Yokohama tyres

History of Yokohama tyres

Yokohama tyres were founded in 1917, when the Japanese electrical cable manufacturer Yokohama Electric Cable Manufacturing Company and the well-known tyre giant BF Goodrich started working together. Today, Yokohama is one of the world’s largest tyre manufacturers, with annual sales of more than USD 5 billion. The brand’s tyres are manufactured in state-of-the-art factories in Japan, employing 2’100 people, including many of the world’s best engineers.

Yokohama is now one of the top 10 largest tyre manufacturers in the world. The brand has earned its place among the best through hard work, the highest quality standards and heavy investment in technological innovation.

Yokohama tyres for a better future

Yokohama invests a large part of its turnover in technological research with the aim of one day becoming the largest tyre manufacturer in the world. Yokohama tyres are distinguished by their first-class performance thanks to ingenious solutions and natural materials in their rubber compounds. Technological research has also played a huge role in the participation in Formula 2, Formula 3 and rallying, where tyres are a key element in forging victory.

Although even today, tyres with a self-sealing puncture are quite rare, available only from premium brands, Yokohama introduced this type of tyre as far back as 1975.

Well before most other tyre manufacturers, Yokohama started reducing carbon emissions and using natural ingredients in its rubber alloys as early as 1993 out of concern for the environment. The best known of these is Orange Oil S, or orange peel oil technology. It is used in most Yokohama tyres today. Orange peel oil is one of the stickiest natural materials. Its use in tyres improves grip on all road surfaces, increases wear resistance and reduces rolling resistance. It should be mentioned that the brand not only reduces CO2 emissions, but has already planted more than 1’300’000 trees.