New Winter Tires by Toyo

Toyo Tires introduced new friction winter tires Toyo Observe GIZ3, which will be released on the Japanese market in August of this year. In the company's lineup, the novelty replaces the second-generation Observe GIZ2 tire, released in 2020. 

"Last winter in Japan was warm, and due to the large difference in daytime and nighttime temperatures, road conditions could change quickly, with snow melting during the day, resulting in slush, and ice forming on the roads at night," Toyo notes. "Winter tires should be prepared for such changes, and traction on ice is of particular importance in terms of ensuring safety, which we take into account in the development process. The new Observe GIZ3 tires have significantly improved braking and traction properties on ice, as well as maintaining effectiveness over a long period and are made using eco-friendly materials."

The asymmetrical tread pattern with "fir tree" arranged lugs and grouped blocks was developed using T-Mode design technology and increased the evenness of pressure distribution in the contact area, which reduces the deformability of the tread and improves handling. A new rubber compound with special fillers was also created, which maintains elasticity at low temperatures, helping to increase the effectiveness of braking on icy roads by 22% compared to the previous generation tires, while lateral stability was improved by 4%. In addition, the composition is optimized to slow down rubber aging and maintain high traction on ice for a longer period, and some materials are of natural origin, making the tires more environmentally friendly. Moreover, rolling resistance was reduced by 10%. 

Toyo Observe GIZ3 will be available in 68 sizes from 145/80 R13 to 235/50 R20, meaning they can be installed on a wide range of vehicles from compact cars to SUVs.