Press Release

Hyogo, Japan – June 28, 2019 – Toyo Tire Corporation（Headquarters: Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture; President: Takashi Shimizu）announces that it is providing its off-road “OPEN COUNTRY” series tires to support a rally driver, Bryce Menzies in the “Silk Way Rally 2019“ from July 6th through 16th, which runs through Russia, Mongolia, and China.

(Bryce Menzies in action and alongside his rally car)

The Silk Way Rally is an international rally that started in 2009. As it is held in summer and the course makes extensive use of the desert, it is often perceived as a warm-up for the Dakar Rally*.
*Dakar Rally: One of the toughest off-road races in the world. Held in January every year.

This ninth rally starts in Irkutsk, a city in Siberia（Russia）on July 6th, and is scheduled to finish in Dunhuang, a city in western China, on July 16th. The race is passing through the Siberian permafrost terrain, dry Mongolian grasslands, Rocky Mountains and the vast Gobi Desert. The rally demands not only exceptional driving skills, but also requires off-road tires that combine excellent drivability and durability to complete the approximately 5,000km race over every sort of rough road imaginable.

The “OPEN COUNTRY M/T-R” off-road tires supplied by TOYO TIRES are essentially “OPEN COUNTRY M/T” tires that have been tuned up for rally racing. The structure of the “OPEN COUNTRY M/T” tires is renowned for its extraordinary resilience against external damage through our extensive rallying know-how. The aggressive and functional design of the tread contributes not only to its drivability on harsh terrain, but also improved traction and braking performance.

 
（Reference）

■Name of Driver：Bryce Menzies

Carrie of Bryce Menzies
BAJA 500 in 2014 Champion
BAJA 500 in 2012 Champion
BAJA 500 in 2011 champion, SCORE Series in 2011 Champion

■Vehicle：Peugeot 3008 DKR

■Tire : “OPEN COUNTRY M/T-R” （Size：37X13.50 R17）