Yokohama Tire Corporation's Low Rolling Resistance Tires Help Truckers and the Environment

FULLERTON, March 22, 2010: All commercial truck owners want tires that last longer, perform better and use less fuel. It’s also a bonus if they minimize the impact on the environment; much like Yokohama Tire Corporation’s low rolling resistant Zenvironment™ line. These tires will be on display in Yokohama’s booth (14124) at the Mid-America Trucking Show, March 25-27 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

According to John Cooney, Yokohama’s director of commercial sales, “low rolling resistance tires are good for the environment because they improve fuel efficiency by minimizing the energy wasted (as heat) as the tire rolls down the road. Studies show that Yokohama’s low rolling resistance tires can improve fuel economy from 3 to 5 percent in over the road applications.”

“We’re building products for the future that will use less energy, cost less to operate, provide a longer lifecycle and reduce costs to the trucking company,” continued Cooney.

The Zenvironment lineup includes the 703ZL™, 103ZR™, 501ZA™ and the new, premium long-haul steer tire, the 101ZL™. “The 101ZL runs longer, and is more trouble-free and efficient than anything we’ve ever brought to the market,” said Cooney. “It provides at least a 10-percent increase in overall tread life and significant resistance to irregular wear.”

The 101ZL, along with the 703ZL and 103ZR are also on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWaySM list of verified technologies for tires. Yokohama now has seven tires that are recognized as SmartWay “low rolling resistance tires.”

“The low rolling resistance comes from efficiencies in Yokohama’s high-tech design and our production,” said Cooney. “The new manufacturing process provides a more retreadable casing that produces lower rolling resistance. It uses less fuel and provides more original tread life than anything Yokohama’s produced before. These features result in reduced material consumption, reduced pollution and contribute to the health of our environment.”

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in the United States, Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete product line includes the dB Super E-spec™ - the world’s first tire to use orange oil to reduce petroleum – as well as tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.