Yokohama expands partnership with Chinese automakers
As part of the medium-term development plan YX2026, the company Yokohama aims to increase the share of high-margin tires in sales, including through the expansion of supplies to automakers, as a result of which it is actively strengthening its position in the original equipment segment, including in the Chinese market, and recently several new homologations have been announced.
One of the models for which Yokohama tires were approved is the Toyota Wildlander, which is produced by the joint venture GAC and Toyota and is almost a complete copy of the RAV4, designed for Chinese consumers. Yokohama supplies the Yokohama ADVAN V61 tires for the crossover, which are part of the Japanese brand's flagship line and, according to the manufacturer's statements, not only provide optimal handling but also have low rolling resistance and improved ride comfort, making them a good choice for long trips.
The tread pattern, profile, and tire construction were adapted to the features of the Wildlander using artificial intelligence, and in addition, the sidewalls have the "E+" marking, which indicates that the tires have been improved for use on vehicles with new energy sources (Wildlander is available with hybrid powertrains).
Currently, the ADVAN V61 is part of the equipment for many crossover models, such as the Toyota RAV4, Lexus RZ, Mazda CX-80, and others, and for the Wildlander, the tires are supplied in the size 235/60 R18.
GAC has also chosen Yokohama tires for the Trumpchi M8 minivan, which has become very popular in China, taking third place in its class in terms of sales. The Yokohama BluEarth-XT AE61 tires were approved for the M8, which are part of the low-rolling-resistance tire family and improve energy consumption efficiency.
As noted by Yokohama, the homologated tires also improve the level of comfort, both mechanical and acoustic, and are designed for use on both city streets and highways, and in addition, the developers have extended their service life by increasing resistance to uneven wear. The BluEarth tires are also popular among automakers, and they are equipped with a wide range of passenger cars and crossovers, and the company has also expanded the size range of the AE61 for the aftermarket. On the M8, the tires are installed in the size 225/60 R18.
Another partner of Yokohama is the company SAIC, which has approved the Yokohama ADVAN dB V552 tires for the MG 7 liftback, which has become the flagship of the British brand acquired by the Chinese.
Like other models with the dB designation in the name, the tires for the MG 7 have reduced noise levels, which is facilitated by the asymmetric tread pattern with blocks arranged in a checkerboard pattern, which, according to the manufacturer, effectively disperses and suppresses noise in certain frequency ranges. The improvement of acoustic comfort is also facilitated by the design of the outer shoulder with non-through grooves, while the reinforced central rib increases stability both in turns and when driving in a straight line, i.e., a balance between comfort and safety is provided.
On the MG 7, the tires are installed in the size 245/40 R19.