Three tires have been given a Good Design Award by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) this year. These are the Bridgestone Blizzak VRX, the Toyo M929 TBR tire and the Nexen N9000 semi street racing tire.

Nexen is the first Korean tiremaker to win a Good Design Award, and considers the Japanese accolade a “triple crown” for the N9000; the tire has already received a Red Dot 2012 award and a Special Mention at the German Design Award 2014. The JDP awards jury rated the N9000 highly for its lightning motif tread pattern and its performance.

The Japan Good Design Award was established in 1957 and is significant as it permits companies to use the ‘G-Mark’ in association with winning products. The G-Mark is widely recognized in Japan and, according to a 2007 JDP survey, approximately 47% of people use the G-Mark when making a purchase decision. (Tyres & Accessories)