Michelin becomes world’s most valuable tyre brand
The Michelin brand’s value has grown some 30 per cent to US$7.9 billion in the latest Brand Finance Tyres 10 ranking. As a result Bibendum is now the world’s most valuable tyre brand.
The Michelin brand’s value has grown some 30 per cent to US$7.9 billion in the latest Brand Finance Tyres 10 ranking. As a result Bibendum is now the world’s most valuable tyre brand.
As of January, a second size of the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 is being supplied as an original equipment tyre for VW Tiguan models sold in Russia. Yokohama Rubber is supplying the size 215/65R17 99V tyre to Volkswagen Group Rus, the vehicle manufacturer’s local subsidiary. The tyre maker has supplied the BluEarth-A AE-50 for OE fitment on the Tiguan in size 235/55R18 100V since June 2017.
In what was a world premiere for the company, Yokohama launches the BluEarth-4S AW21 at the 2018 Geneva Show. The tyre is Yokohama’s first European market all-season tyre and will be available from Autumn 2018. The tyre will initially be available in over 30 sizes, ranging from 255/50R19 107W to 175/65R14 82T and the company plans to gradually expand the line-up of available tyre sizes.
Yokohama has been shortlisted in the prestigious UK Sponsorship Awards for its work in promoting tyre safety with Chelsea FC and TyreSafe. Nominated in the Football Sponsorship (Domestic) category, Yokohama will be competing against the likes of DHL, Hays and Cadbury, in recognition of its work at Stamford Bridge in promoting tyre safety to travelling football fans.
After 52 years in the tyre industry, including 19 at Yokohama Tire Corporation, Gary Nash is retiring on 31 March. His position as president of Yokohama Tire Mexico (YTMX) has been handed over to Humberto Gomez, who began in the role on 1 January 2018.
In addition to its latest motorsport developments, Yokohama used the Autosport International show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its flagship Advan car tyre range, launching a runflat version of the leading Advan Sport V105 tyre. Available in a number of key sizes from 16” – 20”, the Advan Sport V105 ZPS is designed as a replacement tyre for a number of rear wheel drive executive saloons fitted with runflat tyres as standard, the manufacturer states.
For the first time, Yokohama Rubber is providing original equipment tyres to BMW. This initial supply deal covers the latest generation BMW X3, which debuted in November 2017 in North America and will be released gradually in markets around the world. Two sizes of Yokohama Advan Sport V105 will be fitted to the X3, 225/60R18 104W and 245/50R19 105W. The latter size features Yokohama Rubber’s run-flat technology.
From this year, the World Touring Car Championship will be run according to TCR technical regulations, and has been renamed WTCR – the FIA World Touring Car Cup. Yokohama Advan racing tyres have been adoped as control tyre for the WTCR races to be run in 2018–19. Under the two-year contract, Yokohama Rubber will provide its Advan A005 dry-surface tyre and Advan A006 wet-surface tyre; both will be supplied in size 250/660R18.
With the opening of a new indoor facility for testing winter tyres, Yokohama Rubber says it can improve the accuracy of its test data and thus develop more advanced technologies. The indoor test centre is located at Yokohama Rubber’s Tire Test Center of Hokkaido (TTCH) facility in Asahikawa City, Japan, and began testing tyres on 5 January ahead of its official inauguration on 30 January.
Yokohama will supply its global flagship Advan Sport V105 tyres to BMW’s new X3 model. The new BMW X3, which debuted in November 2017 in North America, will be released gradually in markets around the world, and will come equipped with tyres in one of two sizes —225/60R18 104W or 245/50R19 105W, the latter of which features Yokohama’s run-flat technology. This marks the first time that Yokohama has supplied tyres as original equipment for a BMW model.
A new logo has been created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Yokohama ‘Advan’ tyre brand. It will be used throughout 2018 as a means for Yokohama Rubber to express its “gratitude to the many people in Japan and abroad who have helped make Advan a hit brand that has been loved for over 40 years.”
Yokohama will display its latest competition tyres, its road tyres recently approved by major new original equipment manufacturers, its driver and championship partnerships for 2018, and the Premier League trophy at the NEC Birmingham’s Autosport International show (11-14 January 2018). The manufacturer extended its invitation to see new products, the Premier League trophy and discuss tyre needs for the season ahead on stand 2750 in Hall 20.
A new member of the Yokohama BluEarth tyre range specifically aimed at vans will be available from March 2018. The BluEarth-Van RY55 will be produced in a total of 30 sizes for 14- to 17-inch rim diameters. In addition to being sold in European markets, the BluEarth-Van RY55 will be available in Asia (excluding Japan), Oceania, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Yokohama Rubber has expressed its pride in two awards its UK sales and marketing subsidiary, Yokohama H.P.T. Ltd. (YHPT), has gained this year – the Tyre Manufacturer of the Year award presented by TyreSafe in July and the Industry Marketing Campaign of the Year award gained at the 2017 NTDA Tyre Industry Awards ceremony in October.
Although no specific motorsport activity formed part of the tyre maker’s 100-year celebration at a global level, the centenary year of 2017 proved an incredibly exciting and successful one for Yokohama on race and rally track, with numerous event and championship victories swelling the silverware cabinet.
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