About Dunlop
John Boyd Dunlop developed a practical pneumatic tyre in Belfast in 1888, and the company bearing his name was founded in Dublin in 1889. Dunlop built its first Japanese factory in Kobe in 1909, which later became Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Sumitomo has owned the Dunlop tyre brand in Asia, including the Middle East, for decades, and in 2025 it agreed to buy back the remaining rights in Europe, North America and Oceania from Goodyear, reuniting the brand worldwide under Japanese ownership.
Strengths
- Japanese-made or Japanese-specified quality at a mid price
- OE on many Toyota and Lexus models, so OE matches are easy
- Grandtrek range covers 4x4s from Prado to Land Cruiser
- Firm, durable casings suited to heat
- Good dry grip on the SP Sport Maxx
Weaknesses
- Wet grip a step behind Continental and Michelin
- Some older Grandtrek patterns are noisy
- Fewer large 21–22 inch sizes
Dunlop ranges and prices
| Model | Type | Rims | Price per tyre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 060+ | Ultra-high performance summer | 17–21 inch | AED 500 – AED 1,100 |
| Dunlop SP Sport LM705 | Comfort touring | 14–18 inch | AED 260 – AED 550 |
| Dunlop Grandtrek PT3 | SUV highway touring | 15–20 inch | AED 420 – AED 900 |
| Dunlop Grandtrek AT5 | All-terrain 4x4 | 15–20 inch | AED 450 – AED 950 |
| Dunlop Grandtrek AT25 | Highway-biased all-terrain 4x4 | 16–20 inch | AED 480 – AED 950 |
Cars it suits
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Toyota Prado
- Toyota Fortuner
- Lexus GX
- Nissan Patrol
- Toyota Camry
- Nissan Altima
- Mitsubishi Pajero
Our ratings out of 10
- Wet grip
- 7
- Dry grip
- 8
- Comfort
- 7
- Quietness
- 7
- Tread life
- 8
- Heat resistance
- 8
Performance
Dunlop's road tyres feel stable and steady rather than sporty, with the exception of the SP Sport Maxx 060+, which gives good dry grip and quick steering for its price. Wet braking is acceptable but not class-leading, so allow extra distance in the first rains of winter. Grandtrek SUV tyres are comfortable on highways and confidence-inspiring on graded tracks, and the AT5 manages soft sand well at reduced pressure.
Durability and tread life
Dunlop tyres wear evenly and last well: around 40,000–50,000 km for an LM705 on a family sedan and 50,000–65,000 km for Grandtrek tyres on a Land Cruiser driven mainly on the highway. The casings are built for hot markets, and Dunlop 4x4 tyres resist heat build-up on long summer drives to Liwa or Oman. As with all brands, replace them at about 5 years from the DOT date even if tread remains.
Dunlop in UAE conditions
Dunlop stock in the UAE is mainly made in Japan, Thailand and Indonesia. Japan-made Grandtrek tyres are prized by Land Cruiser owners and can cost AED 50–100 more per tyre than Thai-made equivalents. Check the DOT code before buying: 1226 means week 12 of 2026. If you drive on sand, air down to 15–18 psi and re-inflate to 32–35 psi before the highway; driving at speed on low pressure is a common cause of sidewall failures here.
