Yokohama BluEarth-XT AE61 (215/55R18 99V XL)

The Urban SUV Specialist. Superior Silence and Wet Safety.

The AE61 is the SUV-specific counterpart to the famous AE51 sedan tyre. It balances the fuel-saving properties of the “BluEarth” family with the structural strength needed for modern crossovers.

✨ Key Technical Features

• 🔇 5-Pitch Tread Variation:SUV cabins can often amplify road roar. Yokohama uses five different sizes of tread blocks to break up harmonic noise, resulting in a 68 dB rating—one of the quietest in the SUV category.
• 🛡️ High-Rigidity Active Shoulder:The outer shoulder is built with non-penetrating grooves to keep the tread blocks stiff during cornering. This prevents the “shoulder scrubbing” common on heavy SUVs, leading to more precise steering and longer tyre life.
• 🌧️ A.R.T. (Advanced Reaction Technology) Mixing:This unique rubber blending process ensures silica is distributed more evenly throughout the compound. This allows for an A-rating in wet grip, significantly shortening emergency braking distances in heavy rain.
• 📐 Mound Profile Footprint:The contact patch is designed with a slightly rounded “mound” shape. This ensures that even when the vehicle is loaded, the pressure is distributed evenly across the tyre surface, preventing the center from wearing out prematurely.
• ⛽ Nano-Blend Compound:By optimizing the bond between polymers and silica at a molecular level, the AE61 reduces internal friction (heat), which improves fuel efficiency and helps extend the driving range of hybrid and electric SUVs.

📊 Performance Profile

• Wet Safety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Top-tier braking)

• Road Noise: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Class-leading silence)

• Handling: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Stable for high-riding vehicles)

• Tread Life: ⭐⭐⭐ (Good for city use; typical for soft Japanese compounds)

The Yokohama AE61 is the ideal choice if you find your current tyres too noisy or if you do a lot of driving in wet, urban environments where safety and refinement are priorities.