Yokohama Rubber Posts Record Profits

Yokohama Rubber Posts Record Profits

Yokohama Rubber posted record-high business and financial results for the first nine months of fiscal 2024, driven by substantial revenue and profitability growth across its key business segments.

The company reported a 13.1 percent increase in sales revenue from the same period last year, reaching USD 5022 million. Business profit rose 69.6 percent to USD 535 million, operating profit increased 63.8 percent to USD 551 million, and profit attributable to the parent company’s owners climbed 36.5 percent to USD 390 million.

The Group’s business profit margin also reached 10.7 percent, its highest level ever for this time frame.

Yokohama Rubber attributed this robust growth to efforts to expand sales volume, implement product price increases and optimise the product mix. A full-year contribution from Y-TWS and the positive impact of yen depreciation further supported the performance.

Segment Results

Tyre Business: Sales in the tyre segment reached USD 4498 million, a significant increase from USD 3931 million in the same period last year. Business profit for the segment surged to USD 505 million, up from USD 287 million. Growth was driven by higher sales volume, favourable product mix and effective price increases in response to raw material costs.

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT: YOHT recorded sales of USD 684 million, up from USD 632 million in 2023, while business profit rose to USD 81.45 million, compared to USD 76.3 million the previous year. The segment benefited from strong demand in the agricultural and industrial tyre markets, particularly in overseas markets.

Yokohama Tire & Wheel Solutions (Y-TWS): Sales in Y-TWS totaled USD 737 million, a substantial increase from USD 432 million in 2023. Business profit came in at USD 46.81 million, reversing a loss of USD 7.05 in the prior year. The improvement reflects strong sales of speciality tyres and positive impacts from structural changes and efficiency improvements.

Yokohama Rubber’s CEO emphasised the company’s ongoing focus on strategic growth initiatives, including high-margin products and global market expansion. The results underscore Yokohama Rubber’s resilience and adaptability in a challenging economic environment.

Michelin Expands Chennai Retail Network With Four New Service Outlets

Michelin Expands Chennai Retail Network With Four New Service Outlets

Michelin India has opened four new retail outlets in Chennai, strengthening its presence in one of its key domestic markets and expanding access to premium tyre services across the city.

The new Michelin Tyre and Services (MTS) stores are located in Gopalapuram, Adyar, Tambaram-Selaiyur and Maduravoyal. The expansion coincides with the company’s rollout of its made-in-India Primacy 5 tyres, aimed at improving availability of its products and services.

Each outlet has been developed in line with Michelin’s global retail format, with dedicated display areas, service bays and customer facilities.

The Gopalapuram store has been launched in partnership with Lal Enterprises, a tyre dealer established in 1987. In Adyar, Michelin has partnered with RR Tyres, which serves parts of south Chennai including Besant Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur and the ECR and OMR corridors.

A third outlet in Tambaram-Selaiyur has been opened with Rao Tyres, which operates three locations in the city and has worked with Michelin for more than 20 years. The fourth store, located in Maduravoyal, has been established with Lal Tyre Centre, which has over 25 years of industry experience.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director of Michelin India, said: " India's premium mobility landscape is evolving rapidly, and Chennai stands at the forefront of this shift, with growing demand for high-performance, safe, and sustainable mobility solutions across sedans, SUVs, and electric vehicles. The launch of four Michelin Tyre Service stores in a single city reflects the strength of this opportunity and our commitment to bringing world-class mobility solutions closer to our customers. In line with our recently launched Made-in-India Primacy 5, developed and manufactured in India for Indian road conditions, these outlets will make globally benchmarked tyres and services more accessible to motorists across the city. India continues to be a key growth market for the Michelin Group, and as we expand our retail presence and strengthen our service ecosystem, we remain committed to delivering superior mobility experiences tailored to the evolving expectations of Indian consumers."

Chennai serves as both a consumer market and a manufacturing base for Michelin in India. The company said rising premium vehicle ownership and demand for organised automotive service centres in the city had supported the expansion, which also strengthens its network across Tamil Nadu.

FALKEN ZIEX ZE320 Triumphs In 2026 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test

FALKEN ZIEX ZE320 Triumphs In 2026 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test

The FALKEN ZIEX ZE320 has emerged as the outright winner of the 2026 Auto Express summer tyre test, securing the top position in a competitive field that included premium, mid-range and budget alternatives. The comprehensive evaluation, conducted by the prominent UK automotive publication, saw the ZIEX ZE320 praised for its balanced capabilities and reassuring dynamics across both wet and dry surfaces.

Auto Express, a leading authority for new and used car buyers in the UK, is renowned for its independent tyre assessments, which are carried out without the prior knowledge of the manufacturers. The testing procedure for this year’s competition focused on the popular 205/55 R16 91V size, incorporating a variety of rigorous metrics such as braking, handling, aquaplaning resistance and noise levels.

The tyre’s victory was underscored by its performance in key disciplines, including setting the fastest lap times on both wet and dry circuits. The design features of the ZIEX ZE320, including an intelligent tread pattern with offset sipes, contribute to its strong traction and precise steering feel, while its lightweight casing and optimised sidewalls aim to improve rolling efficiency and reduce noise without sacrificing lateral stability. The entire range holds an ‘A’ rating for wet grip under EU labelling.

Available in 61 sizes spanning 15- to 18-inch wheel diameters, the tyre’s success was hailed as a strong endorsement of its everyday usability and performance. The Auto Express test team ultimately concluded that the ZE320’s all-round excellence and strong results in almost every discipline made it an outstanding choice for a broad spectrum of drivers.

John Barker, a journalist and expert tester from Auto Express, said, “The FALKEN scored an impressive victory, beating some excellent tyres to take a first win. It topped the table in three tests, including setting fastest lap times on both the wet and dry circuits, illustrating its excellent all-round ability. It was the pace-setter in both the wet and the dry and delivered strong results in almost every other discipline too. It’s an outstanding tyre.”

Jaap Leendertse, Managing Director, Sumitomo Rubber Europe, the parent company for FALKEN, said, “Winning the Auto Express summer tyre test is a fantastic achievement and a strong endorsement of the ZIEX ZE320’s real-world performance. This result demonstrates that FALKEN achieved the highest overall score in this test against several other tyre models and can deliver qualities that many drivers value, including performance and everyday usability.”

Michelin Restructures Beyond Road Division With BIBTRACK Rebrand Following Camso Divestiture

Michelin Restructures Beyond Road Division With BIBTRACK Rebrand Following Camso Divestiture

Michelin has unveiled a strategic overhaul of its product branding within the Beyond Road division, following the recent divestiture of the Camso business. The restructuring marks a significant shift in how the company will present its off-road portfolio to the global market, focusing on clarity and heritage.

Effective September 2026, the agricultural tracks previously sold under the Camso label will be rebranded as MICHELIN BIBTRACK. This new nomenclature pays homage to Michelin’s deep-rooted agricultural history, with the ‘BIB’ designation drawing from a legacy of tyre innovation that began in the 1980s. This lineage includes renowned ranges such as AGRIBIB and AXIOBIB, underscoring the brand's longstanding commitment to the farming sector.

The rebranding extends to conversion and trailed track systems, which will now carry the Michelin name without altering their product designations. Crucially, this transition involves no changes to product performance, manufacturing processes or service delivery, ensuring a seamless experience for customers. The company has simultaneously retained its material handling and Powersports activities, with industrial wheels and tyres transitioning to the Solideal by MICHELIN banner, alongside its dedicated on-site service unit.

This restructuring follows the formal sale of the Camso brand, along with specific construction tyres and tracks, to CEAT, a process initiated in late 2024 and finalised in September 2025. By streamlining its brand architecture, Michelin aims to simplify the customer journey while reinforcing its ambition to become a premier player in off-road mobility, delivering sustainable and innovative solutions grounded in advanced materials expertise.

Team Yokohama Set For Pivotal Off-Road Weekend At ‘The Big House’

Team Yokohama Set For Pivotal Off-Road Weekend At ‘The Big House’

Yokohama Tire’s off-road racing contingent is set for a pivotal appearance at the 57th annual Polaris World Championships, scheduled for 4–6 September at Crandon International Raceway in Wisconsin. Known as ‘The Big House’, the venue represents a key stop on the Championship Off-Road season calendar, with Yokohama serving as both the official tyre of the facility and a supporting partner of the racing series.

The team’s lineup features several notable competitors navigating the rugged terrain on GEOLANDAR tyres. Andrew Carlson, a proven contender with multiple podium finishes at Crandon, will pilot his vehicle in the Pro4 class using GEOLANDAR X-AT tyres. Meanwhile, recent Supercross 450 Class Champion Ken Roczen is slated to make his debut at the historic track, competing in the Pro2 class on the same tire model.

Robb Holland is also poised for his first Crandon appearance, trading asphalt for dirt in the Pro Lite division. He will drive a truck belonging to fellow Team Yokohama driver John Holtger, relying on GEOLANDAR A/T4 tyres for his inaugural short-course off-road race. Additionally, team driver Nick Visser enters the weekend holding a narrow lead in the Pro-Spec championship standings, with the title battle intensifying as the season progresses.

Beyond the on-track action, Yokohama will lead the traditional Crandon Labor Day Parade, featuring Carlson and Roczen. The weekend will also include a BassmastHER workshop hosted by Cogan and Carsello, aimed at advancing skills for female participants in the paddock, alongside a VIP and youth fishing tournament held on-site.

Candace Cogan, Director – Product Marketing, Yokohama, said, “We’ve got a great team ready to take on the challenges at Crandon during short-course racing’s most celebrated weekend. They will be ready to face the task on our versatile line of GEOLANDAR tyres. We will once again feature our partnership with Bassmaster with a cool collaboration. Last year we hosted Team Yokohama elite angler, Brandon Palanuik. This time we’ll host Wisconsin native MaggieJo Carsello, a Bassmaster open angler and ambassador for BassmastHER, a female-driven initiative to support a community of female anglers via education, travel and inspiration. We look forward to introducing her to Crandon and the world of short-course off-road racing, something she grew up hearing about.”