Skip advert
Advertisement

Dunlop Sport BluResponse tyre review

Winning performances in all conditions make this brilliant new tyre our 16-inch champion.

Dunlop Sport BluResponse

Winning performances in all conditions make this brilliant new tyre our 16-inch champion.

New last year, the BluResponse was launched with tyre label ratings firmly at the top of the designers’ performance targets. The result is a product with a 30 per cent fuel economy improvement over the model it replaced in Dunlop’s range – the FastResponse, which we tested back in 2012.

Advertisement - Article continues below

And that’s been seen here, where it finished second only to its Goodyear stablemate and with a clear margin over the rest of the field – with the exception of the Pirelli P7 Blue, which has been similarly targeted at rolling resistance.

This tyre label focus means it was also no surprise to see the newcomer finish joint second in our wet braking test. Yet, true to Dunlop’s launch claims, other performance aspects haven’t been ignored, as it was also in the top three on the handling track. And while the tyre finished 10th on the wet circle, it was only a tenth of a second off the winner.

The BluResponse also starred in the deeper water with a win in the straight aquaplaning test and second on the curve – a remarkable feat. It felt good, too, diving for the apex accurately and only washing wide progressively.

But wet road prowess alone rarely wins a test, and that was the case for this champion. It finished joint third around our dry handling track and won the dry braking test. Key to its dry track success was its ability to take plenty of throttle through the long turns. It didn’t feel the most alert, but it hung on well.Six top three places in nine tests were more than enough for a debut victory.

Price£57.50 
Dry handling99.30%=3rd
Dry braking100%1st
Wet handling99.00%=6th
Wet braking100%1st
Wet cornering98.00%10th
Straight aqua100%1st
Curved aqua99.40%2nd
Rolling resistance96.10%2nd
Cabin noise99.10%=5th
Overall100%1st
Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £8,094 off RRP*Used from £13,199
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,075 off RRP*Used from £14,448
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025