BMW and Mini Cooper Fans Get First Look at Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08

Advan AD08

FULLERTON, CA (Apr. 22, 2009) –Thousands of BMW and Mini Cooper lovers attending car club events on opposite sides of the country will get a first-hand
look at Yokohama Tire Corporation’s newest addition to its flagship ADVAN line, the ADVAN Neova AD08 ultra high-performance tire.

The ADVAN Neova AD08 is an updated version of Yokohama’s ADVAN Neova AD07, known since 2006 as “the fastest street tire.” The all-new ADVAN AD08 will be available in the U.S. starting May in 32 sizes, ranging from 15 to 19 inches, but BMW and Mini Cooper lovers will get an early preview of the tires. Yokohama will have the tires on display at the 7th annual Minis on the Dragon, April 29-May 2 in Fontana Village, North Carolina; and the 10th annual Bimmerfest, May 2 in Santa Barbara, California.

“These two large club events will help us introduce the AD08 to enthusiasts who are passionate about ultra high-performance tires,” said Mark Chung, Yokohama director, corporate strategy and planning. “The fans who attend are our core customers and the events are a great opportunity for us to share with them the AD08. The tire definitely lives up to the ADVAN legacy and ADVAN enthusiasts are going to love it.”

Minis on the Dragon – named after an 11-mile stretch of road with 318 curves in the Blue Ridge/Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina – attracts 600-plus Minis and more than 1,000 fans. Bimmerfest, held at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, brings in approximately 6,000 BMW enthusiasts and more than 2,000 cars.

“The new AD08 is the best of the best,” said Chung. “Extensive testing reveals the Neova AD08’s distinct advancements in four key areas: dry grip, wet grip, ride comfort and noise level, taking it to remarkable new heights and maintaining our leadership in the industry. All these areas of improvement are very important to consumers in the ultra high-performance segment and demonstrate Yokohama’s technical achievements and innovations.”

Many of the new Neova’s improvements, especially the wet and dry gripping, are attributed to a new Micro Silica compound with Hyper Density Carbon (H.D.C.), which also extends treadwear. Other highlights include specially-placed steel sidewall inserts for improved handling and enhanced cornering; rapid reflex twin ribs that add stability and steering response; an extra-wide unibloc shoulder for continuous rubber-to-road contact during high-speed cornering; adaptive flare blocks for better lateral strength and turning power, and stress control grooves that minimize uneven wear.

For more on the ADVAN Neova AD08: http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/advan_neova.aspx

For more on Minis on the Dragon: http://minisonthedragon.info/index.html

For more on Bimmerfest: https://eventreg.bimmerfest.com/events.php?action=eventdetail&EvId=3

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global producer and distributor of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation offers a complete line of tires, including high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.

Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Taking Care of Your Tires” section at www.yokohamatire.com.