Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D Performance Winter / Snow tires were developed for sports cars, coupes and sedans that come from the factory equipped with low profile tires mounted on large diameter alloy wheels. They are designed to provide dry, wet and snow-covered road competence by delivering traction throughout winter’s cold temperatures.
The SP Winter Sport 3D utilizes Dunlop’s reactive silica mixing process enabling its tread compound to provide high elasticity at low temperatures resulting in dependable grip in winter driving conditions. This compound is molded into a directional tread design that reduces the chances of hydroplaning and helps maintain good traction on wet and slush-covered roads. Three different types of high-density sipes define three distinct traction zones in one tire. The central tread blocks feature “pulling” sipes to provide traction while accelerating and braking, especially on ice and snow. The intermediate blocks use high-amplitude sipes to enhance lateral stability and control in wet and slushy conditions. And finally, the 3D sipes in the shoulder blocks interlock to increase dry road stability and handling while continuing to offer the flexibility necessary to grip snow and ice. The SP Winter Sport 3D tire’s structure includes twin steel belts reinforced by Dunlop’s JointLess Band (JLB) of nylon to optimize the contact patch and minimize tire growth at high speed.
The Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D winter / snow radials meet the industry’s severe snow service requirements and are branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.
Install Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D tires in sets of four only.
Do not mix radial winter / snow tires with tires of other construction, size, ply rating or pattern type. Dunlop highly recommends fitment of four winter / snow tires of the same type and rating for optimum mud and snow traction as well as to maintain vehicle handling characteristics.
Founder at Tiresout. Used to be working as an engineer at Bridgestone Tires Akron Technical Center. The responsibilities included but were not limited to technical computing, indoor & outdoor testing of new tires.
Used these tires for 5 winters. I’ve towed snowmobiles with them, driven on frozen lakes with them, and they are fantastic.
Were always noisy. Failed with sudden tread separation despite proper tire pressure. Scrapped the remaining 3 tires this season and switched manufacturers. Would not risk my family’s safety to save a few bucks over the other available offerings.
The Dunlop 3D Snow Sports are magic on my STi; They’ve gotten me through awful snow covered freeways & city streets, but won’t let you down when the roads are dry. I highly recommend them for any car, particularly any performance vehicle. I can’t see any wear after 6000 miles on them, they ride well, but are a bit noisy in the dry. What more can you ask?
I’m on 4th winter with this set of tires. I have 6/32 tread depth left after 22000 miles. I run them during Winter and take them off in late March or April depending on Minnesota’s winter length each year. There were few times when I was still using them in early May while it was 50+ degree outside, the rubber did not wear out or burn up. I do think this tire’s compound is harder than most of other winter tires that I compared at tire shops (local and clubs). But that is mainly because this is a winter performance tire than regular winter tire.The 2011 Forester 2.5X handles great with these tires in the winter. ABS is still too sensitive and likes to kick in a little early on icy roads but the car keeps composure during that situation. As the tread is wearing down, I can tell that it becomes a little more slippery on icy/slush condition. I think on a full ice rink condition, all winter tires will slide a little. Softer compound helps, but I don’t know if this tire can last long if it had a softer compound.I’m very satisfied with this tire but will not buy the same model again because there are newer models available.
These skins are in an Audi RS5 that produces almost 500 hp. These are a great choice for winter driving!
I’ve had Blizzaks in the past but seen how fast they go away when it warms up so I tried these. I got these put on Jan 2016 and now Dec 2016 with almost 30k on the rears, there are toast. The fronts went at about 24k on them with inside camber wear. I’d say they held up great considering they were used as an all season tire on a 500 plus HP sedan. In all honesty it didn’t get too bad this last winter in Chicago as it has the last two previous years so they weren’t put thru the paces too much.They tend to get noisy when the tread is about gone but all in all I can’t complain. I ordered another set this week to be installed with the intention of taking them off this spring. Get some before they’re gone!
A performance winter tire suits me best as I drive to the mountains to ski, but 90% of the time the roads are wet or dry, not often snow covered. However, a full-on winter tire is a must for driving in the mountains with potentially snowy conditions. The Dunlop Winter Sports have been excellent
Very disappointed by tread wear on these tires, not even lasting 20K miles, with rotation . Snow performance was good when they were fresh, but rapidly deteriorated with mileage. The prior set Pilot Alpines were certainly better . I would not recommend for anyone who is going to put on mileage on dry winter highways , as I can only imagine this is how/ where the tires wore so quickly. Unfortunately, living in New England, you have to be able to be safe on snow covered, wet and dry roads all winter.