Goodyear Dunlop Launches Legal Campaign Against Asian and African ‘Dunlop’ Tyres

Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited has launched a campaign which it says aims to “protect UK customers from unknowingly buying tyres that were not designed for road conditions in this market.” The campaign targets Asian and African manufactured tyres bearing the Dunlop and SP trademarks, but designed for their local markets, and not imported or recommended by the UK company. The company has issued the first of a series of claims against importers and distributors dealing in unauthorised Dunlop tyres. The claim was issued in the English High Court 1 September.

“The tyres have the familiar brand logos but these imports are not designed for UK road conditions and do not carry the standard Goodyear Dunlop UK warranties on quality and performance. Therefore we have to take this action to remove unapproved and trademark infringing tyres from the UK market”’ said Paul Wilde, director consumer tyres, UK

“This is a necessary step to protect drivers who may unknowingly buy tyres not designed for UK road conditions. We devote considerable resources to designing tyres specifically tailored to different climates, road conditions and local legislation.

“The tyres we sell in the UK are designed to have the optimum safety levels, particularly in terms of reduced braking distances, wet weather performance and are engineered for the types of road surfaces, road conditions and climatic extremes that prevail in this market. The company has issued the first of a series of claims against importers and distributors dealing in unauthorised Dunlop tyres. The claim was issued in the English High Court on Friday 1 September.

“Our tyres have been declared as the best performer in many independent comparative tests, but we cannot guarantee that tyres not intended for the UK market will perform at these high levels in our climate and on our roads. We have warned certain companies to stop importing infringing tyres into the UK during the last two years but some of them have chosen to ignore that warning. This is bad for our customers and bad for our reputation.

“Therefore, we regret that we have to begin proceedings to protect the UK motoring public, our brands and our loyal UK dealer customers, as we cannot guarantee the suitability of these infringing tyres for the local market,” added Mr Wilde.

The company has previously warned tyre importers and suppliers that such imports infringe its trademark rights and that tyres purchased from suppliers other than Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited, its sister companies or authorised resellers carry the risk of trademark infringement claims and seizure of stocks.

Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK has issued the proceedings against one retail supplier in the South of England and is expecting to issue a series of claims in the next three months against importers, distributors and tyre-fitting chains who continue to deal in the unauthorised imports.

“Customers should be reassured that the majority of professional tyre dealers in the UK are fitting the correct Dunlop tyres, and that the company has made a major effort to educate and inform tyre retailers as to which tyres are suitable for the local market.”