The Yokohama AVID GT tyre debuts as OE on the new Nissan LEAF EV, delivering improved efficiency, lower noise, and enhanced handling stability.
Yokohama Developed the AVID GT Using HAICoLab
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (Yokohama) has begun supplying its 215/55R18 95H size AVID GT passenger car tyres as original equipment for the new Nissan LEAF electric vehicle launched in the United States in 2025.
The AVID GT was developed by applying the core design and material technologies of Yokohama‘s BluEarth global tyre brand, which the company describes as “environmentally, human, and socially friendly”.
According to Yokohama, the tyre improves energy efficiency and wear resistance while maintaining high levels of drivability and safety. On the new LEAF, the AVID GT delivers enhanced handling stability and reduced weight through an optimised tyre profile and casing structure.
To achieve a quieter ride, a key requirement for electric vehicles with low powertrain noise, Yokohama said it used evolutionary computation, including genetic algorithms, to determine an optimal pitch sequence. This approach forms part of HAICoLab (Humans and AI ColLaborate), the company’s digital innovation framework that combines AI with human expertise.
Under HAICoLab, AI systems are used to predict, analyse, and search across large volumes of data, drawing on both real-world measurements and virtual data generated through simulations. The resulting insights are digitised and shared within the organisation as new knowledge, which Yokohama regards as a source of competitive advantage.
Human engineers then interpret this knowledge, applying inspiration, experience, and judgment to formulate hypotheses, while addressing potential bias through structured evaluation methods. Yokohama said this human-AI collaboration enables faster and more precise optimisation of tyre characteristics, such as noise, efficiency, durability, and handling.
The launch of the new Nissan LEAF comes as automakers seek to broaden the appeal of electric vehicles beyond early adopters. Nissan has positioned the latest model as an alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles, citing improved driving range, faster charging, and a suite of technologies designed to make daily driving easier and enhance the drivers’ lifestyles.
Yokohama said it plans to use feedback from EV manufacturers gained through original equipment supply programmes to inform the development of its replacement tyre range. The company will also strengthen its marketing efforts to make its tyres used as OE on EVs.
