It’s always delightful when predominantly automotive companies make stuff that isn’t used in cars: Volkswagen currywurst, Michelin guides, that sort of stuff. Well, I’m pleased to announce that there’s a new kid on the block —Yokohama makes erasers patterned after some of its stickiest tires. Mann coffee filters, meet your match.
It makes sense that Yokohama sells things to pull graphite from paper, seeing as the company’s been making rubber products for more than a century. In fact, its full title is still Yokohama Rubber Company, and it manufactures conveyor belts, marine hoses, and all sorts of things you’d never expect. However, from kids who were really into Gran Turismo to Lil Wayne, most people know Yokohama as a tire manufacturer. Lorenzos on Yokohama tires, anyone?
Sure, tires like the Geolandar A/T G015 do an awesome job of combining soft-terrain capability with reasonable street manners, but if you’ve stumbled across this article, you might be into going fast, whether you’re 70 or 17. That’s cool, there’s a little Ricky Bobby in all of us. You may even gravitate towards some of the stickiest street tires, so you probably know what Yokohama has to offer. Just in case you don’t though, here’s a little bio or two.
The Yokohama Advan A052 is something of a phenom in autocross circles, famed for its gorilla-like cold grip, stiff carcass, and ability to lay down blazing fast times. Sure, Bridgestone may now have the RE-71RS, but for many applications, the A052s are still the shit. The downside? This is a Super 200 tire, or a 200 treadwear tire with an actual life expectancy of lol, lmao.
If you want extended session durability from a Yokohama, you’re probably looking at the Advan Neova AD09, the latest evolution in Yokohama’s line of semi-slicks. I’ve heard from owners that hot grip is on par with the A052, but also that you really have to lean on these tires to get and keep heat in them.
Of course, both tires have distinctive patterns in real life. The A052s look to have a few circumferential grooves accented by the most modest of regulator-satiating sipes. On the other side of things, the AD09s look like chunks of Godzilla hide. Both are distinctive patterns that look awesome on stationery supplies, and these Advan erasers look the absolute business.
Intriguingly, this isn’t the first time Yokohama has released erasers patterned after its high-performance tires. Japanese Nostalgic Car reports that in 2018, Yokohama released a 40th anniversary set featuring such icons as the Advan HF Type D, and the Neova AD05. Only 650 sets were made, so if you get lucky, you might find one on Buyee.
Both the A052-patterned eraser and the AD09-patterned eraser come in a package for a modest 517 yen, or $3.50. As far as things worth about $3.50 go, this is up near the top. Of course, there is a major catch — Yokohama will only deliver these dope erasers within Japan, so you’ll need a buddy, an awesome parcel forwarding service, or a life in Japan to cop these. Still, think of how much cooler your desk would look with performance tire-patterned erasers on it.
(Photo credits: Yokohama)
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I barely use pencils since graduating college, so I have no need for these, but I’d love to have them just because.
Cool.Now make some offroad treaded flip flops for when i’m camping!
Yay… Yokohama rubbers
This makes my Pink Pearl tingle.
Adidas had a deal with Continental for several years to make running and hiking shoes with Conti branded soles and the hikers and trail runners used MTB tire treads. It appears these are fading out since the Conti tread trail runners are out of stock. I’m a little disappointed I never got a pair of Mountain King kicks to match my bike
My dad has a pair of Good Year shoes.
Anybody found a source? I see a place called Blackhawk Japan advertising them shipped internationally, although I’m hesitant to put my cc info in there.
They are legit for JDM parts. I’m guessing you’ll have to pay $20-30 for fedex/dhl though.
Yokohama eraser? Meh. I’d much rather have Pirelli Calendar.
I’ll make streaks across my desk to impress the interns.
Username, regrettably, checks out.
Geez, I was alluding to burnout, not blowout!
Ages ago when I was a little kid, my dad had a big drafting table at work. Attached to the side of the table was an electric eraser: it would switch on automatically when you picked it up (magic!), and it spun a cylindrical piece of eraser material that could be refilled (about the size and shape of lip balm).
One summer day mom and I stopped in to visit dad at work. While the adults were talking, I was playing with the eraser and wrote “Hi Dad” on the unoccupied drafting table. Fun fact: that text never went away. 😮
That was the coolest eraser ever, but these Yokohamas are not far behind.
8 year old me would have stabbed someone with a pencil for these.
If you want one you’d better order it now because JDM bros are willing to pay $20 for it to be the first to have one
Happens that I’ve been working at a Yokohama facility the last couple weeks. I’m going to ask the guy I report to here if he can wrangle me some of these
aside: worries about IP poaching are killing me here. I’m a nerd and like to ask about cool machinery. That’s frowned upon here, dadgumit
edit: lunchtime musing….wonder if anyone makes eraser-warmers? There’s some random stuff on Etsy 🙂
They’re worried about Americans? I imagine any Chinese who try to enter are shot at the front gate!
If you use them while taking a break during a race, they could be pitter-pattered. 🙂
pitter patter let’s get at ‘er
Back to chorin’!
I never thought I’d want erasers as much as I want one of those ones!