The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced that it will cease supplying its Yokohama karting tyres at the end of this year.
Yokohama to Stop Kart Tyre Production
Yokohama Rubber began supplying karting tyres for use in Japan and overseas in 2001. The Company has provided tyres for karting races certified by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF)-including the All Japan Karting Championship, the country’s premier kart racing series—and races certified by the International Automobile Federation’s International Karting Commission (CIK-FIA). Yokohama karting tyres also include tyres for hobby, rental, and indoor karts. For more than 20 years, the Company has supported races and driver in Japan and overseas with a wide range of karting tyres.
However, under Yokohama Transformation 2023 (YX2023), the Company’s medium-term management plan for fiscal years 2021–2023, Yokohama Rubber is promoting the restructuring of its business as it targets growth over the next generation. After careful consideration of various viewpoints, management has determined that it should terminate its supply of karting tyres and withdraw from the karting tyre business. Yokohama Rubber will fulfill its responsibilities under existing contracts with kart racing series, events and other customers and continue to supply tyres until the contracts’ expiration.