HIRATSUKA, Japan — Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC) said it is investing $24 million to expand production of motorsports tires in Japan.
The company said it will build a new line that will produce 18-inch and larger motorsports tires at its plant in Mishima City, Shizuoka prefecture, expanding the plant's capacity for motorsports tires by 35%. Construction will start in the third quarter of 2024, with production to go onstream near the end of 2026.
YRC said the plant should be at full capacity by the third quarter of 2027.
The company said the move will expand sales of its high-performance Advan tires in motorsports tire markets in Japan, including the Advan A052, and other countries.
YRC said demand for theADVAN line "has led to a strong increase in orders that has created a chronic order backlog," prompting the company to increase production to meet future demand.