand distribution and trademark rights for North America, Europe, and Oceania. This procurement unified the Dunlop brand, establishing it as a singular global entity.
CONTINUING THE DUNLOP HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE
From the invention of the pneumatic tire to advancements that have shaped industries beyond the road, Dunlop has continually stood at the cutting edge of innovation. The same ingenuity that inspired John Boyd Dunlop’s first breakthrough endures today in the brand’s commitment to engineering excellence. Through rigorous research and advanced materials science, Dunlop continues to set new standards in performance, safety, and ride quality.