Dunlop Showcases Remote-Control Drifting at SEMA Booth






With the popularity of drifting sweeping North America , Dunlop Tires is offering SEMA visitors the chance to take the wheel.

OK, so maybe they won't be able to actually climb into the driver's seat, but remote control drifting is the next best thing. And since Dunlop recommends that drifting be reserved for sanctioned events, you will be able to go full tilt here.

"There's nothing quite like running a car through a series of corners in a full four wheel drift - even if your car is 1/10 th scale," Mike Pulte, manager of vehicle personalization, said. "RC drifting demands the same quick reflexes and car control as full-scale competitors."

Dunlop is showcasing its Direzza line of tires at its SEMA booth this week, and drifting is just one of the ways "in-the-know drivers" rely on tires for maximum handling and control, Pulte said.

"A common misconception is that drifters want slippery low-traction tires. The opposite is true. Grip with reliable control even at severe slip angles is the most important attribute," Pulte said. "Many ultra-performance tires have high grip, but control capability can fall off drastically beyond maximum cornering ability.

"A good drift tire will have a flatter cornering force curve and give the control and feedback needed for precise navigation at huge yaw angles," he added.

Drifting, the art of controlling a car while it's going sideways, requires high performance tires designed specifically for lateral as well as longitudinal forces. Drifting is "the worst-case scenario for a tire. You're putting a tire through - and past - the extreme boundaries of the traction circle - max acceleration, cornering and braking. The key is be able to run at these extremes and maintain control - accelerate, corner, drift, and recover."

Pulte said Direzza DZ101's large tread elements on either side of a solid centerline allow "for tremendous grip over a wide range of vector angles and have very little give-up that reaches the limit." The result for drifting racers is ultimate control through each slide.

Gary McKinney, of McKinney Motorsports that competes in the Formula D Drift Series, said, "Drift tires require side grip. When the tires are spinning, there's a thin line between slipping and traction. We require tremendous amounts of traction to keep the car off the wall, keep from swapping paint with the other car on the track, and win judging points for precision driving with style and flare."

McKinney said his team also requires good tire wear. "We first got a chance to run on the Direzza DZ101 last year when it was introduced. I attribute much of our success to Dunlop and these new tires. We've been able to maintain grip from the beginning to the end."

Dunlop is a global tire brand with an excellent reputation among performance car enthusiasts. Well known for its prestigious original-equipment fitments and sports car racing heritage, Dunlop is also a key supplier to sport compact enthusiasts featuring "tuner" tire sizes and race series sponsorships.










related links: www.dunloptire.com