New Grand Performance Tire By Yokohama
New Yokohama AVID ENVigor tire will appear on the market already on March, 1 in 69 sizes what makes the premiere one of the most significant in the history of the corporation.
“Yokohama AVID ENVigor is a tire that suits nearly anyone, - announced Mark Chung, head of the Yokohama’s corporate strategy and planning department. – They suit for a wide range of cars – from low-end to premium coupes and sedans. They are also quite good for such true performance cars as Ford Mustang or Nissan 370Z as well as for high class cars – Audi A3 or Lexus GS. Besides this, we will also present versions for different SUVs and crossovers from Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda etc”
According to Mr. Chung, the new tire (that will replace popular models Yokohama AVID H4s/V4s and W4) is distinguished not only by an extremely wide range of sizes but also by unprecedented performance. “These are the first tires that ensure excellent hauling capacity and steering control, high level of comfort, long service life and reduced fuel consumption level. That’s why a new Grand Performance segment was created, - noted Mr. Chung. – The tire is a real technical wonder.”
Yokohama AVID ENVigor will be manufactured at the works in Salem (Virginia) with H, V and W speed rating letters. The tire is distinguished by patented adaptive 3D-sipes (that allow to maintain pressure on wet surface in winter conditions); angled walls of grooves; circumferential grooves that allow to increase hydroplaning resistance level; central ribs with the original pattern and monoblock shoulders for additional rigidness; variable tread step for the reduction of noise level; groove-into-groove technology for more uniform treadwear; and absolutely new rubber compound on the base of silica for more efficient fuel consumption.
“The tire is an evidence of our aspiration to provide the consumers with the latest technological innovations. It’s quite possible that Yokohama AVID ENVigor is the most perfect tire on Earth”, - added Mr. Chung.
Yokohama Eco-tires Showed Excellent Performance During Thunderhill 25 Hours Race
Pilots who took the first two places in Thunderhill 25 Hours racing were using “orange” Yokohama ADVAN ENV-R1 tires. Both winners piloted Porsche GT3 Cup. The Mercer Motorsports team won with 24:50.29 (761 laps, 2432 miles), the Ehret Winery team was the second with the result 24:51.53 (739 laps).
“Yokohama tires are just fantastic, - said Johannes van Overbeek, one of the five Mercer pilots. – They are extremely solid and durable. We had no punctures what is vital for the endurance race. But what impressed us most of all was their adaptability for operation at a wide temperature range. The night temperature was +68, in the day it rose up to +145,4. Yokohama’s performance was ideal what cannot be said about other tires”.
The Yokohama company is famous for its high-class road and racing tires. It developed a process of mixing orange oil with natural rubber what resulted in the creation of Super Nano-Power Rubber. Yokohama ADVAN ENV-R1 tire became the first tire in the history of motor racing developed with the use of this technology. It was already approved for use in 2009 Patron GT3 Challenge. The technology reduces the use of oil products by 10% and increases the tire’s utilization capability without sacrificing the features that are necessary for the racing of the highest class.
Yokohama began the development of the new compound in the 1980ies. Now ordinary consumers can also use the advantages of the technology within the framework of the company’s strategy aimed at the decrease of the damage to the environment. “Orange” tires Yokohama dB Super E-spec are already used for the original equipment of Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid and other models.
Pirelli Yielded to Hankook On The European Market?
Will Hankook push out Pirelli from the top five tire manufacturers of Europe?
The market research conducted by Hankook showed that the Michelin company remains an absolute leader on the tire market (both in segments of passenger and truck tires). At the same time a new player appeared in the previously stable top five – namely Hankook.
Why did Hankook decided to publish its research now, after one of the most difficult periods in the history of the market? It can be explained by the fact that 2009 was an extremely successful year for the Korean company. The peculiar combination of factors has changed the state of affairs during last 12 months. The major question now – will Hankook be able to retain its positions in Europe in the following years?
Here is the forecast of Hankook for the end of 2009 (passenger tires market): Michelin will remain the leader with the market stake of 20%, the second place goes to Goodyear Dunlop (18%), the third – to Bridgestone (12%), Pirelli has 8%. The most interesting fact here is that Hankook holds the 7th place with 7%. It means that its lagging behind Pirelli is not so big.
What concerns truck tires the first place again goes to Michelin (32%), the second place – Goodyear Dunlop (18%), Continental holds 16% of the market, Bridgestone – 13%. According to Hankook, it performs even better in this segment and holds the 5th place thus having overtaken Pirelli.
Since December has just begun the data can be regarded only as a forecast. At the same time Hankook gives 18% to other companies what means that its research is based on the analysis of the whole market. It also cannot be the result of companies that are members of ERMC Europool because the stake of Cooper and Trelleborg would be much higher in this case. Thus, there may be doubts regarding the correctness of the data in respect of sales volumes of Cooper, Kumho, GTRadial, Nexen, Nokian, Toyo, Yokohama etc. The rise of their stake will inevitably lead to the reduction of that of the five major companies. Anyway, only time can eliminate the doubts.
Yokohama Remains Official Supplier Of Macau Grand Prix
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. will deliver tires for the 56th Macau Grand Prix that will be held on 19 – 22th November.
Yokohama has been supplying the racing with its tires already for 27 years beginning from 1983. The tires of the Japanese company are also delivered to the final stage of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) 2009 that is held by FIA.
The racing in Macau was first held in 1954 and is the oldest motor racing of Asia. It is held on open roads and the whole event includes F3 Macau Grand Prix, final stage of WTCC (both events have been held together since 2005, Yokohama has been delivering tires for touring cars since 2006), Motorcycle Grand Prix and other contests. The central part of the whole event is F3 Macau Grand Prix. The best F3 pilots from the whole world participate in Grand Prix and it is believed that the Grand Prix defines the best pilot of the world in this segment. Besides this numerous Formula 1 pilots have won the F3 racing. Like in last year Yokohama will deliver its ecological racing tires.
For the major WTCC racing the company has been delivering tires since 2006. The performance of the tires was highly praised by the teams what resulted in the decision about the cooperation with Yokohama till 2012. In last season the tires for wet surface became more ecological. Next year the tires for dry surface will be also improved.
According to its strategy depicted in the Medium-Range Management Plan: Grand Design 100 (GD 100) the Yokohama company plans to make all its products more ecological by 2017. For this purpose the company intensified the developments of new racing tires that reduce damage to the environment.
