Yokohama Tire Corporation Promotes Top Executive

Norio Karashima, president and CEO, named managing corporate officer of Yokohama Rubber Co.

Contact: Bill Groak, PCGCampbell, 310/224-4940 bgroak@pcgcampbell.com

FULLERTON, Calif. - (May 15, 2007) - Norio Karashima, president and CEO, Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) and president of Yokohama Corporation of America, has been promoted to managing corporate officer of Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC). The announcement was made by the YRC Board of Directors in Japan and is effective June 28.

Mr. Karashima, who graduated from Seikei University in Tokyo with a degree in law, joined YRC in 1976, becoming president of YTC and an YRC corporate officer in 2004. He also served as president of Yokohama Reifen in DŸsseldorf, Germany from, 2000-2002 and was general manager of the OE Planning DeparTMent from 2003-2004.

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based 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.

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.