Video: Yokohama gearing up for U.S. plant production

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 14, 2014) — Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) is gearing up for the start of production next year of its truck tire plant in West Point, Miss., by launching new products and programs for its commercial tire dealer base.  That's according to Rick Phillips, Yokohama senior director, commercial and OTR sales, speaking to Tire Business at the recent Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville.

“New products like the ones we have at MATS will play a big part in our future, especially with the October 2015 opening of our new commercial tire plant in Mississippi,” Mr. Phillips said. The theme of YTC's presence at MATS this year was “Defining the Future.”

Making their debut at MATS were the 902L and 709L ultra-wide-base drive tires and the 104ZR Spec-2 coach/bus tire.

YTC also rolled out a version of its EXCEED online training program for commercial vehicle tire dealers.  Based on Yokohama's EXCEED for consumer dealers, the program offers dealers and their personnel the opportunity to learn commercial tire basics through a series of interactive training modules.

The program covers basics on everything from steer and all-position to on- and off-highway tires and is designed to prioritize training that is most relevant for each dealer's market.

EXCEED — an acronym for Excellence through Certification & Education — was rolled out April 1.

The 902L long-haul/regional drive tire, which will be available in size 445/50R22.5, is designed to deliver “superior traction and high mileage,” the company said. 

The 709L is an on-highway drive tire, which will be available by year-end, also in size 445/50R22.5.

Lastly, the 104ZR Spec-2 all-position tire, which will be available in size 315/80R22.5, is “a workhourse that delivers longer treadwear, low-rolling resistance and enhanced traction, making it ideal for coach and regional/long-haul tour bus applications,” Mr. Phillips said.

Separately, YTC executives said contractors have started erecting the steel framework for the plant in West Point, keeping the project on schedule for the start of commercial-scale production by October 2015.