Owing to Singapore's geographical location and maritime exposure, its climate is characterised by uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity and abundant rainfall. So the little red dot is almost always warm and wet - receiving a considerable amount of rainfall - approximately 2,340mm annually.

Rain has a large influence on road surfaces and it should not be underestimated. One of the main dangers of rain is aquaplaning, which is caused by a 'wedge' of water that has built up in front of the tyre and cannot be dispersed.

As a result, the tyre gradually loses contact with the ground and floats on the 'wedge' of water. The vehicle is also prevented from responding to steering, braking or accelerating and can go out of control, start to skid or spin.

Thus, it is a vital safety requirement for tyres that can perform in wet weather to be installed. One such tyre is the Dunlop Formula D05.

Dunlop Formula D05

The Formula D05 is Dunlop's first product that has been specially designed and constructed for the driving conditions of roads in Singapore and Malaysia.

Thanks to its adaptive silica compound technology that employs an enhanced grip tread compound for better traction, road contact is maximised and there is excellent grip in any condition.

In dry conditions, the tyre boasts excellent grip without skidding thanks to its double 'solid rib' on its outer shoulder block. Furthermore, small lateral grooves and the strong tie-bar between shoulder blocks help to resist tread pattern deformation from strong lateral forces during cornering, thus enhancing the level of grip.The impressive grip level is also contributed by the four equally distributed wide longitudinal grooves that not only enhance the tyre’s aesthetic appeal but also allows accelerated water evacuation from the contact area.

The Formula D05 also features several innovative design elements such as the Noise Stopping Bar that reduces noise levels by breaking the air waves in the longitudinal grooves and the Wiper Block design that optimises handling performance in wet and dry conditions.

More importantly, the Edge-Effect of this innovative design reduces the water film between the tyre and road edges, thus increasing the contact area and results in wiped out, excellent braking performance as if on a dry road.

In addition, the tyre comes with a Sun and Rain tread depth indicator that is a hassle-free and straightforward denotation of whether or not the tyre needs to be replaced. This unique feature works in such a way that the respective sign wears down accordingly over time, giving a clear indication of when to change the tyre.

The Formula D05 is available in diameters ranging from 15-inches to 18-inches.

Dunlop

Dunlop is one of the world's foremost manufacturers of high-performance tyres and its 125-year history traces back to the first pneumatic tyre as well as the dawn of motor racing. In addition to automotive tyres, Dunlop produces a wide range of tyres for motorcycles, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), competition go-karts and commercial trucks.

Dunlop is also the sponsor for numerous racing and high-performance automotive events such as V8 Supercars and Le Mans and is also the official tyre partner of the AMG Driving Academy. Dunlop has a wide range of authorised retailers located around Singapore. Their information can be found here.