Yokohama adds M/T tire to Geolander line

GATEWAY, Colo.—Yokohama chose an appropriate setting—the mountains of southwestern Colorado—to introduce its latest off-road tire.

The Geolander M/T G003 mud-terrain tire, the latest offering in a Geolander line that began in 1995, will hit the market in the U.S. on July 1. It will be available initially in 37 sizes, ranging from 15- to 20-inch rim diameters.

Yokohamo showcased the tires during a ride-and-drive event for journalists May 15 in the picturesque canyons surrounding the Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa. Journalists ventured more than 7,500 feet up, along the canyon's rocky roads and passageways, driving Jeeps fitted with Geolander M/T GOO3 tires. Later in the day, they raced wannabe trophy trucks—off-road buggies—through a twisty, dusty track that featured at least five jumps, cruising on the Geolanders.

"Go strong is the battle cry for Geolander, and that's really what the new, incredibly tough M/T tire is all about," said Andrew Briggs, Yokohama's senior director of tire business and product planning. "The M/T was built to dominate, and it does."

According to Yokohama, the tire was constructed with a special triple-polymer compound using the tire maker's new geo-shield construction, which incorporates multiple sidewall plies, a full nylon cap and a high turn-up carcass. This, Yokohoma claims, makes the tire stronger and allows it to maneuver the harshest off-road conditions.

The tire has a unique sidewall styling, and according to Fardad Niknam, Yokohama's director of LTR segment development, and tests have shown that the M/T outperforms leading competitors in several areas. For instance, the tire boasts an 8-percent longer tread life, shorter stopping distance on wet roads (51 feet shorter) and is 2.3 decibels quieter, Niknam said.

"The M/T has it all: Intimidating good looks, superior strength, proven performance and excellent traction in all on- and off-road terrains, from everyday highway driving to attacking steep, jagged rocks, muddy trails and desert sand," Briggs said.

Geolander applications include a multitude of pickups and SUVs, including the Dodge Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150 Raptor, Nissan Titan, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Land Rover Discovery and the GMC Yukon XL 3500.

As part of the rollout, Fred Koplin, director of marketing for Yokohama, said the tire maker has launched two sponsorships to align with audiences for the M/T. Yokohama has become the official tire of the U.S. Spartan Racing Series, an obstacle race series, and it also has become the official tire of the Nitro Circus Live U.S. Tour and Nitro World Games.