Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5105) is focusing its sales of studless winter tires on the Winter Tranpath TX, a tire launched last year for exclusive use with boxy cars, including SUVs and minivans. The Winter Tranpath TX helps to limit the characteristic wobbling of high-roofed, boxy cars. And as a studless winter tire specialized for use with these...
Tires
Sumitomo Rubber to Launch Japanese Sales of US-Developed Motorcycle Tires
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) plans to launch Japanese sales of the Dunlop Sportmax Q4 hypersport radial motorcycle tire. Developed and produced in the U.S., the tire is set for phased-in Japanese sales from March 1, 2019. One front tire size and five rear tire sizes are to go on sale. The first Sumitomo Rubber hypersport radial to be sold...
Promising Signs Emerge in Japanese Market for Studless Winter Tires
While snowy conditions around Japan have started later than average this winter, recent developments are hinting at a more favorable tailwind for sales of studless winter tires. Coming into mid-December, northern Japan is finally seeing full-fledged winter conditions, while elsewhere even parts of the Kanto region are beginning to see snowfall. Publishing a demand forecast this summer for the second...
Bridgestone CEO Masaaki Tsuya Sees Service Networks as Key to Success in Shifting Tire Market
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) CEO Masaaki Tsuya recently sat down for an interview with Japan Rubber Weekly. Talking about the importance of service networks in the tire industry, Tsuya said that these will be crucial going forward as lifestyle changes exert an influence on the market. As a general rule, Tsuya said, customers buy tires not because they want to but...
Toyo Tires President Sees Upcoming Name Change as Pivot Point Into Mobility
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5105) President Takashi Shimizu has reasserted his company’s path to specializing in mobility through tires and auto parts. Shimizu pointed to the background leading up to Toyo Tires’ capital tie-up with Mitsubishi Corp. (TYO:8058) that was announced on Nov. 1, the aims from this, and how his company will be changing its name to...
Sumitomo Rubber Begins Run-Flat Tire Deliveries for New Lexus Compact Crossover
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) recently began delivery of the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 DSST CTT to Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203). A high-performance run-flat tire, it is being deployed as a factory-standard product for use in the new Lexus UX compact crossover launched in November. The Lexus UX comes as a new addition to the Lexus lineup, adopting...