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Toyo Tires will supply its 'Open Country M/T-R' SUV tires to Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body, supporting the team's challenge to win the Dakar Rally for the 12^th consecutive year in the T2 production class.

Toyo Tires will also supply 'Open Country M/TR (SxS)^*1," for the hydrogen fuel engine vehicle, 'HySE-X2.' The 'HySE-X2 is a hydrogen fuel engine vehicle competing in the 'Mission 1000 ACT 2' division^*2 of the Dakar. Entered by Overdrive Racing, who oversee the race management of the Technology Research Association Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine Technology (HySE) .

Tires supplied to TLC and Overdrive Racing are designed to be durable and wear-resistant, and are made from environmentally friendly sustainable materials.

  ^{(Left: TLC entry vehicle, Land Cruiser 300 GR SPORT, Right: Hydrogen fuel engine vehicle "HySE-X2")}
The Dakar Rally,  has been held since 1978, and is known as one of the world's toughest off-road endurance rallies. In harsh environments where weather and road conditions vary widely, from cold mountain regions to scorching deserts, competitors must drive precisely and choose a course over a period of two weeks on unpaved roads. Competitors compete for the fastest cumulative time over 12 special stages set along the route, covering a total distance of nearly 8.000km, including the liaison sections between the special stages.

Toyota Auto Body (TLC) aims to "make a better Land Cruiser " by testing in extreme environments . TLC, will participate with a Land Cruiser developed and produced by the company. The team achieved their 11th consecutive victory in this year's Dakar Rally 2024. Toyo Tires have been providing TLC with special tires tuned for the Dakar Rally, the "Open Country M/TR", from 2021.

HySE, which conducts technological research to promote the spread of hydrogen compact mobility, will participate in the 'Mission 1000 ACT 2' division established for vehicles equipped with next-generation powertrains. Toyo Tires will support this initiative utilizing technology honed in off-road races around the world, supplying 'Open Country M/TR (SxS)' through Overdrive Racing, which HySE commissions to manage the race program.

■OPEN COUNTRY M/TR (Dakar Rally 2025 spec)

This product is a tuned version of the Open Country M/TR to fit the Land Cruiser 300 GR SPORT (Dakar Rally 2025 spec), the vehicle that TLC enters in the Dakar Rally 2025, and improves its drivability, wear resistance, and durability on rough road surfaces such as rocky areas and deserts.

55% of the tire's total weight is made from sustainable materials.
As with conventional products, it uses butadiene rubber and styrene butadiene rubber derived from biomass^*3 , rice husk ash silica, plant-derived oil, bio-derived polyester fiber, and recycled bead wire. In addition to using recycled carbon black extracted from waste tires, the Dakar Rally 2025 spec also uses carbon black derived from pyrolysis oil.
 

■OPEN COUNTRY M/TR (SxS)

This product is a specially tuned version of the Open Country M/TR to fit the HySE-X2 vehicle that will be used in the Dakar Rally Mission 1000 ACT 2.
The tire pattern has been improved to increase dune running performance, and has been made more rigid to improve durability and lighter to improve acceleration and fuel efficiency.

60% of the tire's weight is made from sustainable materials.
Biomass-derived butadiene rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber, rice husk ash silica, plant-derived oil, recycled polyester fiber, recycled bead wire, recycled carbon black extracted from waste tires, and carbon black derived from pyrolysis oil are used.

Toyo Tires are improving the performance of tires for pickup trucks and SUVs by feeding back the experience we have gained from off-road racing in harsh environments into the product development. In addition, in order to contribute to the realization of a next-generation mobility society, we will strive to develop products and materials, strengthen our technologies, establish product and raw material recycling technologies, and develop alternative materials to environmentally hazardous substances.

^{*1: Side-by-side vehicle. An off-road vehicle with seats side by side, created by applying manufacturing technology for motorcycles and other transportation equipment
*2: A category established to promote the development of next-generation powertrain technology for carbon neutral vehicles, such as hydrogen engines and hybrids with electric and biofuels
. Vehicles equipped with next-generation powertrains will compete for rankings on a course distance of approximately 1,000 km (approximately 100 km x 10 days).
*3: Derived from renewable materials such as plants}