The Dunlop Graspic DS2 winter tire has been on the market for a long time, but its excellent performance characteristics have not hindered its popularity among domestic car enthusiasts. This model is designed primarily for car owners who value not only comfort and safety but also precise handling. The tire is available in several dozen popular sizes, from 145/70R12 to 235/45R18, making it suitable for most modern passenger cars.
Digityre-II
The development of this model by specialists from the renowned tire manufacturer involved the application of the Digityre-II technology, which consists of several technical solutions.
One of the components of this technology is the tread, the design of which was developed using computer modeling tools. One of the practical results of applying digital technologies was the creation of a tread with a symmetrical non-directional pattern in an original S-shaped design. The tread features a classic five-rib construction, common to most modern tires.
The most distinctive feature of this model's tread is the double central rib, divided into two equal parts by a wide zigzag-shaped groove. This tread element is characterized by high structural rigidity, achieved by the absence of any breaks throughout the tread. This design solution allows the tire to demonstrate excellent directional stability and high maneuverability on various types of road surfaces. The other four longitudinal ribs consist of four rows of separate blocks, distinguished by their massive size and quadrangular shape.
The relatively small distance between all tread blocks made it possible to form a 10-step tread profile, providing the maximum possible contact patch area. Additionally, the 10-step profile ensured a more even distribution of load across the contact patch, significantly reducing the likelihood of uneven tread wear. As a result, the tire was given not only reliable and stable behavior in various road conditions but also a significantly extended service life.
Special rubber compound
As is known, the rubber compound of the tread has a significant impact on all the main performance characteristics of the Dunlop Graspic DS2 tire. For this model, specialists from the company developed a special rubber compound that includes silicon-containing components and carbon. Due to this, the tread became very elastic even at negative temperatures, allowing it to more closely hug the smallest irregularities of the road surface, ensuring more reliable traction on slippery surfaces. Furthermore, the silica-based rubber compound significantly improved the tread's resistance to wear, also leading to an extended tire service life.
Specific lamella structure
The next element of the Digityre-II technology is the special lamellas, which are present in large quantities throughout the tread. When in contact with the road surface, the lamella walls are firmly fixed to each other, significantly increasing the structural rigidity of the tread block. This improves the main performance characteristics of the Dunlop Graspic DS-2 tire when driving on dry roads. Additionally, the increased structural rigidity of the tread blocks allows for a significant increase in the number of lamellas, the main purpose of which is to form a so-called "rubber micro-spike". Each lamella creates additional sharp edges that easily penetrate the water film on the surface of the water, effectively gripping even the smallest irregularities on an icy surface. As a result, it is possible to fully compensate for the absence of numerous steel studs in this model, which would have significantly worsened the comfort level.
Main features of the Dunlop Graspic DS2 winter tire
- The S-shaped design of the symmetrical non-directional tread pattern, developed using computer-aided tools, provides excellent traction in any weather conditions;
- The very wide double central rib, due to its high structural rigidity, allows the tire to demonstrate excellent directional stability and good maneuverability;
- The numerous special lamellas create multiple sharp edges, allowing the tire to compensate for the absence of studs when driving on ice without compromising handling characteristics in dry conditions.
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