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.

Bridgestone Donates 10 Vans, Hits 100-Van Milestone With Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Bridgestone Donates 10 Vans, Hits 100-Van Milestone With Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Bridgestone Retail Operations, the world’s largest network of company-owned automotive service providers and a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has donated 10 new passenger vans to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The contribution brings the company’s total giving to more than 100 vans and over USD 30 million since 2015, a milestone that aligns with the 100th anniversary of Bridgestone-owned Firestone Complete Auto Care.

The 100th Driving Great Futures van was presented to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area in Austin, Texas, while the nine remaining vehicles will go to local Clubs nationwide. These vans will transport young people to and from Clubs and provide access to field trips, college tours and other enrichment activities. Bridgestone will further support the recipient Clubs by servicing the new vehicles at its retail stores.

Recipients of the 2026 van grants include Clubs in Austin, Texas; Reno, Nev.; Lynn, Mass.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Topeka, Kan.; Garden Grove, Calif.; Santa Rosa, Calif.; Greenville, Texas; West Bend, Wis. and Albany, Ga.

Bridgestone launched its Driving Great Futures national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2015 to help more young people access the opportunities, experiences and support they need to succeed. Through donations collected at its retail stores, the company has addressed transportation-related needs and bridged technology gaps by funding new computers and hotspots for in-person programming, virtual classroom learning and other infrastructure needs.

Marko Ibrahim, President, Bridgestone Retail Operations, said, “Donating our 100th van as we celebrate 100 years of business is a testament to the dedication and generosity of our teammates and customers. We believe in the transformative power of Boys & Girls Clubs and are honoured to provide the critical transportation that makes their life-changing resources accessible to kids and teens in the communities we serve.”

Jim Clark, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, said, “For more than a decade, Bridgestone has helped ensure Club kids and teens can access the opportunities and support they need to succeed. Reliable transportation helps connect young people to caring mentors, safe places and experiences that can change the trajectory of their lives. Today, 97 percent of Club kids expect to graduate from high school, and partnerships like Driving Great Futures help make outcomes like that possible. We’re grateful for Bridgestone’s continued commitment to young people and proud to celebrate this remarkable 100-van milestone.”

Cooper Unveils Discoverer HT Highway Mixed-Terrain Tyre For Trucks And SUVs

Cooper Unveils Discoverer HT Highway Mixed-Terrain Tyre For Trucks And SUVs

Cooper Tires has unveiled the all-new Discoverer HT, a highway mixed-terrain tyre engineered for drivers who depend on their vehicles daily. Designed specifically for popular trucks and SUVs, the tyre was created to handle the tasks that let drivers take full advantage of their vehicle's potential.

The tyre features tall, straight sidewalls and an optimised footprint that places a maximum amount of tread in contact with the road, helping provide confident handling and stability even when carrying heavy loads. Engineered for long-lasting value without compromising performance, the mixed-terrain tyre carries a 70,000-mile/115,000-km limited treadwear warranty on Metric sizes and a 55,000-mile/90,000-km limited treadwear warranty on LT-Metric sizes. Its durable construction is designed to support hauling, towing and carrying heavy loads, while the optimised tread footprint and sidewall design deliver stable handling. 3D Micro-Gauge technology enhances traction throughout the tyre's life, and the long-wearing tread is designed for durability and a quiet ride even on rough and uneven surfaces.

The Discoverer HT will be available in 19 popular sizes beginning in October 2026, with an additional 16 LT sizes anticipated in the first quarter of 2027. Rim sizes range from 16 to 22 inches, and the tyre is offered at local Cooper authorised retailers and online store. It is manufactured at three US facilities: Texarkana, Arkansas; Findlay, Ohio and Tupelo, Mississippi. Cooper also introduced a refreshed brand identity signalling strength, purpose, and confidence, with branded merchandise and apparel available through a dedicated page on the Goodyear website.

Brad Heim, Vice President – Product Development Global Consumer, Goodyear, said, "The toughest jobs aren't always the biggest ones. They're the ones you show up for every day. Constructed for today's truck and SUV owners, the Cooper Discoverer HT combines everyday comfort with dependable highway performance, helping drivers stay confident whether they're pulling a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving across town or covering hundreds of miles in a single day."

Alain Kohnen, Vice President, Global Manufacturing, said, "The Cooper Discoverer HT reflects more than a century of US manufacturing expertise behind the Cooper brand. This new tyre showcases what our teams do best: build high-quality, US-made products that deliver the durability and dependable performance drivers count on every day."

DUNLOP To Exhibit At Rubber & Elastomer Technical Exhibition

DUNLOP To Exhibit At Rubber & Elastomer Technical Exhibition

DUNLOP (company name: Sumitomo Rubber Industries) will present its latest innovations at the Rubber & Elastomer Technical Exhibition, scheduled for 3–6 November at the Aichi International Convention & Exhibition Center (Aichi Sky Expo). The event runs concurrently with the International Rubber Conference 2026 (IRC2026 AICHI), marking the first time in a decade that the conference is held in Japan since IRC 2016 Kitakyushu.

The company’s booth (#82) will highlight efforts to generate new value in mobility, sports, healthcare and daily life through its proprietary Rubber and Analytical Technology, refined over many years. Under its Long-term Corporate Strategy R.I.S.E. 2035, the firm envisions continuing to deliver new experiential value born from rubber to everyone. The exhibition will feature latest technologies tied to further innovation originating from rubber, identified as a growth driver for that vision.

Attendees will be able to observe how the proprietary technology is being applied across the four fields. A key tyre display is the SYNCHRO WEATHER, a next-generation all-season tyre using Active Tread Technology that lets rubber properties change with road conditions. Also featured is the WINTER MAXX ICE Pro, a new studless winter tyre engineered to maximise on-ice performance through newly developed rubber compounds and a new tread pattern design, alongside a reference exhibit of sustainable tyres made with Russian dandelions as a raw material.

Additional exhibits span several categories. In sports, a reference exhibit of the SRIXON Z-STAR +e80 golf ball carries a sustainable materials content of 82 percent. Industrial products include MIRAIE, a vibration damper for detached wooden houses that reduces building vibration amplitude during earthquakes via high-damping rubber, and safe, high-quality rubber parts for medical applications developed with polymers, rubber-processing technology and clean technology. New business displays comprise reference exhibits of rubber materials for 3D printing that retain rubber’s inherent elasticity, resilience and durability, and space-grade rubber materials, showcasing R&D initiatives and prototype materials for harsh space environments.

Michelin Launches X Multi Energy Z2 Commercial Vehicle Tyre In India

Michelin Launches X Multi Energy Z2 Commercial Vehicle Tyre In India

Michelin has introduced the Michelin X Multi Energy Z2, a new truck and bus tyre developed and tested for Indian road conditions.

The new products are manufactured at the company’s facility in Chennai, and the tyres will be available across India from 1 November 2026.

The Michelin X Multi Energy Z2 is designed for all-position fitment on commercial vehicles and incorporates the Carbion tread compound blend alongside InfiniCoil and Duracore technologies.

Testing conducted by Michelin indicates fuel savings of up to six percent in the 295/80R22.5 dimension and up to 13 percent in the 295/90R20 (tube type) dimension compared to commercial competitors. The design delivers a footprint up to five percent larger to improve grip in wet and dry conditions, alongside an 11 percent increase in summit strength and up to 25 percent longer tread life.

In terms of sustainability, the tyres contain up to 30 percent recyclable materials, and the Chennai manufacturing plant operates using 45 percent renewable energy. The model will be distributed through Michelin Tyres & Service stores and 300 authorised dealerships nationwide.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said, "India’s commercial vehicle sector is the backbone of the nation’s economy, and fleet owners are increasingly looking beyond the upfront cost of a tyre to its overall value throughout its life. Developed for Indian highways, the MICHELIN X Multi Energy Z2 addresses these needs by combining fuel efficiency, longer tyre life and enhanced robustness to help reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). With up to 13 percent fuel savings, 25 percent higher mileage and 11 percent better ply strength enabled by our Duracore technology, it is designed to help fleet operators optimise operating costs, improve productivity and strengthen their margins. At Michelin, we are committed to being a performance partner to Indian fleet owners, bringing advanced, locally relevant mobility solutions that help make every kilometre count."