Dunlop Launches N-Tec Slicks in the United States

Good news for all club racers and track day riders in North America: Dunlop has just launched its newly-developed, US-built KR448F and KR449 racing slicks, tires created primarily for them. Both will be available in September to all racers from Dunlop’s race-tire outlets, Erion Racing and Race Tire Services.

The KR449 rear will be available in three compound combinations, Soft, Medium and Hard. All of these rear tires incorporate Dunlop’s exclusive N-Tec, MT Multi-Tread and Intuitive Response Profile (IRP) technology. The KR448F front will as well be offered in three compounds, Soft, Medium and Hard.

This new KR tire project started in mid-2010 with the goal of providing additional slick rear tire options for club racing and track days across the country.

During the testing and development phase, these tires have been able to match the lap times of the more expensive made-in-the-UK racing slicks. This was made possible thanks to the investments Dunlop North America made in incorporating high-technology tire-building machines and procedures in the Buffalo, NY, production center—the same equipment and processes used to build tires in the UK for Moto2.

Testing of these USA-made slick tires encompassed exhaustive efforts including multiple tests with many riders at AMA test sessions and private tests. Some of the more notable riders included Josh Hayes, Ben Bostrom, Josh Herrin, Roger Hayden, Larry Pegram and Martin Cardenas, and test tracks included Miller Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Barber Motorsports Park, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Jennings GP, Roebling Road Raceway and Summit Point Raceway.

In addition, the BEI Racing Team tested the tires and have been using them in competition in the WERA National Endurance Series.