Press Release

Osaka, Japan-September 29, 2009- TOYO TIRE & RUBBER Co., LTD. (President and CEO: Kenji Nakakura) announces that TOYO TIRES has been rated the #1 Overall Brand for both consumer and commercial tires in Tire Review magazine's annual Tire Brand Study of North American Tire Dealers. This marks the seventh time in nine years that the Toyo Tires brand has received this honor in the consumer category and the sixth time in eight years for medium truck tires.

In addition to being rated the number one overall brand, Toyo Tires also topped the consumer tire Brand Study in product quality, line coverage and so on. For medium truck tires, Toyo Tires was also rated number one in retreadability, etc.

Conducted by Babcox Research for the past 17 years, this prestigious survey measures the opinions and perceptions of independent dealers in North America about the dozens of brands being carried and sold. As a part of the tire brand study, independent tire dealers were asked to rate each brand of tires they stock, or are a stocking dealer for, in a series of categories on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest).

"One of the most powerful acknowledgements of your efforts as a manufacturer is to be graded number one by the experts on the front lines; in our case they are the independent tire dealers," said Yasushi Takagi, president & CEO, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. "We are proud of our products, and are committed to upholding the standards that make Toyo Tires a premium tire brand."

TOYO TIRE & RUBBER Co., Ltd. makes an effort to always deliver the best in satisfaction and quality to all of its global customers.