Dunlop Motorsport

[FastDB2s]

Might be a second thread but on the Midlands news this morning it stated that Dunlop's Motorsport division in Birmingham is closing, this is where they make our Historic tyres aswell as Dunlop's for more modern race cars

[Peter Mallett]

Interestingly I've just been talking about this and it appears that the D84 is in short supply, which may affect the Goodwood March meeting.

[Tim Falce]

Does that mean my set is now worth money?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

Does that mean my set is now worth money?

Perhaps HP Tyres will buy them back off you for a profit!

Sounds serious but surely production must continue somewhere?

Edit- France and Germany, apparently.

[FastDB2s]

see story here http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/busi...t-jobs-6663051

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Perhaps HP Tyres will buy them back off you for a profit!

Sounds serious but surely production must continue somewhere?

Edit- France and Germany, apparently.

China ?

[Mike Bell]

No, France and Germany!

[FastDB2s]

costs will go up & product quality down !

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by FastDB2s

costs will go up & product quality down !

The first is a given, regardless!

[zefarelly]

I'd like to think that if production goes to Germany the quality will go up, the price remain, maybe even go down (they're bound to be more efficient ) and they may even make enough to supply demand.

We're long overdue an alternative supplier for crossply L & M type rubber anyway, maybe this will prompt some action ?

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

I'd like to think that if production goes to Germany the quality will go up, the price remain, maybe even go down (they're bound to be more efficient ) and they may even make enough to supply demand.

Joe, you are my hero for today! A bit of positive, optimistic thinking in the face of the doom and gloom from previous posters!!

[FastDB2s]

They have got to build a plant, recruit & train people, do several hundred demo tyres to test, dont see the Germans coping myself.

[Mike Bell]

Sorry if I added to the doom and gloom John, was not the intention!

Regarding costs, if Dunlop incurr considerable costs while moving production it wouldn't surprise me if these are passed on. I would hope not, but....

We are, as customers, in the unfortunate position of having to deal with a monopoly in manufacture and another in national supply, so no 'healthy competition' working for us!

[FastDB2s]

Even if there were some competition against Dunlop, would the FIA allow 2 tyre suppliers, I doubt it, if that was the case couldn't Avon be tempted to make some L & M section tyres, this would squeeze the prices down, although it is the very unique nature of the tyres & compounds which makes them expensive to produce, we had a retired guy working here who was a fabricator from Dunlop, his father was a compounder on various land speed record attempts along with some work in the racing dept, his son is a customer.

[zefarelly]

I had a significant requirement for the MoD a few years back, Dunlop were not interested despite it being something they used to make . . . I ended up ordering a 40ft container full of tyres from the Yanks. it was only just over £90k of business in one order.

Dunlop don't deserve our business. I would go elsewhere on principal if there was an option.

[gt917]

Don,t give up on them yet.

Looking at further developments it would appear that this has caused one helluva storm and David Cameron,Vince Cable and all have gone on the warpath, so maybe there is hope for the 241 workforce.

I think costs would have gone up anyway, but I better get another set of CR82s for the 917 before they go over a £1000 for the four !!!

[DAVID PATERSON]

I'm told they are no longer making D11s for my Group A Corolla, wondering what to try now? Kumho or Michelin?

[FastDB2s]

Apparently the site was leased so they knew about losing their plant years ago, last night I was told that they have never intended to move anywhere else in the UK.
There are thousands of acres of unused / derelect land around the North of B'ham, you only have to go on the train from New Street to Glasgow to see this within the 1st 10miles or so, very desolate.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by DAVID PATERSON

I'm told they are no longer making D11s for my Group A Corolla, wondering what to try now? Kumho or Michelin?

Were they made in UK? Not a tyre I am familiar with so googled Dunlop D11- all the answers are in the southern hemisphere.

[zefarelly]

A lot of old tooling headed south, Turkey from memory has a large facility from one major manufacturer

[terence]

Were the histos only ever British made? IE, not Japanese owned.

[Bryan Miller]

An Australian perspective ,

For many years we were supplied 450/500/550 M section x 13.0'' CR65 from Dunlop Japan , that finished some 8/10 years ago when they changed the compound in Japan to suit a Honda Civic Autocross series , our openwheelers turned this tyre to mush in 10 laps or less at Phillip Island .

Then Japan stopped making the really good crossply slicks for Marchs , Chevrons, Brabhams etc. as the management stopped all crossply production in Japan and only made radial race tyres, so now we are fully reliant on U.K.

[Mike Bell]

Thanks for the clarification, Bryan. We must hope that moving production elsewhere is already organised........