Exclusive Q&A: How does trickle-down racing technology fuel tyre innovation?

From rock crawling to 24-hour endurance stints, when it comes to tyre development, innovation (and inspiration) are often born in the most unlikely places. But how can this racing-inspired tech enhance your next set of Yokohama rubber?

Whether it’s in business, technology, or even nature, competition is a potent catalyst for progress. And when it comes to tyres, Yokohama was quick to harness this potential. With its first foray into motorsport dating back to the early 1960s, the Japanese powerhouse benefits from over six decades of racing experience. 

Formula 3, Touring Car, Global Rally Cross, Pikes Peak, Endurance Racing — Yokohama tyres have featured (and won) in nearly every theatre of motorsport from sand to snow and beyond. But how does this success on track benefit the average consumer? Well, to explain how the firm’s storied racing heritage translates to the continued evolution of its road-going range, we spoke with Yokohama’s Motorsport Manager, Simon Clarke.  

Offering an exclusive insight into the link between road and racing tyres, Clarke explains how Yokohama’s motorsport ventures continue to drive advancements in tyre performance, and spawn exiting new sustainable technologies.

Q. So, how does Yokohama’s involvement in motorsport influence its road-going tyre range? 

A. “Motorsport is vitally important to Yokohama in the development of new tyre technologies. These new technologies tested in the motorsport arena ensure that future road tyres will benefit from the same level of precision and cutting-edge development. These challenging environments can be used to check the performance of tyres for consumer use.” 

Q. Which specific tyre technologies has racing inspired? 

A. “One example would be butadiene rubber — which is often used in tyres and other products and usually made from petroleum. To become carbon neutral and use only sustainable materials by 2050, Yokohama Rubber is working on new ways to make butadiene using plant-based resources like ethanol and sugar. Now, Yokohama has successfully developed a racing tyre made with biomass-derived butadiene rubber. This innovative tyre was showcased on a Tesla Model S Plaid that secured second place in the Exhibition Division of the 2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the United States — showing that combining new materials with new technologies can deliver results. This is extremely useful in terms of developing passenger car tyres for many types of applications.”

Q. How do you think motor racing will continue to drive tyre innovation in the future?  

A. “On top of being actively involved in numerous high-level motorsport categories worldwide, Yokohama aims to expand its presence even further and is seeking out new racing series for control tyre supply. This participation serves as the perfect platform for testing Yokohama's cutting-edge technologies and is driven by continuous innovation combined with a passion to create more environmentally friendly outstanding products. 

In terms of sustainability and looking to the future, Yokohama’s main focus will be continuing to develop environmentally friendly solutions to improve our technology and production, including using renewable sources to develop tyres. This focus on developing more environmentally sustainable products will inevitably continue to drive innovation in terms of materials and processes. This is part of Yokohama’s design philosophy.”

Conclusion  

From its off-road-biased Geolander range to its high-performance Advan Neova track day offerings, Yokohama’s immersion in the world of motorsport benefits all of its consumer lines. And, as Clarke highlights, racing has the potential to enhance much more than just a tyre’s performance.

Are you excited for what the future of racing tyres might bring? Let us know how you’d like to see road tyres evolve in the future.

Hero image credit: Yokohama