The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has started supplying its ADVAN Sport EV tyres for use as original equipment (OE) on the new Stelato S9, an electric vehicle (EV) developed jointly by leading Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer Huawei and Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group). The EV will be equipped with 245/45R20 103V size tyres.

The ADVAN Sport EV tyre is developed for high-end EV users based on Yokohama Rubber's ADVAN Sport V107 tyre. Yokohama Rubber has attained a level of low power consumption and quietness suitable for luxury EVs by employing a compound that has been shown to minimise tyre rolling resistance and adding a unique polyurethane foam dubbed SILENTFOAM to the inside of the tyre to reduce noise. Yokohama Rubber's exclusive ‘E+’ symbol is shown on the sidewall of the ADVAN Sport EV to signify that it possesses unique properties appropriate for electric vehicles.

The Stelato S9 was launched in China in August 2024. Combining state-of-the-art features like a sophisticated driver assistance system with an opulent cabin with a sizable central control panel, the Stelato S9 provides a sophisticated and pleasurable driving experience. Furthermore, the car's sleek body shape offers its exteriors a chic, contemporary look.

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FALKEN has secured original equipment supply approval from Audi for its AZENIS FK520 summer tyre, which will be fitted to the premium brand’s flagship SUVs, the Q7 and Q9. Production begins in May 2026, with the tyres carrying the R0 designation to mark the Audi-specific fitment. The deal reinforces FALKEN’s standing in the premium original equipment market.

The AZENIS FK520 (R0) comes in three sizes covering 20- to 22-inch wheel diameters, with vehicles assembled at Audi’s Bratislava plant in Slovakia. Buyers can inspect the fitted tyres and their EU tyre label data through Audi’s vehicle configurator. The ultra-high-performance tyre is built for sporty road cars, offered in reinforced Extra Load versions across all sizes and rated to Y speed specifications for up to 300 kmph, targeting drivers focused on stability, precision and safety.

FALKEN’s original equipment record with premium marques spans many years and includes Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. The AZENIS FK510A SUV gained Porsche Macan approval in 2018, and the AZENIS FK520 (NG0) followed in 2026 for the Porsche Cayenne Electric. Since 2011 the brand has maintained a motorsport presence, campaigning a Porsche 911 GT3 R in the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series and the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring.

Christian Stolting, OE Sales Director, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “It is an important step for our original equipment business to fit the Q7 and Q9, two models of great importance to Audi, with the FALKEN AZENIS FK520 (R0) as a factory-fitted option. The choice of our tyres for these Audi models reflects confidence in the performance and quality of FALKEN in this segment.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has secured an original equipment supply deal with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. for the automaker's new Fairlady Z, which reached the Japanese market in August 2026. Yokohama's ADVAN Sport V107 will be fitted in size 245/45R18 100W.

Belonging to Yokohama's flagship ADVAN range, the Sport V107 sits in the ultra-high-performance (UHP) segment aimed at premium vehicles. It is engineered to reconcile qualities that usually pull in opposite directions – combining confident dry and wet grip and stable steering with comfort and safety – and in this Fairlady Z application it pairs high-speed handling composure and quick steering response with a comfortable ride.

Nissan's new Fairlady Z carries forward its heritage-inspired design language alongside contemporary technology, and the model remains celebrated for its characteristic driving feel, with the refresh sharpening performance while honouring the nameplate's lineage. The fitment advances Yokohama Rubber's Yokohama Transformation 2026 medium-term plan covering 2024–2026, under which the consumer tyre business is working to lift the proportion of high-value-added tyres sold by winning original equipment contracts for its ADVAN range and its GEOLANDAR tyres for SUVs and pickup trucks.

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Hankook Tire is now supplying its ultra-ultra-high-performance (UUHP) Ventus S1 evo Z tyres as original equipment for the new Porsche Panamera, expanding a relationship that dates to 2021. The fitment lineup adds 21-inch sizes – 275/35 ZR21 at the front and 325/30 ZR21 at the rear – alongside the 19- and 20-inch dimensions previously supplied. Every size carries Porsche-specific ND0 homologation markings on the sidewall, completing the Ventus S1 evo Z range across 19 to 21 inches.

Engineered to balance ride comfort with dynamic driving performance for the Panamera, the tyre was validated beyond standard segment homologation tests. Hankook subjected it to maximum-speed testing at Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit to confirm structural robustness and its ability to meet high-performance sports driving demands.

The Ventus S1 evo Z incorporates an asymmetric tread pattern for exceptional handling and stable grip, with tread blocks engineered to maintain optimal stiffness under varying conditions. Three main grooves on the inner tread improve wet-road water drainage, while a larger outer tread block area enhances cornering performance and dry-road grip. A double-layer carcass reinforced with aramid hybrid fibres bolsters high-speed stability by minimising heat-induced deformation, helping preserve precise steering response. High-strength steel belts and beads, together with a reinforced sidewall structure, further sharpen straight-line stability and handling precision.

The tyre is currently supplied as original equipment to global premium automakers for high-performance vehicles. In the replacement market, it is offered in 15 sizes from 18 to 21 inches, with widths of 225 to 315 mm and aspect ratios of 30 to 45. In July 2026, the Ventus S1 evo Z was also selected as an OE fitment for Porsche's iconic 911 Carrera sports car.

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Continental has secured original-equipment approval for the fully electric Volvo EX60, with its EcoContact 7 S tyre line homologated across numerous countries worldwide. Approval covers the sporty summer tyre for the electric SUV. Two fitments were sanctioned: 235/55 R20 for the front axle and 255/50 R20 for the rear axle.

Both approved versions carry an integrated rim protector, a reinforced sidewall area that lowers the risk of rim damage from accidental curb contact. This protective feature strengthens the sidewall zone, guarding the wheel rim against unintended impacts during everyday driving situations.

A sporty summer tyre, the EcoContact 7 S targets low rolling resistance, high mileage and minimal rolling noise. Its optimised compound and construction cut energy consumption, and the sportier S variant of the EcoContact 7 also stresses wet grip and handling for a direct, responsive feel, bearing an EV-compatible sidewall logo identifying electric vehicle suitability.

A golf-inspired principle boosts efficiency: Aerodimples, tiny sidewall indentations mimicking a golf ball's surface, reduce air turbulence behind the tyres, so less energy keeps the vehicle moving. A specially tuned tread pattern also curbs rolling noise, especially at low urban speeds, cutting noise pollution for pedestrians and nearby residents.

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