Dunlop secures €1.8m 'next-generation' tire funding

ERJ staff report (LMH)

Birmingham, UK – Dunlop Aircraft Tyres says it has secured a £1.5 million (1.8 million Euro) government grant to develop and test “next-generation” aircraft tires that will be lighter and more robust.

The three-year project, which is being run in collaboration with Airbus, will see the specialist aircraft tire manufacturer and retreader focus on developing main-wheel radial tires designed for current and future versions of the A320 family of aircraft.

The project, which in total will cost more than £3m, is being overseen by Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ chief designer, Steve Barlow.

“We are following a phased process which will allow us to innovate with new materials and modelling techniques before designing a new product,” he said. “We will be investing in new manufacturing and testing equipment and plan to have the first prototype tyres ready by 2014.”

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