Dunlop Tires showcases OE performance fitments at Rare Shades 7
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Dunlop Tires North America continued its connection to the premium performance automotive community on May 16th at Rare Shades 7 in Astoria, New York, presenting a pair of Porsche 718 models that highlighted rare factory color, enthusiast craftsmanship, and Dunlop’s role in original equipment performance tire development.
Produced by 000 Magazine, Rare Shades is a Porsche-focused event dedicated to rare factory hues, Paint to Sample colors, and uniquely specified vehicles. The New York City edition brought together a curated collection of Porsche sports cars in a gallery-style environment, attracting owners, collectors, media, and enthusiasts with a shared appreciation for Porsche design and performance.
Dunlop’s presence at Rare Shades 7 centered on two distinctive Porsche 718 models, each representing a unique expression of modern Porsche performance. The event also provided an ideal setting to highlight the Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2, an ultra-high-performance tire engineered for the demands of road and track use.
The Dunlop Sportmaxx Race 2 serves as original equipment on several of Porsche’s most focused performance models, including the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, 718 Cayman GT4 RS, 718 Spyder, and 911 GT2 RS. Its use across these applications reflects Dunlop’s technical capability in developing tires that support high-performance chassis dynamics, precise steering response, and consistent grip under demanding driving conditions.
One of the featured vehicles was a 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 finished in Paint to Sample Ultraviolet. Powered by a 4.0-liter flat-six engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, the GT4 featured extensive Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and Sonderwunsch details, including matching Ultraviolet dashboard and center console trim pieces, extended leather, silver deviated stitching, and silver grey seatbelts. Of the 653 718 GT4 units produced for 2022, only 34 were finished in Paint to Sample colors. This example is one of just three PTS Ultraviolet 718 GT4 models produced for North America.
Also featured was a Shark Blue Porsche 718 GT4 RS presented in collaboration with Formula Motorsports NYC. The GT4 RS represents one of the most track-focused models in the Porsche 718 lineup, combining aggressive aerodynamic elements, lightweight construction, and high-revving performance. Finished in Shark Blue, the car offered a bold visual connection to Porsche’s heritage-inspired color palette while emphasizing the motorsport character of the GT4 RS platform. Inside, the vehicle featured a Silver Rocket dry carbon harness bar system, providing lightweight structural integration and proper harness mounting while maintaining the refined motorsport aesthetic of the GT4 RS interior.
“Rare Shades brings together the type of enthusiast community that understands the details behind performance,” said David Velasquez, Lead, Motorsports & Events, Dunlop Tires North America, Inc. “For Dunlop, this was a great opportunity to showcase vehicles that connect directly to our OE performance tire story. The Sport Maxx Race 2 was developed for some of Porsche’s most capable road and track-focused models, and events like Rare Shades allow us to speak to that level of engineering in an environment built around passion, precision, and authenticity.”
Rare Shades 7 gave Dunlop Tires North America the opportunity to connect with Porsche owners and enthusiasts through a product-focused display rooted in OE performance, premium vehicle specification, and motorsports-inspired engineering. By featuring vehicles closely tied to Dunlop’s original equipment applications, the brand reinforced its position within the high-performance automotive space.
Dunlop Tires North America will continue to support select automotive events throughout the year, using premium enthusiast platforms to highlight its product technology, OE partnerships, and commitment to performance-driven vehicle culture.