Crain News Service report
TOKYO (March 12, 2014) — Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. said it will begin selling a new winter passenger car tire across Europe ahead of the 2014 autumn/winter season.
The W*drive V905 is, according to Yokohama, a successor to the W*drive V902A/B and will be available in sizes from 15- to 18-inch.
The new tire's conventional model, the W*drive V902A/B, was launched in 2007, and the company said it has become one of its core tires for overseas markets, especially Europe.
“The new W*drive V905 maximizes the edging effect that contributes to stability on snow and ice,” Yokohama said in a statement. “It also features a tread pattern that enhances the tire's snow and water drainage and a new compound comprising various materials, including microsilica and orange oil.”
The company claims the tire helps to improve performance on snowy and wet roads, as well as on ice. It also added that the tire is made with a lighter-weight compound that lowers rolling resistance and increases fuel efficiency.