Yokohama's Flagship Ultra-High-Performance Brand to be Introduced at 2004 SEMA Show

FULLERTON, Calif.--Nov. 2, 2004--Yokohama Rubber Company's ultra high-performance brand, known for having some of the foremost performance products in the world of motorsports, is now being introduced to the US consumer market at this year's SEMA show. The ADVAN brand of tires has been rigorously tested for years in the grueling arena of motorsports and has now been expanded to a line of ultra high-performance tires for 2005.

As the pinnacle of Yokohama performance, the ADVAN brand is race-bred technology in street-legal tires. The ADVAN line will consist of three new tires: the ADVAN Neova, the ADVAN Sport and the ADVAN S/T, to go along with the already sought after ADVAN A048.

The ADVAN Neova, a tire which has made a name for itself globally, is a maximum performance radial. Designed and engineered to extract the highest level of grip, the ADVAN Neova has controllability in both dry and wet conditions. The ADVAN Neova will be available in sizes that will fit high-end performance sports cars.

The second tire in the ADVAN brand is the new flagship tire -- the ADVAN Sport. The ADVAN Sport offers performance at a very high level, giving not only excellent handling and steering response, but also exceptional wet pavement traction, a comfortable ride, and low noise characteristics. This tire is an ultra-high-performance tire with ultra-high speed capabilities engineered to match the capabilities of high-image manufacturers around the globe. Recently, Bentley Motors of the United Kingdom named the ADVAN Sport as standard equipment in its 20" size for the Continental GT, the world's fastest 4-seat coupe.

The third of the three ADVAN tires to be introduced to the US market will be the ADVAN S/T. The ADVAN S/T is engineered specifically for the new generation of ultra-high-performance SUVs, with speed ratings that meet or exceed Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) requirements and provide a level of driving confidence.

"Yokohama has always been known as a top performance tire manufacturer," said Art Michalik, director of marketing communication for Yokohama Tire Corporation. "Now with the launch of ADVAN we are able to solidify Yokohama as the pinnacle of ultra-high-performance tires."

Yokohama Tire Corporation manufactures, markets and distributes a complete line of products for high performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. Yokohama supports the tire care and safety guidelines established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA). For more information on these guidelines check "Taking Care of Your Tires" information at www.yokohamatire.com.