Yokohama’s BluEarth S34BZ eco tyre has been chosen as original equipment for the 2012 Toyota Prius V. The new crossover, which is known as the Prius + in Europe, is available to US and Canadian purchasers fitted with the BluEarth tyre in size P205/60R16 91V.
Yokohama says that its 2011 motorsport season ranks as “one of the most successful” for the Japanese tyre manufacturer. It has supplied tyres to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the World Touring Cars Championship at the highest levels of circuit racing and rallying, while also helping “grass roots” level competitors to “clinch a huge variety of championships in almost every conceivable form of motorsport”.
US-based automotive market research and product consulting firm AutoPacific has released the results of its most recent replacement tyre satisfaction study. After surveying more than 15,000 vehicles owners who purchased replacement tyres in the US during the past twelve months, AutoPacific determined Michelin to be the most satisfying tyre brand of the 28 included in the study, followed by Pirelli.
Goodyear is raising prices on OE and replacement medium truck tyres, retreads and retread tread stock by up to 10 per cent as of 1 November, reports Tire Review. The price increase is for the US only, and impacts Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly brands. It marks the 97th unique price increase announced for the US and Canada this year, the American journal notes.
Yokohama Rubber has opened a new facility at its Thailand-based Tire Test Center of Asia. The new ‘Tire Service Training Center’, which was officially inaugurated on October 14, will initially be used as a base for training sales representatives and technical services staff from Yokohama tyre sales companies in the Asia region; Yokohama Rubber says it plans to utilise the centre to train technical services and other staff from other parts of the world “in due course.”
With some meteorologists forecasting the UK's third harsh winter in succession, car manufacturers and tyre companies are widely advocating the fitting of winter tyres.
Prices for Yokohama’s consumer tyre products sold in the US will increase by as much as eight per cent as of November 1. Yokohama Tire Corporation director of sales, Shawn Denlein, says the new prices for its passenger, performance and light truck tyres are being introduced due to “the costs of raw materials, energy and transportation remaining at very high levels.”
HiQ is offering consumers the chance to experience the benefits of winter tyres in exchange for penning an independent review. In an attempt to underline the driving advantages and safety benefits of travelling on cold weather tyres once the temperature drops below 7 degrees, HiQ is teaming up with Goodyear to give away 25 sets of cold weather tyres in return for objective reports about their performance, to be showcased online at hiqonline.co.uk.
On October 4, Boston’s Museum of Science officially opened its “Making a Greener Tire” display, which highlight’s Yokohama Tire Corporation’s use of orange oil as a raw material. The tyre maker is represented in the display by one of its orange oil-infused tyres, the Yokohama BluEarth-1, and its Airtex inner liner, a product aimed at reducing air seepage from the tyre.
Mercedes-Benz has selected Yokohama tyres as original equipment for two additional models. The Japanese tyre maker’s C.drive2 AC02 MO tyres, which is based upon its export market C.drive2 high-performance comfort tyre, will be fitted in sizes 205/55R16 91H, 205/55R16 91V and 225/45R17 91V to Mercedes A- and B-class models. In addition to these two recent homologations, Yokohama already supplies original equipment tyres for a range of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including the G class, CL-class AMG, ML-class AMG, C class, C-class AMG, CLS class and SLK Class.
Yokohama Rubber has announced its Rayong Province, Thailand plant’s recent receipt of two international certifications. The Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd, facility, which produces passenger car, truck and bus tyres, obtained ISO50001 energy management systems certification in August and OHSAS18001 occupational health and safety certification in September.
The SMMT, and the journalists the association invited to a recent media event, have come out in support of using winter tyres. “Tyres can have a major effect on a car’s performance, improving its safety and keeping it moving in winter conditions,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. “Winter tyres provide greater grip and handling, reducing braking distances in cold, wet conditions as well as on snow and ice. With temperatures starting to drop and the wetter seasons approaching, motorists should make sure they have the best tyres for the road and climate conditions.”
Toyota has introduced a winter tyre programme, with Yokohama winter tyres supplied by Stapleton’s. Toyota secured its supply of “thousands of winter tyres” earlier this year suitable for most current – and many past – Toyota and Lexus models. Hybrids, in particular, are well catered for, with a healthy supply available for the 17-inch wheels featured on Prius, Auris Hybrid and the Lexus CT 200h. Toyota Centres will supply competitively priced tyres and carry out the changeover for vehicle owners, who can also store their standard set with the Centre until the spring.
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Yokohama Tire Corporation’s sponsorship contract with three high-profile American football teams has been renewed for a further year. The 2011 season is now getting underway and the tyre maker is back as sponsor to the National Football League’s (NFL) Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. To kick off its return for the new season, Yokohama is holding a “Home Team Pride” programme between September 26 and November 6. During this time consumers can receive a free official replica Cowboys, Broncos or Raven jersey with the purchase of four Yokohama tyres from participating local dealers.
Starting today, Twitter users can keep up to date on the latest happenings at Yokohama Rubber. The Japanese company announced the opening of its official English language Twitter account on September 20 and said it will use it to “disseminate information on its various business activities globally.”
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