Experiencing Yokohama’s New BluEarth-AllSeason2 in Iceland: Driving Through the Land of Fire and Ice

There are product launches, and then there are experiences.

When the invitation from Yokohama landed in my inbox, it was immediately clear this wasn’t going to be an ordinary tyre launch. The destination alone hinted at something different.

Rather than unveiling its latest all-season tyre on a proving ground or race circuit, Yokohama had chosen Iceland, a country renowned for its unpredictable weather, dramatic landscapes and roads that can challenge both driver and machine within the space of a few miles.

It was the perfect backdrop to introduce the BluEarth-AllSeason2, Yokohama’s latest all-season tyre, developed specifically with European drivers in mind.

With temperatures hovering around 10°C, powerful Atlantic winds, volcanic terrain and roads ranging from immaculate tarmac to loose gravel, Iceland provides exactly the sort of varied conditions that define real-world all-season driving. If a tyre is designed to inspire confidence throughout the year, there are few better places to demonstrate it.

Journalists, dealers and customers from across Europe travelled to Reykjavík to experience the launch first-hand, learn about the engineering behind the tyre and spend time behind the wheel to see whether Yokohama’s latest innovation could live up to the promises made on the presentation stage.

What followed was three unforgettable days of engineering, exploration and some of the most spectacular driving roads I’ve ever experienced.

Grindavík: A Town Shaped by Nature’s Power

Before we even discussed tyres, Yokohama wanted us to understand Iceland.

Shortly after arriving, we were taken to Grindavík, the small fishing town that has become synonymous with Iceland’s recent volcanic eruptions.

Seeing the town in person was a sobering experience.

For many people around the world, Grindavík has become a headline – a place evacuated after repeated volcanic activity threatened homes and businesses.

Walking its streets while hearing about the history of the eruptions, the evacuation of residents and the ongoing monitoring of seismic activity brought those headlines to life.

Our guide explained how Iceland sits directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The island itself is constantly changing, shaped by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and geothermal activity that continues beneath the surface every single day.

Standing beside roads that had buckled under the force of the earth moving beneath them and lava flowing over them was a reminder that nature always has the final say here.

It was a fascinating introduction to Iceland, and one that immediately gave me a new appreciation for the country.

The Perfect Place to Launch an All-Season Tyre

It didn’t take long to understand why Yokohama had chosen Iceland.

The company has developed the BluEarth-AllSeason2 specifically for Europe’s rapidly growing all-season tyre market, where drivers increasingly expect one tyre to perform confidently across changing weather conditions without the need to swap between summer and winter tyres.

Speaking during the launch, Gregorio Borgo, President of Yokohama Europe and Managing Officer of The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., explained:

“European drivers increasingly expect one tyre to cover a wide range of conditions. With BluEarth-AllSeason2, we are delivering a solution that combines safety, performance and everyday usability in a highly dynamic segment.”

That message was echoed by Takashi Maki, CEO of Yokohama Europe, who described Europe as an increasingly important region within Yokohama’s long-term global growth strategy.

“BluEarth-AllSeason2 clearly demonstrates The Yokohama Rubber Company’s commitment to growth in Europe, a region that is playing an increasingly important role in our global expansion strategy. As performance across the region continues to strengthen, the company is reinforcing the focus on Europe through a more localised product approach and a broader portfolio tailored to market needs.”

It quickly became clear that BluEarth-AllSeason2 wasn’t simply replacing an existing product.

It represents Yokohama’s continued investment in developing tyres specifically around European roads, European weather and European drivers.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Evening

With the formalities over for the afternoon, the evening offered something completely different.

Whale watching.

If I’m honest, it wasn’t something I’d ever expected to tick off my bucket list during a tyre launch.

Heading out into Reykjavík Bay aboard a whale-watching boat, the city slowly disappeared behind us as snow-capped mountains framed the horizon. The sea was choppy, the air fresh and, despite the cool temperatures, everyone remained firmly on deck hoping for a glimpse of Iceland’s incredible marine wildlife.

We weren’t disappointed.

Watching whales surface naturally just metres from the boat was one of those moments you simply can’t prepare for. Seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat was breathtaking and something photographs will never fully capture – but I gave it a go.

Meeting the Minds Behind the Tyre

Later that evening, attention turned back to the reason we had all travelled to Reykjavík.

The official unveiling of the BluEarth-AllSeason2.

One thing immediately stood out.

Rather than relying solely on marketing presentations, Yokohama had brought members of its board and engineering team directly from Japan to explain how the tyre had been developed.

As someone who spends much of his working life writing about tyres, hearing directly from the people responsible for designing the product was one of the highlights of the entire trip.

Every question was answered openly. Every design decision had a reason behind it. And every engineer spoke with genuine passion about their work.

It transformed what could easily have been another product presentation into something far more engaging.

Where Human Intelligence Meets Artificial Intelligence

One subject that sparked particular interest throughout the presentation was Artificial Intelligence.

It’s impossible to avoid AI at the moment. Hardly a day goes by without another headline discussing how it might change industries or replace jobs.

Yokohama presented a very different story when speaking directly with the creator of the tyre at dinner.

Its proprietary HAICoLab (Humans and AI ColLab) technology isn’t about replacing engineers.

Instead, it combines decades of tyre engineering expertise with advanced AI modelling to analyse thousands of design possibilities before engineers refine and validate the final product.

It’s AI working alongside people, not instead of them.

Personally, I found this refreshing. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, Yokohama is using it to improve road safety and tyre performance.

The technology has helped engineers increase the tyre’s contact patch by around 5%, creating a more uniform footprint that delivers greater stability and grip across a wider range of conditions.

Listening to the engineers explain how AI had accelerated development while still leaving the final decisions in human hands was probably my biggest takeaway from the evening.

Technology should make products better. This felt like a perfect example of exactly that.

Engineering Beyond the Headlines

The deeper we looked into BluEarth-AllSeason2, the more obvious it became that this wasn’t simply a cosmetic update over its predecessor.

Almost every element of the tyre has been redesigned.

The tread pattern now features stiffer centre blocks – around 35% more rigid than before – helping improve steering precision and stability during braking and cornering.

The new symmetrical V-shaped tread pattern incorporates optimised three-dimensional crank-shaped sipes alongside four wide circumferential grooves designed to evacuate water more efficiently and reduce the risk of aquaplaning.

Meanwhile, Yokohama’s silica-rich compound, combined with its proprietary A.R.T. Mixing Technology, improves silica dispersion throughout the rubber, allowing the tyre to maintain flexibility in colder temperatures while enhancing wet grip and reducing rolling resistance.

Internally, lightweight steel belts and a full nylon belt cover improve structural rigidity without adding unnecessary weight.

According to Yokohama’s development data, the result is impressive:

• 32% improvement in dry handling
• 18% improvement in wet handling
• 12% shorter wet braking
• 11% improvement in dry braking
• 17% greater resistance to aquaplaning
• 7% improvement in snow handling
• 35% increase in tread life
• 8% reduction in rolling resistance

The following morning would give us the opportunity to discover how they translated into the real world.

Taking to Iceland’s Roads

The following morning, it was finally time to discover whether the engineering translated into the real world.

Waiting outside the hotel was our test vehicle – a BMW X3 Hybrid, fitted with 245/45 R19 Yokohama BluEarth-AllSeason2 tyres. Joining me for the drive were Dave from Yokohama and James from Blackcircles.com, making for excellent company as we set off to explore some of Iceland’s most spectacular roads.

Our route would cover more than 100 kilometres, taking us from Reykjavík into Iceland’s rugged interior. Along the way we’d experience everything from fast-flowing highways and quiet rural roads to mountain passes and stretches of gravel, all while contending with the country’s famously unpredictable weather and relentless crosswinds.

If there was ever a place to evaluate an all-season tyre, this was it.

Of course, before we’d even covered our first few miles, there was one challenge to overcome – remembering to drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Thankfully, we adapted quickly – although our journey wasn’t entirely incident free. Thanks to what became affectionately known as our “battle scar” following a rather close encounter with a bridge, the BMW picked up a small reminder of our adventure.

Fortunately, it was nothing more than a cosmetic scrape, and after a few laughs we continued towards Yokohama’s mountain base camp. It’s fair to say it became one of those moments every road trip needs – a story that would be retold over dinner later that evening.

A Landscape Unlike Anywhere Else

No amount of research could have prepared me for Iceland.

As the miles passed beneath us, the scenery seemed to transform almost constantly. One moment we were driving through vast lava fields shaped by centuries of volcanic eruptions. The next, we were passing steaming geothermal vents where clouds of vapour escaped naturally from beneath the earth’s surface.

Towering mountains framed the horizon while glaciers shimmered in the distance. Every corner revealed another breathtaking view.

There were moments when conversation inside the car simply stopped. Instead, we found ourselves looking out of the windows in complete silence, trying to take in the scale of the landscape surrounding us.

It’s one of the few places I’ve visited where the journey itself becomes every bit as memorable as the destination.

One of the standout moments came when we stopped at the spectacular waterfall in Bláskógabyggð.

Standing beside the cascading water, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and untouched countryside, it quickly became clear why Iceland features on so many travel bucket lists. The sheer force of the waterfall, combined with the peaceful surroundings, created one of those moments where you simply stop, breathe and appreciate where you are.

Behind the Wheel of the BluEarth-AllSeason2

While Iceland’s scenery constantly demanded our attention, the purpose of the trip remained the same – to experience Yokohama’s newest all-season tyre.

It’s always difficult to form a complete opinion after a single day behind the wheel, particularly when you’re driving a manufacturer-supplied vehicle. However, first impressions count for a lot, and the BluEarth-AllSeason2 made a very positive one.

The first thing I noticed was refinement.

Tyres are often judged by grip or braking performance, but one area that immediately stood out was just how quiet they were. Even on Iceland’s rougher road surfaces, cabin noise remained impressively low, making the drive noticeably more relaxing than I’d expected.

Comfort was equally impressive.

Throughout the route I deliberately allowed the BMW to encounter several larger potholes and imperfections in the road surface to see how the tyres would react. Rather than transmitting harsh impacts into the cabin, they absorbed them confidently, allowing the X3 to remain composed without feeling unsettled.

Steering response also felt reassuringly natural.

There wasn’t an artificially sharp feel designed to impress during the first few corners. Instead, the steering inspired confidence through its predictability, giving the impression that the tyre had been developed with everyday driving rather than headline-grabbing lap times in mind.

That philosophy aligns closely with Yokohama’s own ambitions for the BluEarth-AllSeason2.

This isn’t intended to be an ultra-high-performance summer tyre.

It’s designed to be the tyre drivers leave on their car throughout the year, providing dependable performance whether they’re commuting to work, heading away for a family holiday or simply dealing with whatever the British weather decides to throw at them.

The conditions we encountered certainly helped demonstrate that versatility.

Although temperatures remained relatively cool throughout the day, the roads themselves varied considerably. Smooth asphalt gave way to coarse surfaces before transitioning onto gravel sections and exposed mountain roads where strong side winds demanded constant attention.

Despite the changing conditions, the BluEarth-AllSeason2 consistently felt planted and composed.

An Honest Assessment

One thing I always believe when attending manufacturer events is that honesty matters.

Yokohama had planned to include a dedicated snow and ice handling session as part of the launch, allowing us to experience the tyre in true winter conditions.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other ideas.

Changing weather conditions meant that part of the programme had to be cancelled, meaning I wasn’t able to evaluate the tyre’s snow performance for myself.

That’s worth mentioning because, while Yokohama’s internal testing shows a 7% improvement in snow handling over its predecessor, I can’t personally verify that claim based on my experience in Iceland.

What I can comment on is everything else we experienced.

Over more than 100 kilometres, the tyre delivered impressive refinement, reassuring stability and excellent ride comfort across an incredibly varied selection of roads.

Combined with the technical presentation from Yokohama’s engineers, it left me with the impression that BluEarth-AllSeason2 represents a meaningful step forward rather than simply an incremental update.

More Than Just a Tyre Launch

Looking back, it’s difficult to describe the trip as simply a product launch.

It became so much more than that.

Learning about the remarkable resilience of Grindavík’s residents. Watching whales surface in Reykjavík Bay. Standing beside roaring waterfalls. Driving through volcanic landscapes that looked almost otherworldly.

Those are the moments that stay with you.

The tyre itself was, of course, the reason we travelled to Iceland. But the experience surrounding it made the event genuinely memorable.

Credit should also go to the entire Yokohama Europe team.

From the organisation of the trip to the openness of the presentations and the willingness of the engineers from Japan to answer every question, it was clear how much pride everyone involved takes in developing their products.

Rather than feeling like we were being sold to, the event felt like an opportunity to understand the engineering process from the people who live and breathe tyre development every day.

That authenticity made a real difference.

When Can You Buy the BluEarth-AllSeason2?

The BluEarth-AllSeason2 has certainly made an excellent first impression, but UK drivers will need to be a little patient before fitting a set to their own vehicles.

Yokohama has confirmed that the tyre will launch later this year, although an official UK release date has yet to be announced.

When it does arrive, the range will initially be available in 74 sizes, covering premium passenger cars, SUVs and battery electric vehicles, reinforcing Yokohama’s ambition to strengthen its position within Europe’s rapidly growing all-season tyre market.

If my experience in Iceland is anything to go by, it’s certainly a tyre worth keeping an eye on.

Where to Buy the Yokohama BluEarth-AllSeason2

Once the Yokohama BluEarth-AllSeason2 is available in the UK, you’ll be able to purchase it directly from Blackcircles.com. Whether you’re looking to compare prices, choose from a wide range of available sizes or book fitting at one of our trusted local garages, Blackcircles.com will make it easy to find the right BluEarth-AllSeason2 for your vehicle.

Be sure to visit Blackcircles.com to shop the new Yokohama BluEarth-AllSeason2 as soon as it becomes available.