Yokohama extending 'BluEarth' range

GENEVA (March 8, 2017) — Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. is expanding the scope and range of its "BluEarth" fuel-efficient tire line and bringing back one of its "landmark" high-performance tire lines, the tire maker disclosed at the Geneva International Motor Show.

Starting this spring, Yokohama will add the BluEarth-Es ES32 touring line, expand availability of the BluEarth RV-02 CUV/SUV line and start taking orders for the BluEarth*Winter V90, the first winter tire to use the fuel-efficient technology of the firm's "environmentally, human and socially friendly" global tire brand.

Yokohama's BluEarth technology comprises a package of the four core performance traits of any tire — wet grip, wear resistance, durability and fuel efficiency — and employs the firm's proprietary "nano-blend compound" that incorporates orange oil and other components to create a balance of high fuel efficiency, superior wet grip performance and wear resistance.

The BluEarth ES32, which will be offered initially in Europe, Asia and Oceania, features a tread pattern with a wide, square profile that delivers stable driving performance and safe handling and will be available in 73 sizes up to 235/40R18 95W XL, thereby addressing the growing demand for tires with larger rim diameters, Yokohama said.

The tire will be rolled out later to Middle East and Latin American markets, but will not be sold in some specific markets, such as Japan, China, India and Russia.

On the SUV front, Yokohama intends to bring the BluEarth RV-02 — currently sold only in Japan and Asia — to Europe this summer, initially in 35 sizes ranging up to 245/35R20 95W XL. The tires have secured an "A" ranking for wet grip performance under Europe's tire labeling system and a "C" grade for rolling resistance.

Yokohama said the RV-02 was developed with a view toward suppressing the tendency of tall and heavy vehicles to shake, resulting in uneven tire wear, while also delivering superior quietness throughout the larger cabins of crossover SUVs and minivans.

The BluEarth*Winter V905 is based on the existing W*drive V905 winter tire, which has earned numerous recommendations from the German Automobile Club, but which employs the BluEarth technology for enhanced stability and performance on ice, snow, and in wet and dry conditions.

It will be available in 119 sizes, ranging from 195/80R15 96T to 295/30R22 103V,

Yokohama is showing at the Geneva show a prototype of the resurrected A008P performance tire, which gained a following in sports car circles in the 1990s after gaining an OE fitment on the Porsche 911 type 964 and which led to the development of Yokohama's Advan performance brand.

Yokohama will re-launch the A008P in two sizes — 205/55ZR16 91W for front axles and 245/45ZR16 94W for rear axles — starting this fall in Europe.

Yokohama also disclosed it is adding the iceGUARD iG65, a studded tire for passenger cars in Russia and northern Europe, starting this fall for the 2017-18 winter season.

The new tire — based on an earlier version of the iceGUARD winter line — will be targeted for use primarily on premium cars, with 29 sizes available, ranging from 215/65R16 102T XL to 245/40R18 97T XL. The new tire has more studs and a new stud-hole allocation that places studs at the center of the tire's tread, enhancing its ice performance.