Dunlop doubles down on fleet value

When margins are tight, downtime is costly and road conditions are unforgiving, tyres are strategic assets. Few suppliers understand this better than Dunlop Tyres South Africa.

According to Louis Marais, general manager: commercial, the company’s approach combines deep technical expertise, local adaptation and long-term partnership with fleets.

Marais says Dunlop’s support begins with people. “Dunlop SA has the largest commercial sales team in the domestic market, with 15 experienced professionals supported by a technical team of nine specialists,” he elaborates. “We also have a dedicated training manager who delivers a range of practical training modules.”

This on-the-ground presence allows Dunlop to engage fleets proactively – not simply when tyres fail. Their teams conduct detailed tyre and fleet surveys (“rubber audits”), assessment of current stock and planning around future requirements. For fleets trying to manage cash flow, this means fewer surprises and a better handle on inventory.

Monthly scrap-tyre analysis has become one of Dunlop’s most valuable interventions. By examining failed tyres, the technical team identifies the root causes behind high wear or premature failure: underinflation, misalignment, overloading, driver behaviour or mechanical issues. As Marais highlights, these audits allow fleet managers to take corrective action promptly, protecting assets and improving safety.

Training also plays a crucial role in the company’s customer service offering. Fitters, mechanics, drivers and even transport managers regularly attend Dunlop’s truck and bus radial (TBR) product training, failure-mode workshops, alignment modules and factory tours that demonstrate the quality controls behind the brand. Structured load studies and route studies further ensure that axle loads, terrain challenges and heat cycles are fully understood and addressed before they become costly.

“Our goal is to be a true partner to fleet operators, reducing cost per kilometre (CPK), minimising downtime, improving fleet reputation and uplifting skills through driver and fitter training,” says Marais.

Cooler-running tyres: safer and more efficient

One of the company’s biggest recent advances comes from Dunlop Energy Control Technologies (Dectes), engineered to optimise every kilometre travelled. At its core, Dectes focuses on controlling heat, the contact patch and energy loss – the three factors most responsible for performance, safety and operating cost.

“By keeping heat under control, the tyre runs cooler. Excessive heat is one of the main causes of fatigue and sudden failures. Cooler-running tyres mean less risk of blow-outs, more predictable performance and a stronger casing that is better suited for retreading,” explains Marais.

A more rigid, uniform contact patch means even wear, improved braking consistency and reduced shoulder distortion, giving drivers confidence in all conditions. Because wear is more uniform, fleets also spend less time rotating tyres or addressing irregular patterns.

Dectes’ focus on reduced curvature and optimised tread design also delivers low rolling resistance, which is particularly significant in a high-fuel-price environment: “For a fleet, this means better fuel economy on every route, and helping your fleet go further – more safely and efficiently – every day,” says Marais. Lower fuel consumption also reduces CO₂ emissions, thereby also supporting environmental targets.

Designed in Japan, built for Africa

Although Dunlop’s TBR tyres are designed and engineered in Japan, every product undergoes local adaptation and long-term validation. Marais says the development team works with a clear principle: technology must meet African reality.

This means building tyres that withstand high ambient temperatures, rough variable road surfaces, frequent potholes, long inter-town hauls and curbing in dense urban environments. Carcass construction, tread design and rubber compounds are fine-tuned for each application: long haul, regional, construction, urban logistics or last-mile delivery.

Development doesn’t stop once a tyre hits the market. Continuous evaluation with local fleets takes place for years afterwards. “This is where the Japanese word ‘Kaizen’ comes in: continuous, incremental improvements in the manufacturing process or product performance to make it perfect,” notes Marais.