Buffalo, NY””Dunlop Motorcycle Tires is pleased to announce the expanded availability of the company’s best-selling Qualifier sport bike tire, an advanced design that has elevated sport motorcycling to the highest level of performance. “With the rave reviews we’ve received from the press and our customers, combined with our production slow down as a result of our work stoppage in the fourth quarter of 2006, we haven’t been able to keep the Qualifier on dealer’s shelves,” said Dunlop Vice President Mike Buckley. “To meet the demand, we’ve increased production and we have added a new 190/55ZR17 rear tire size as well.” Shortly after its introduction 18 months ago, the Qualifier was selected number one by Sport Rider magazine in a side-by-side evaluation with competitive brands (December 2005). Soon afterwards Motorcyclist magazine acknowledged the Qualifier with their prestigious award as Best New Product of 2006. The Dunlop Qualifier is not only a phenomenal street tire, it is also the tire of choice for many road racing schools across America including the prestigious STAR (Skills and Techniques for Advanced Riding) Motorcycle School in Ventura, California. “We are using Dunlop Qualifiers on all of our motorcycles and we are very pleased with their performance,” said AMA road racing champion Jason Pridmore, the founder and president of STAR. “They provide amazing grip as well as the controlled, predictable handling that is crucial to riders who are taking their skills to the next level. In fact, I use Qualifiers on my two-up demonstration bike to give students a seat-of-the-pants example of what the best sport bike tires on the market can do.” Dunlop Qualifiers are also used at the CLASS Motorcycle School and the California Superbike School. Significant features of the Dunlop Qualifier include: · A rear-tire compound that blends three race-developed polymers to maximize grip and warm up quickly in wet or dry conditions. · A race-derived front-tire profile that promotes quicker turn-in and lighter steering while also contributing to a larger footprint at maximum lean angles. · An advanced belt design and Jointless Band (JLB) construction to reduce unsprung weight for quicker acceleration and enhanced steering characteristics. · A next-generation cosecant-curve tread pattern that allows the driving and braking forces to remain aligned properly under cornering conditions. The Dunlop Qualifier is available at Dunlop motorcycle retailers in the U.S. in these sizes: Front – 110/70ZR17, 120/60ZR17, 120/70ZR17, 130/70R16 Rear – 160/60R17, 170/60R17, 180/55ZR17, 190/50ZR17, 190/55ZR17, 200/50ZR17