Yokohama Dedicates First ADVAN® Premium Service Center

The Tire Man in Southern California is the first in U.S. selected for new program

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

Editor's note: High-resolution images from this event are available at http://media.pcgcampbell.com/tireman - please do not publish the web address. It's for media use only.

FULLERTON, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2007) - With great fanfare, a specially built ADVAN® Premium Service Center inside The Tire Man in Thousand Oaks, Calif., was officially dedicated in a traditional Japanese ceremony by Yokohama Tire Corporation President and CEO Norio Karashima and Paul Saylors, owner of the Tire Man. The Tire Man was chosen as the first site in the U.S. for ADVAN® Premium Service Centers, according to Jim Mayfield, director of ADVAN Brand.

"ADVAN is our flagship line of ultra-high-performance tires and the new Premium Service Centers within tire dealerships are designed to emphasize such to consumers."

Mayfield said ADVAN Premium Service Centers are part of Yokohama's commiTMent to provide unparalleled service and to spotlight the iconic tire line. "From the point-of-sale materials to displays and overall aTMosphere; and of course, to the team the consumers will meet, the ADVAN Premium Centers embody luxury service. They are far from typical and are totally in keeping with the ADVAN approach."

The Tire Man's ADVAN Premium Service Center is just the start, according to Mayfield. "We plan on having several ADVAN Premium Service Centers across the U.S. over the next year."

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 for more than 90 years. 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 (RMA) and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA). Details can be found at the "Taking Care of Your Tires" section at www.yokohamatire.com.