Yokohama Tire Corporation'S New Advan Neova® Ad08 R To Debut At Washington Formula Drift Event, July 19-20

Company press release.

• Yokohama-sponsored driver Michael Essa looks to move up in the standings on Yokohama's 'fastest tire yet'

FULLERTON, CA (July 17, 2013) – Veteran drifting competitor Michael Essa is taking Yokohama Tire Corporation's (YTC) newest ultra high-performance tire – the ADVAN Neova® AD08 R – for a spin…and then some. The YTC-sponsored driver will debut the AD08 R during the Formula Drift event at the Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington, July 19-20.

Essa, who won Formula Drift's recent race in Palm Beach, Florida and is currently in third place, will switch-out his regular ADVAN Neova® AD08s on his GSR Autosport E46 BMW M3 for the next-generation version, which went on sale to the public on July 1.

'The regular AD08s were very fast and offered a lot of grip, but I've tested the AD08 Rs and they are even better,' said Essa. 'Yokohama's known for its high-performance tire technology, and the new AD08 Rs should really help me and the team to achieve the best results possible.'

The AD08 R is designed with a specialized compound featuring YTC's orange oil technology for enhanced traction and road surface adhesion. The compound also includes micro silica and extra carbon to further improve dry grip, and a macromolecule-blended polymer for greater rigidity and resistance to wear.

'The AD08 R uses the best of our race design and technology for improved grip in both wet and dry conditions,' said Matt Johnson, YTC performance marketing supervisor. 'I'm looking forward to see what Michael does on the new Neovas. He's an extremely talented driver, and he and his team have been able to build a very competitive vehicle that really helps demonstrate the performance of our tires.'

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company's complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama's extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.