Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) has begun deliveries of the environmentally friendly Dunlop Enasave EC300+ tires for Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s (TYO:7211) next-generation multi-purpose vehicle, the Expander. The automaker’s new crossover was unveiled this month at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. To achieve the high environmental performance demanded by the Expander, the EC300+ tires provide the fuel-efficient tire technology cultivated...
Tires
Nexen Tire Japan to Launch High-Performance All-Season Tire
Nexen Tire Japan Inc. has announced that it will start selling a new all-season tire, the Nexen Blue 4 Season, on Sept. 1. The product will be available in 18 sizes, ranging from 13 to 17 inches. The new product has adopted V-shaped grooves, improving its hydroplaning resistance and its performance on slush. Meanwhile, 3D sipes provide snow traction and...
Sumitomo Rubber Steps up Development of Specialized Tires for Electric Cars
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) is accelerating its development of specialized tires for electric vehicles (EVs) in anticipation of further vehicle electrification. Although the company already supplies tires for EVs, the inclusion of batteries makes EVs heavier than vehicles with internal combustion engines, leading to demand for more durable tires. Sumitomo Rubber President Ikuji Ikeda said that by further improving...
Bridgestone to Expand Indian Plant Production With $300M Investment
Bridgestone Corp.’s (TYO:5108) group company in India, Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd., has announced that it will shore up production capacity at its Pune and Indore plants for passenger car radial tires. Bridgestone India will invest $304.3 million in a phased manner over the next five years. The investment is expected to increase the combined daily production capacity of the two...
Bridgestone to Bring Back SF-325 Tire for Mazda’s MX-5 Miata Restoration Program
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) is gearing up for the Japanese relaunch of its SF-325 tire in January 2018 for Mazda Motor Corp.’s (TYO:7261) first-generation MX-5 Miata restoration program. The SF-325 is an OEM tire for the first-generation MX-5 Miata, which was launched in 1989. Although Bridgestone stopped manufacturing the tire in 2003, the company has brought it back as part of...
Yokohama Rubber to Launch Classic Car Tire for Company’s 100-Year Anniversary
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) has decided on six sizes for the Advan HF Type D, a classic car tire that the company plans to launch in October to commemorate its 100th anniversary. The six sizes range from 13 to 15 inches. The Advan HF Type D, which Yokohama Rubber is now remaking, is a historically popular tire that launched...