When mention of the name ‘Dunlop’ is made to the younger generation of Malaysians today, the first thing that may come to mind would be racquets and golf balls. The motorsports enthusiasts would know the name, of course, as it continues to have a strong presence in events like the Le Mans 24-hour race. But older motorists would know the name which was associated with tyres (and mattresses – Dunlopillo).
In fact, Dunlop began with tyres and the brand name is that of J.B. Dunlop who developed the pneumatic tyre into a commercial product that quickly replaced solid rubber tyres. It was revolutionary because it made travel in carriages, and then the first cars, more comfortable because the air inside the tyres kept it ‘solid’ and yet pliant enough to absorb shocks as they rolled over rough surfaces.
Long history in Malaysia
Dunlop tyres appeared in Malaya over 110 years ago, imported by Sime Darby as part of its trading activities. As demand for tyres grew rapidly with greater motorisation, Sime Darby (today known as Sime) decided it was time to make tyres locally.
Dunlop Malayan Industries Limited (later becoming DMIB Berhad) was established in 1961 and opened the first tyre factory in Malaysia in 1963. It was located in the light industrial area of Petaling Jaya, then a new township being opened up in Selangor.
Dunlop tyres became a household name among Malaysians, with a variety of different tyres to suit different vehicles. Commercial vehicle operators also appreciated Dunlop tyres, especially for the heavy logging trucks, because they proved to be very tough and long-lasting.
Ownership changes
The decline of the original Dunlop Rubber Company led to ownership changes in the second half of the 1980s, affecting operations in Malaysia as well. Production of Dunlop tyres ceased and what followed was a somewhat complex arrangement whereby the original Dunlop Rubber Company in England was acquired by one party and Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) acquired the rights to manufacture and market Dunlop-branded tyres.
Then in 1999, SRI and Goodyear formed a joint venture with Goodyear having control of marketing of Dunlop tyres in Europe and North America. This arrangement lasted for 16 years and the joint venture ended, with SRI gaining more global control of the Dunlop brand.
In 2012, the Dunlop Tyre brand was managed by Continental AG, which has a subsidiary in Malaysia that took over the old Dunlop factory to make its tyres. In the period that followed, the visibility of Dunlop tyres in the market diminished as Continental Malaysia not surprisingly gave more attention to Continental tyres. This is why Dunlop seemed to drop out of sight and many of the younger generation don’t know about its long tyre history.
In December 2025, SRI regained control of the Dunlop brand for tyres in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Earlier, in 2019, Toyota Tsusho Asia Pacific (the regional trading arm of the Toyota Group) formed a joint venture with Binter & Co in Singapore known as Toyotsu Binter Automotive Parts Pte Ltd. Toyotsu Binter is part of Toyota Tsusho Asia Pacific’s Mobility Value Chain activities in its Mobility business.
New joint venture in ASEAN
Binter & Co was established in 1978 although its history goes back to 1950 when Wah Seng Co. was founded and became a leading tyre retailer in Singapore. So it’s a company with long experience in the tyre business and the third generation of the family is now involved, with Marcus Lim leading the Malaysian operations as Managing Director of Toyotsu Binter Malaysia (TBM).
While aiming to grow the Dunlop business in Malaysia, Mr. Lim understands that the first thing is to get the brand into the minds of today’s motorists.
“Malaysia is an important market for Dunlop and we see tremendous opportunities for long-term growth. Our ambition is to establish Dunlop as a premium tyre brand that is more Malaysian motorists with products that offer safety, performance and value,” he said.
Broader product range
To support this strategy, the product portfolio will be broadened in key passenger vehicle market segments including the SUV, pick-up truck and EV segments. The tyres that will be available have the latest technologies developed by SRI. Some of the tyres for introduction will be the Dunlop SP Touring R1, Blue Response TG, SP Sport Maxx 060+ and Grandtrek R/T 01, AT5, and PT5, and e.Sport MAXX for EVs.
The Japanese tyremaker has long experience of tyre-making which goes back to 1909 when Sumitomo became a shareholder in Dunlop Japan. In 1963, the Sumitomo Group took over Dunlop Japan, renaming it Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd, and began its own tyre business. It is among the top ten global tyremakers today.
Growing dealer network further
Having a network of tyre dealers around the country is important for growth and TBM will add more outlets to 150 already in existence, with the number at 200 today.
“We want Dunlop tyres to be available wherever customers choose to purchase and service their tyres, and will provide a choice of retail channels for convenience. What is important is that we build strong, long-term partnerships across Malaysia’s automotive aftermarket,” Mr. Lim said.
Replacement market
TBM will focus more on the replacement market – sale of tyres to motorists who replace tyres after their original set has worn out – and because of the connection with Toyota, there will also be a visible Dunlop presence at authorised Toyota service centres.
Although Dunlop tyres are chosen by many brands for original fitment on many of their models, they are not fitted to vehicles assembled in Malaysia due to the government policy of local sourcing. Local assemblers can use imported tyres but would have to pay an unnecessary penalty if they do so.
When asked if SRI had any plans to make tyres in Malaysia, Takehiko Asai, Managing Director of Sumitomo Rubber Asia, said that there are no plans at this time. SRI already has factories in Thailand and Indonesia making Dunlop tyres.
Road-hazard warranty
While Dunlop is a reputable brand, it may still need to provide some reassurance to those who are unfamiliar with its past experience in tyres. To provide this, TBM is offering a 12+6 months (maximum 20,000 kms) road-hazard warranty with a 1-1 replacement. This warranty is applicable to the passenger car tyre range and the Grandtrek PT and AT tyres. For convenience, warranty registration can be done online.
