Yokohama adds M/T to Geolandar line

GATEWAY, Colo. – Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) used an appropriate setting — the rugged mountains of southwestern Colorado — to introduce the latest addition to its Geolandar light truck/SUV tire line, a mud-terrain version.

The Geolandar M/T G003, part of a Geolandar line that's been around since 1995, will hit the market in the U.S. on July 1 in 37 sizes initially, in rim diameters ranging from 15 to 20 inches.

Yokohamo showcased the tires during a ride-and-drive event for journalists May 15 in the picturesque canyons surrounding the Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa. Journalist ventured more than 7,500 feet up rocky roads and passageways through the canyon, driving Jeeps fitted with the new tire.

Later in the day, they raced wannabe trophy trucks — off-road buggies — through a twisty, dusty track that featured at least five jumps, cruising on the Geolandars.

"'Go strong' is the battle cry for Geolandar, and that's really what the new, incredibly tough M/T tire is all about," said Andrew Briggs, Yokohama's senior director of tire business and product planning. "The M/T was built to dominate, and it does."

According to Yokohama, the tire is constructed with a triple-polymer compound using the tire maker's "geo-shield" construction, which incorporates multiple sidewall plies, a full nylon cap and a high turn-up carcass. Yokohoma said the tire is thus stronger and able to maneuver the harshest off-road conditions.

The tire has a unique sidewall styling, and according to Fardad Niknam, Yokohama's director of LTR segment development, tests have shown that the M/T outperforms leading competitors in several areas, including an 8-percent longer tread life, shorter stopping distance on wet roads (51 feet shorter) and is as much as 2.3 decibels quieter in on-highway driving.

"The M/T has it all: Intimidating good lucks, superior strength, proven performance and excellent traction in all on- and off-road terrains, from everyday highway driving to attacking steep, jagged rocks, muddy trails and desert sand," Mr. Briggs said.

Geolandar applications include a multitude of pickups and SUVs, including the Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram 1500, Ford F-150 Raptor, GMC Yukon XL 3500, Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Discovery, Nissan Titan and Toyota FJ Cruiser.

As part of the rollout, the tire maker has struck a pair of sponsorships to align with audiences for the M/T, according to Fred Koplin, director of marketing. Yokohama has become the official tire of the U.S. Spartan Racing Series, an obstacle race series, and of the Nitro Circus Live U.S. Tour and Nitro World Games, a multi-event action series featuring FMX, BMX, skate, inline and scooter.

Last year YTC launched an updated all-terrain version of the Geolandar line, the Geolandar A/T G015, which the company touted at the time as "engineered for durability" and improved traction in all weather conditions.

The third version of the Geolandar line, the H/T G056, was renewed in 2014.