Yokohama Named as Official Tire of Nitrocross

Yokohama Tire returns as the Official Tire Supplier of Nitrocross. Yokohama will be the exclusive spec tire for all classes competing in the series, including the premier Group E class where new, purpose-built ADVAN A054 race tires will debut on the FC1-X electric race car.

“We’re excited to return as the Official Tire of Nitrocross,” said Patricia Wall, Yokohama’s motorsports senior manager. “We love seeing our brand perform on a wide variety of vehicles, especially in a punishing environment like Nitrocross. It really drives tire development forward across all our platforms from consumer products to motorsports.”

Nitrocross features mammoth jumps with vast, banked turns on a variety of track surfaces in a single lap. World-class drivers such as Team Yokohama members Travis Pastrana, Tanner Foust and the Isenhouer Brothers will test their skills during the five-city, 10-round, action-packed series, which begins Sept. 7-8 in Richmond, Virginia.

Team Yokohama Nitrocross highlights include:

• Group E: Tanner Foust, the first American to win a round of the European Rallycross Championship, is returning to full-time competition. He’ll be driving the Optima Battery/Yokohama-backed FC1-X with team OMSE on the newly developed ADVAN A054 tire.
• SxS: Action sports superstar and Nitrocross founder Travis Pastrana headlines this star-studded field of Can-Am Maverick R drivers competing on GEOLANDAR H/T G056 tires.
• Baja Bug: Brothers Nick and Chris Isenhouer step out of their 6100 desert racing truck and into a race-modified 1960s-era VW Beetle to compete on Yokohama’s new GEOLANDAR A/T4 tires and sporting A/T4 livery.

Wall said the new ADVAN A054 was designed to handle the huge amount of torque generated by the FC1-X. “When the FC1-X was introduced its acceleration was impressive, to say the least. But just like an electric car you see on the streets, the FC1-X is heavy and is a little more challenging on a tire than a lighter weight internal combustion race car.”

Wall explained that Yokohama engineers developed this A054 tire around a beadlock wheel for the FC1-X and Group E class. “The new wheel and tire combination will improve the racing significantly. The A054 tread is the right pattern for grip on dirt and tarmac; the construction has been improved so there will still be great tire performance at the end of races. The introduction of the beadlock wheel will allow drivers to push the limits even more which is going to make for some great racing.”

Complete 2024/25 Nitrocross Series schedule:

• Sept. 7-8, Richmond, Virgina 
• Oct. 5-6, Salt Lake City
• Nov. 15-16, Phoenix
• Jan. 11-12, 2025 Miami
• Mar. 1-2, 2025 Las Vegas

Along with Nitrocross, Yokohama’s list of 2024 North American-based motorsports activities – both on- and off-road – includes Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Endurance Challenge, Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama, King of the Hammers, Championship Off-Road Series, Ultra4 USA and the TrophyLite Series.