Following the cancellation of the Geneva Motor Show in early March, SA Treads caught up with David Oliva – Marketing Manager for Yokohama Tyres Europe based in Germany by video link, who provided us with the latest innovations the brand was proposing to present at the event.
David first of all explained that Yokohama are constantly working towards ultra-lightweight and aerodynamics technology for the future with a view to the fact that the lighter tyres are the more environmentally friendly they are with less impact as fewer natural resources are used in the manufacturing process. At the same time the reduced weight of a vehicle increases fuel consumption.
David added, “At Yokohama we also implement directional fins to further improve air flow around the tyres therefore reducing air resistance and contributing towards higher fuel efficiency.”
Moving on to the latest advancements in Anti-puncture technology. David pointed out that Yokohama is currently working on a self-seal concept which is currently at development stage and adds, “In the event of running over a nail, our sealant innovation closes the puncture and prevents air from leaking and is the next stage in the brand’s eventual development of puncture-proof tyres.”
Noise Reducing Silent Technology is another important area that Yokohama is currently working on and they have developed tyres incorporating a ‘special foam’ that effectively reduces cavity resonance. Finally, David explained that with the emphasis on the smooth transfer of information from a tyre to the driver, Yokohama has been consistently working on sensor technology for the past thirty years which is now a most prominent feature on the entire brand portfolio.
He added, “At this moment our mid-term strategy for the global market consists of three equally important factors: To be a leading global supplier for premium cars, become number one in terms of performance concerning winter tyres and achieve the same status for Hobby tyres.”
Finally, David announced two new summer tyre products for Europe – the BluEarth GT AE51 summer grand touring pattern which provides the perfect combination of impressive drive performance with further enhanced stability at high speeds plus improved wet grip performance and extensive fuel saving characteristics.
Other features and benefits of this tyre include a dedicated new compound that provides a unique A.R.T rubber blending which optimises overall performance.
Also, Yokohama is launching yet another new touring tyre – the Geolandar CV G058 which has been specifically designed for Crossover SUV vehicles and will become available in the next couple of months, initially with a choice of 43 size options. The CV G058 incorporates advanced silica technology for improved wet performance and a special sipe-based symmetric pattern that has main grooves to combat hydroplaning, enhance wet traction and lower noise levels.
David concluded, “Our new product line-up for 2020 plus ongoing manufacturing technologies are specifically designed to give drivers even more safety driving performance in the future.
