Yokohama extends orange oil technology to replacement market

Yokohama’s orange oil technology is hitting the replacement market in the US with the introduction of the Avid Ascend all-season tyre. The new range goes on sale 1 March and the initial line-up includes 45 sizes for 15 to 18-inch tyres in T, H and V speed ratings; suitable applications include passenger cars, crossover vehicles and minivans. Upon announcing the new tyre’s introduction, Yokohama Tire Corporation described the Avid Ascend as the first tyre “to collectively achieve – without compromise – exceptional all-season performance, remarkable tread life and excellent fuel efficiency.”

“The Ascend’s orange oil technology creates a compound resulting in a perfect balance of extended tread life, all-season handling and great fuel economy,” said Dan King, Yokohama senior vice president of sales and marketing. “All this and a quiet ride, too. Today’s drivers can now expect more from a touring tyre than ever before – an accomplishment made possible through Yokohama innovation.”

King said the Ascend falls under Yokohama’s ‘BluEarth’ umbrella: “BluEarth is the name for our global environmental philosophy, which is aimed at creating tyres that produce positive improvements socially and environmentally. The Ascend is our first replacement tyre to be recognised as a BluEarth product.”

The Ascend, the latest generation of Yokohama’s orange oil technology, follows in the footsteps of the company’s dB Super E-spec, the world’s first orange oil tyre, which was introduced in the US market in 2008. “Harnessing the technological advancements made with the Super E-spec, Yokohama has now mastered the ability to utilise our orange oil technology on a larger, mass production, scale,” King added. “Tyres with conventional compounds have to make trade-offs, but not the Ascend: the orange oil is the differentiator. Ascend truly is a revolutionary touring tyre.”

Ascend features include Yokohama’s proprietary 3D Adaptive Sipes that are designed to increase block rigidity for longer, more even treadwear, while promoting wet and winter traction; cross grooves and deep circumferential grooves intended to expedite water evacuation for improved gripping performance, plus an interlocking tapered centre rib to maximise stability while promoting even wear; a rolling resistance optimised tread profile.