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Old 08-24-2010, 12:25 AM   #1
Yar Is Word
 
Drives: Yaris 5 door liftback
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Yokohama Orange, You Glad?

These will fit 15" Yaris

Any one with comments?

Yokohama site:http://yokohamatire.com/tires/e-spec.aspx

The following article is from Edmunds:
http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...-friendly.html

Yokohama Orange Oil Tires: Environmentally Friendly
By Albert Austria | November 26, 2009


Yokohama Tire Corporation recently had the U.S introduction of the dB Super E-spec, the first tire formulated with orange oil. Oil from the orange peel, not orange juice, is used to replace petroleum-based oils in the construction.

The citrus (orange) oil is sourced from the orange growers industry, and it's something that would ordinarily be wasted (unless it was used in other applications such as termite eradication). Yokohama said that unlike what is happening with corn and ethanol, no orange groves are being created for tire production.


Yokohama claims better traction, tread life, and rolling resistance compared to conventional low rolling-resistance tires, the target market for these tires. Yokohama also asserts that during active cornering and braking, the orange oil generates heat more quickly for better traction than other low rolling-resistance tires.


The dB Super E-spec is intended as a replacement tire for hybrid vehicles like Prius and Civic Hybrid. There are currently no original equipment fitments.

However, the orange oil is only part of the story.

The primary goal of the dB Super E-spec is to replace many of the petrochemicals with renewable materials. Yokohama declares the dB Super E-spec 80% petroleum-free, a significant reduction from the typical 50-65% petroleum content in conventional tire construction.

To facilitate this transition away from petroleum substances, Yokohama incorporated several renewable materials into the dB Super E-spec tire. Along with the orange oil, natural rubber is used to replace most of the synthetic rubber. Rayon, a cellulosic material, is used in the tire construction instead of a petroleum-based substance. And the carbon black that's used is coal-derived instead of the more common petroleum-based version.

The dB Super E-spec (you can disregard the dB name: that's a legacy from the original tire noise reduction intent when the project first started 20 years ago) is not made with 100% orange oil because, due to tire chemistry considerations, some petroleum-based oil must still be used in the construction.

Yokohama said its low rolling-resistance competitors are the Goodyear Integrity and Michelin Hydroedge, and that the dB Super E-spec has 22% and 11% lower rolling resistance, respectively. The Yokohama tire also has an advanced inner liner called Airtex which is 1.68 lbs lighter than a conventional liner, which also contributes to the lower rolling resistance.

It seems the only downside to the orange oil construction is that it is more expensive and much more difficult to manufacture, with slower build time compared to conventional tires. The cost ends up being about a 15% price premium on the retail end.

Three sizes are currently available: 185/65R15 88H, 195/65R15 91H, and 195/55R16 87V. These sizes fit popular hybrids and some other vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid/Civic GX NGV, Honda Accord Hybrid, Nissan Versa and VW Golf. In early 2010, a 215/60R16 95V will be available, a perfect fit for your Camry Hybrid.

We drove dB Super E-specs in 195/55R16 87V mounted on a Mini around a parking lot autocross course (video shows Yokohama hotshoe Kevin in action.) And they were mostly fine, though they slid a bit, although at least in a predictable manner. But remember: these tires weren't designed for autocross - they were primarily intended for use in hybrids.

Then again, the same orange oil technology is used on Yokohama's Advan ENVR1 racing tire on Porsche GT3 Cup cars. The ENV-R1 performs as well as the previously used slick in the ALMS (American Le Mans Series) GT3 series, but uses about 10% less petroleum materials in its compound. Yokohama claims that it is the first environmentally-sensitive race tire used in a motorsports series.

Yokohama has demonstrated the broad functional range of orange oil in tire compounds, from hybrid applications to world class racing victories. And other tire makers are said to be working on their own orange oil tires.

If the focus on renewable tire materials continues to grow, it could result in a significant positive impact on our environment.


Albert Austria, Senior Vehicle Evaluation Engineer, Edmunds, Inc
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Old 08-24-2010, 09:29 AM   #2
why?
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'environementaly friendly' marketing makes me want to gag. Tire rack sells a set of 4 for $456, compared to $288 for the next most expensive set of 4 in the same size. Only a few sets of Michelin's come close to that price, and well, they just gouge for the heck of it.

So it is a cute idea, but until that price comes way down it is just as silly as buying a hybrid to save money on gas.
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