It isn’t just Pirelli tyres that have gained original equipment approval for the new BMW X4 – Yokohama Rubber will also supply its Advan Sport V105 to the all-new model. Two sizes of Yokohama Advan tyres are available as a factory fitment on the BMW X4, 225/60R18 104W and the run-flat 245/50R19 105W fitment.
Yokohama Rubber’s Mississippi tyre factory has fired 29 employees for not meeting job requirements.
Local media has reported that employees at the plant in West Point were fired for using fake worker certifications. The workers obtained fraudulent certification documents from a job-training program that companies use to determine the aptitude of potential hires.
In the USA Yokohama Tire is offering tyre dealers access to Rallio, a social media tool that is designed to help with “easy publishing and personalizing of Yokohama-created social media content for their communication channels”.
A statement published by Yokohama Rubber expresses the tyre maker’s satisfaction in gaining TÜV SÜD certification for its first European all-season tyre. The Yokohama BluEarth-4S AW21 achieved this distinction after being subjected to benchmark tests by the German technical service organisation.
A special highlights programme from this year’s Silverstone Classic Festival, which took place on 20-22 July, will be shown at 8pm this evening on ITV4. Viewers will be able to enjoy a summary of the key events of the three-day classic motoring festival, where premium tyre manufacturer, Yokohama, made its debut as the Official Tyre Partner this year.
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. reports that its sales revenue increased 1.8 per cent in the first half of 2018, to 309.7 billion yen (£2.2 billion). Business profit (sales revenue less the sum of cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses) rose 9.5 per cent year on year to 23.8 billion yen (£166.7 million) and operating profit was up 32.3 per cent to 26.4 billion yen (£184.9 million). The company says these operating profit and sales revenue figures were the highest it ever recorded. Profit attributable to owners of parent increased 19.2 per cent year-on-year, to 17.8 billion yen (£124.7 million).
A new beginning, and also an end: 6 July, the date on which Doublestar Tire’s acquisition of a 45 per cent share in Kumho Tire was officially completed, was also the day a full stop was placed behind more than four years of technological cooperation between Yokohama Rubber and Kumho Tire. In a statement issued today, Yokohama Rubber informs that it terminated these tie-ups according to their terms and condition following the change in Kumho Tire’s controlling shareholder.
China’s largest tyre manufacturer, Zhongce Rubber, has entered the global top ten, research published today by Tyrepress shows. Best known in Europe for its Westlake brand, the company has pushed up in the rankings past Giti Tire – manufacturer of GT Radial – which did not supply 2017 figures before the deadline, Toyo Tires, and Cooper Tire & Rubber, which fell three places. Competition in the lower quarter of the top ten places is fierce, with turnovers for tyres between 2.4 billion euros (Cooper in 13th) and 3.2 billion euros (Maxxis in ninth).
Reigning British Touring Car Champion, Ash Sutton, made his debut in the TCR UK Series this weekend at Oulton Park, taking victory in both races and heaping praise on his Yokohama tyres in the process.
Yokohama Rubber is supporting the team led by Ikuo Hanawa in Asia’s largest cross-country rally, which begins 12 August. The company’s support for Hanawa’s team in the Asia Cross Country Rally 2018 (AXCR) includes supplying Geolandar M/T G003 tyres.
The results of joint research projects undertaken between Yokohama Rubber and two universities in Thailand since 2013 were announced at The International Polymer Conference of Thailand 2018 (PCT-8) in June. The joint research projects were conducted with researchers at Mahidol University and Prince of Songkla University and focused upon ensuring stable, reliable supplies of natural rubber.
Five years of joint research has led to a breakthrough in the production of synthetic rubber. Yokohama Rubber says it has developed the world’s first technology for efficiently producing isoprene from a biomass, and by doing so reduces dependence on petroleum.
Yokohama has been presented with its third award from TyreSafe, the UK’s tyre safety charity, at its annual dinner. In taking TyreSafe’s Highly Commended Award, Yokohama secured its third consecutive win from the charity, having taken the Tyre Manufacturer Award for the previous two years.
Yokohama will present a host of high-octane entertainment in its debut as the official tyre partner of the Silverstone Classic this weekend. The event will also mark the celebration of Yokohama’s UK distributor, Yokohama HPT’s, 30th anniversary in the UK.
TCR UK will make its debut at Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire on 14-15 July as it enters rounds seven and eight. The race weekend marks the halfway point in the first ever Yokohama-backed series.
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