Yokohama Tire Sponsoring Three NBA Teams

Consumer and dealer promotions planned with San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics

Media Contacts: Bill Groak, PCGCampbell, 310/224-4940, Cell: 310/849-3676; bgroak@pcgcampbell.com
Mike Shaw, PCGCampbell, 310/224-4948, Cell: 310/613-8367; mshaw@pcgcampbell.com

FULLERTON, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2008) - Continuing to partner with well-known sports teams to market its line of consumer tires, Yokohama Tire Corporation has signed sponsorship deals with three National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, according to Dan King, Yokohama vice president of sales. With the season in full swing, Yokohama is partnering with the NBA's defending champions San Antonio Spurs; the Boston Celtics, the team with the league's best record this year; and the Golden State Warriors, considered one of the most exciting teams in the Western Conference.

The basketball sponsorships follow successful partnerships with three NFL teams, the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons, plus UCLA and USC college football. Yokohama also sponsored two minor league baseball teams last season, the Triple-A Columbus Clippers and the Double-A Reading Phillies.

"NBA basketball is popular on a global level, making it a great venue to showcase our world-class lineup of tires, including ADVAN(R), S.drive(TM), Parada(R), Geolandar(R) and AVID(R)," said King. "All the tie-ins we have planned with these teams should score points with our dealers and their customers."

Much like the football sponsorships, the NBA deal will help Yokohama execute promotions that will drive traffic to dealers. For example, there will be a special NBA jersey giveaway where dealers in the specific markets offer free, authentic replica team jerseys to every customer who buys four tires. Yokohama will also have signage, product displays and special events at the basketball arenas, plus radio spots, presence on the teams' Websites and newsletters, hospitality events for dealers and other corporate identifications.

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based the Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global producer and distributor of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation offers a complete line of tires, including high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama's extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com. For details on Yokohama's environmental efforts, go to www.ecotreadsetters.com.

Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the "Taking Care of Your Tires" section at www.yokohamatire.com.