Tire Preview: Yokohama dB e-spec and Advan AD08

Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 ; photo courtesy Yokohama. Click image to enlarge

At almost the complete opposite end of the scale, and something not quite so environmentally friendly, is the new Yokohama Advan Neova AD08. This tire replaces the Advan Neova AD07 and is a little more my speed, with ultimate grip both dry and wet being its primary goals. Yokohama is no stranger to high performance tires: they supply many high performance vehicles – such as the Aston Martin DB7, the Audi S8, Porsche 911 Carrera and the Lotus Exige and Elise – with OEM tires.

The main goals when designing the successor to the extreme-performing AD07 were to increase wet grip and to reduce noise. In order to reduce noise Yokohama varied the tread pattern ever so slightly from the inside to the outside of the tire. When first looking at the tire, it looks symmetrical but it is not. This reduces harmonic frequencies when travelling at constant speeds.

By creating what Yokohama calls “Hydro ARC channels,” they have managed to provide sufficient water channeling capability, but at the same time increased the amount of rubber that meets the road. More rubber on the road translates into more grip, and as a result, according to Yokohama’s tests, wet braking distance has been reduced from 100 km/h by approximately 2.4 metres (eight feet). Wet cornering grip has also been increased approximately three per cent and an AD08-equipped vehicle can round a wet skidpad seven per cent faster than an AD07-equipped vehicle.

Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 on Audi RS4 (top) and Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo (bottom); photo by James Bergeron. Click image to enlarge

Other advancements include a stiffer sidewall with steel inserts which provide superior handling control and cornering and tiny slits in the groove walls to help effectively distribute stress loads to minimize uneven tread wear.

On the track, we were provided with three vehicles equipped with Advan Neova AD08 tires: an Audi RS4, a Porsche Carrera 4 and a Mitsubishi Evo X. All three vehicles performed admirably on the track, as one might expect, but it was obvious after my very first zip through the pylons that the AD08 tires had great grip and excellent turn-in response, no doubt aided by the steel sidewall inserts as well as what Yokohama calls Rapid Reflex Twin Ribs.

From my short time behind the wheel through a couple of slaloms, a couple of high-speed sweeping corners, and some tight chicanes it became rather obvious that this tire was a worthy competitor to the Bridgestone RE-11, which I tested earlier this year. Yokohama did not provide any competitive tires to compare head-to-head with, but drawing from my experience on track with racing compound tires I was extremely impressed by the new Advan Neova AD08 – it truly felt as capable as some racing compound tires I have used.

Yokohama will be catering to many performance enthusiasts with this new tire that will be offered in 32 sizes ranging from a 205/50/R15 up to a 295/30/R19, and covering many of the popular sizes in between.

Both of these new tires from Yokohama will be available for purchase at your favourite Yokohama tire dealer in October.

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