Yokohama to launch latest orange oil tyre in US on March 1

ERJ staff report (TB)

Fullerton, California -- Yokohama Tire Corp.'s Avid Ascend, its latest all-season tyre to feature orange oil technology, will go on sale in tyre dealerships March 1 in 45 sizes.

The Ascend, which is being produced at Yokohama's Salem, Va., plant, will be available in a variety of applications ranging from crossover vehicles, to passenger cars and minivans in T-, H- and V-speed ratings and sizes from 15 to 18 inches.

Dan King, Yokohama senior vice president of sales and marketing, said the new tyre's orange oil technology “creates a compound resulting in a perfect balance of extended treadlife, all-season handling and great fuel economy. All this and a quiet ride, too. Today's drivers can now expect more from a touring tyre than ever before.”

He claimed that independent test results “reveal that the Ascend can last up to 6,000 more miles than the Michelin HydroEdge, and testing also has shown the Ascend has lower rolling resistance, rolling 11-percent easier” than the HydroEdge. “For consumers, this can represent a savings of 58 gallons of gas and more than $200 over the life of the tyre. Plus, the Ascend's CO₂ reduction is better by over 1,000 pounds.”

The Ascend falls under Yokohama's new “BluEarth” umbrella, King added. “BluEarth is the name for our global environmental philosophy, which is aimed at creating tyres that produce positive improvements socially and environmentally. The Ascend is our first replacement tyre to be recognised as a BluEarth product.”

The Ascend, the company's latest generation of tyres using its orange oil technology, follows Yokohama's dB Super E-spec, which the company said was the world's first orange oil tyre introduced in the US market in 2008.

Features of the new Ascend include:

Yokohama's proprietary 3D Adaptive Sipes that increase block rigidity for longer, more even treadwear, while promoting wet and winter traction;

Cross grooves and deep circumferential grooves that expedite water evacuation for improved gripping performance Also, an interlocking tapered center rib maximises stability while promoting even wear; and

an optimised tread profile that enhances rolling resistance for better fuel efficiency.

Yokohama Tire is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo-based Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)

Press release from Yokohama Tire