Tokyo-The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced that sports car manufacturer Aston Martin of the United Kingdom has selected the AVS Sport as an original equipment tyre for its new V12 Vanquish, global sales of which will commence during the second quarter of 2001. The tyre size is 255/40 ZR19 for the front, and 285/40 ZR19 for the rear. Both tyres are marked with "AML" on the sidewall, as they are bespoke tyres for the V12 Vanquish.

Yokohama developed the AVS Sport with the goal of achieving the highest possible performance in a street tyre. In the selection of original equipment tyres for the V12 Vanquish, the AVS Sport received strong marks for its high-level achievement of both dry and wet performance. The Y-shaped design adopted for the AVS Sport tread pattern realizes even groove distribution over the entire surface of the tyre, and greatly improves drainage, wet grip and driving stability at high speeds. In addition, by adjusting the angle of the main groove, Yokohama was able to significantly reduce outside tyre noise.

The V12 Vanquish, featuring a maximum speed in excess of 190 miles per hour (mph) and a six-litre V12 engine generating more than 450 horsepower, is available in either a two- or two-plus-two-seat coupe, with extruded aluminium sections bonded and riveted around the central transmission tunnel, which is constructed entirely from carbon fibre.