FULLERTON, CA - Yokohama Tire Corporation introduced its dB Super E-spec, composed of 80 percent non-petroleum based materials.

"The eco-focused dB Super E-spec mixes sustainable orange oil and natural rubber to drastically cut the use of petroleum, without compromising performance," said Dan King, Yokohama vice president of sales. "It also helps consumers save money at the gas pump by improving fuel efficiency via a 20-percent reduction in rolling resistance and an Advanced Inner Liner that minimizes tire weight and reduces air loss to help the tire stay properly inflated. With these innovations, the dB Super E-spec could very well be the most technologically-advanced tire ever produced."

Added Mark Chung, Yokohama director, corporate strategy and planning, "The dB Super E-spec and orange oil technology match our overall company mandate to produce world-class products while protecting the environment. Every gallon of gas saved by the tire means 20 fewer pounds of CO2 released into the atmosphere, and because the dB Super E-spec is made from natural elements, most of its material is derived from renewable resources. No other tire on the market comes close to offering these environmental benefits along with superior performance."

"The idea of combining oil from orange peels with natural rubber was originally conceived by our racing engineers," said Chung. "The same orange oil technology, which improves a tire's grip, can be seen today with our ADVAN® ENV-R1TM racing tire on Porsche GT3 Cup cars. The ENV-R1 (the official spec tire of the Patrón GT3 Challenge by Yokohama) is the first environmentally-sensitive race tire used in a motorsports series."

Chung said the same basic orange oil technology is transferred from race car tires to passenger car tires. In fact, during cornering and braking, the orange oil properties generate heat quickly to give the driver superb grip. "The dB Super E-spec combines orange oil with silica and natural rubber to form a new compound called "Super Nano-Power Rubber^TM". It delivers excellent traction and demonstrates improvement in rolling resistance. This lower rolling resistance, in turn, improves fuel efficiency by minimizing the energy wasted (as heat) as the tire rolls down the road."

The dB Super E-spec, which won Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award at the 2008 SEMA trade show, will initially be available in four sizes: 185/65R15 88H, 195/65R15 91H, 195/55R16 86V and 215/60R16 95V - which fit popular hybrids and other vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid/Civic GX NGV, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid, Nissan Versa and VW Golf. 

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 offers a complete line of tires, including high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama's extensive product line, visit yokohamatire.com.

Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the "Tire Safety" section at yokohamatire.com.