By Katherine Helmetag

Atomicalex

Did you ever wonder what goes into making a tire? It’s an incredibly complex process with all kinds of neat chemistry and processes going on. I’ve been digging around for a while to turn up some details on it, and I found a few really great webpages on the materials used and the manufacturing process all in one place: Toyo’s Japanese website. It has the best page I’ve found on materials, and equally great info on tread pattern design and the tire manufacturing process. There is some pretty high-level info included, but don’t let the big words scare you. The tread pattern design info will clear up a lot of misconceptions people have about how to choose a tire, while the occasionally hilarious graphics keep the tone light.

By John Naderi

StreetFire.net

Does anyone else find it strange that the Dakar Rally no longer ends in the capital city of Senegal or for that matter even takes place in the African continent anymore? But then this Dakar Rally title probably enjoys more pomp – not too mention the circumstance, oh the circumstance – than the geographically correct, yet far less glitzy, Argentine Chile Rally, which demarks the current route winding the rally through South America. Something about terror threats (can we loan out our DHS?) prompted the continental venue change beginning with last year’s rally.

But no matter the locale this rally is still the Toruk (big red bird-like banshee for the five of you who have yet to see Avatar) of rallies. It’s the big mamma jamma. The Denny’s Grand Slam Breakfast of rallies (it really is a hearty meal). The Dakar Rally draws such celebrated entrants as all-around bad boy and kickass driver of anything with four wheels, Robby Gordon and Team Hummer. Know what else? The Dakar Rally is happening right now – providing you aren’t reading this weeks after this post has gone live. And even better news for those of us who lack easy access to the Argentinian badlands is that Team Hummer tire partner Toyo Tires will be blogging about the team’s progress throughout the rally. So if you want exclusive TMZ-style access to the world’s premiere rally check out Toyo Tires’ blog here. G’head, we’ll wait.

By Michael Berenis

Tampa Sports Car Examiner

The perfect drift by driver M. Kawabata took place during a JDM session using a Nissan RPS13 on Toyo Tires. On the brink of completely spinning out, Kawabata keeps the car under control and implies a reverse entry drift. This is truly the perfect drift! The rear tires almost touch the outside boundary upon entry, and through the remaining duration of the drift he hugs the inside of the corner. Maintaining perfect speed, many have already dubbed this as “the best drift ever”. Read more about the perfect drift at Tampa Sports Car Examiner.

By Ben Schaffer

The Real JDM

I’m a bit worried about SEMA this year. It seems like most of the good companies have pulled out of the show for financial reasons. Usually trade shows are some of the worst hit by the recession and this year SEMA looks ultra depressing.

I’m left with all of the really cool ideas/concepts of cars I want to make, but no booths to put them in. I really hope SEMA wont be as dissapointing as I’m afraid it will be.

As most of you already know, I built Toyo’s SEMA booth and ad cars two years in a row and now there’s no Toyo booth at all this year…

I think I might need to go one better this year and build a car for Tokyo Auto Salon instead of SEMA. I always wanted to build a car to compete on JDM home turf. That would be a really fun challenge. Plus I always wanted to run Tsukuba…hmm, now I’m dreaming up something worth while.

Is there any actually good news about SEMA this year? Anyone?

By Ben Schaffer

The Real JDM

Tire flavored ramen!!! I just found these pics extremely odd and had to share. It seems Toyo partnered up with Nissin ramen in Japan for a tire promotion. Tires and Ramen sure seem like an odd pairing but hey, who could refuse a free promotional cup or ramen?

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