New ENVigor marries Yokohama performance, green pedigree

LANGLEY, B.C. (March 8, 2010) – ENVigor, the new all-season high performance touring tire line from Yokohama, brings together the performance of a premium Yokohama tire with environmental benefits like low rolling resistance and light weight for improved fuel economy, long life and reduced use of harmful chemicals.

Described as “the most complete performance tire ever created,” ENVigor is aimed squarely at the discerning tire buyer who demands both outstanding performance and a superior environmental profile in a premium tire, the company says.

Yokohama achieved this breakthrough balance by incorporating a silica-rich compound with recycled rubber into a design that produces very low road noise and rolling resistance that is up to 18 per cent less than the successful Avid H4S model from the company’s line-up.

With fuel economy a high priority for many buyers, the fuel saving from low rolling resistance is an important buying consideration. Equally important is long life, and the Yokohama Avid ENVigor line has a UTQG rating of 560,which suggests a very high mileage life for buyers.

Customers focused on the environment get the added assurance that ENVigor is made without the use of aromatic naphthenic oils considered harmful to health.

“Yokohama is a global leader in the development of environmentally sensitive tires that meet the demanding performance standards of both auto manufacturers and consumers,” explains Jonathon Karelse, marketing manager of Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc.

“The new ENVigor line marries Yokohama’s proven high performance technologies with improved environmental benefits in a tire designed for wide market applications,” says Karelse. “Thoughtful customers who demand superior braking, handling and wet weather performance no longer have to compromise to satisfy their desire for a better environmental record.”

ENVigor is engineered with Yokohama’s proprietary Adaptive 3D sipes (which help maintain water and winter traction); angled groove walls and circumferential grooves that resist hydroplaning; a tapered center rib and unibloc shoulder for stiffness; a six-pitch tread variation for reduced pattern noise; and groove-in-groove technology for reducing uneven wear.

The new line makes its debut this spring with an extensive selection of popular sizes – a total of 69, for 15” to 20” applications. Speed ratings span H to W. Tires from the ENVigor line are backed by a 5-year, 110,000-kilometre warranty.

ENVigor is the second new line of environmentally sensitive tires from Yokohama Canada in the past year. Last fall, the company debuted the new Yokohama dB super E-spec line specially created for hybrid cars. Designed with ultra-low rolling resistance for enhanced fuel economy and reduced emissions, the Yokohama dB super E-spec tire was the first of the new Eco-motion line of tires in Canada from the company.

The Yokohama dB super E-spec line is manufactured with natural rubber and orange oil. Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. markets and distributes a full line of tires for high performance, passenger car, light truck, and commercial truck applications, as well as off-the-road tires for mining, forestry and construction applications. It maintains distribution centres across Canada to serve more than 700 independent tire dealers and more than 2,000 retail locations.