The story of Onitsuka Tiger Vol.2

Pursuing ease of driving

The sole wraps around to the back to protect your heel from hard pedaling. The Tiger metal plate adds a striking accent.

There is no official definition of what constitutes a driving shoe. Generally, they are shoes designed for ease of driving, with a rubber sole that provides good grip to prevent slipping when operating the pedals, a flat sole that wraps around the heel for stable pedal work, and other features. If you are specializing in driving, then the style would end up being racing shoes.

However, driving shoes are also required to perform the important function of walking. The feet support the body with a contact surface that makes up less than 1% of the body’s surface area, and the tarsal bones, which are part of the bones in the foot, support approximately 90% of the body’s weight. It goes without saying that shoes play an important role.

Among the many driving shoes available in the world, surprisingly few combine design, functionality, practicality, and durability. These driving shoes are not just designed for ease of driving, but also have the fashionability to be coordinated with a suit, while also incorporating sneaker-making know-how. Onitsuka Tiger’s first driving shoes, the Mexico 66 Driving, embody this unique concept. As the name suggests, the design is based on the brand’s iconic Mexico 66 model.

Stylish shoes with a thin sole

The Onitsuka Tiger stripe is made up of embroidery, and its raised, three-dimensional shape creates a luxurious feel that is unlike any other.

In fact, the reason Onitsuka Tiger started working on driving shoes was because of the Audi TT, which sadly ceased production last year. The collaboration shoes between Audi and Onitsuka Tiger were created as a special gift for the 50 owners of the final limited edition car. Due to their high level of perfection, many people requested that they be made commercially available. This mass-produced model was then born by refining the shoes.

The upper is made of high-quality leather. The familiar Onitsuka Tiger stripe is embroidered and applied. This is not an attempt to create a novel design; sewing the stripe like on regular sneakers would cause the leather to stretch. This is an ingenious attempt to avoid this and create a flexible fit around the foot. The unique sole is inspired by various driving shoes and 1970s wrestling shoes. Naturally, the shoes are designed for everyday walking around town, and the heel is raised a few millimeters to tilt forward. This allows for a natural, comfortable standing and walking posture. The midsole is made of a highly resilient material, while the insole is made of a highly cushioned material, resulting in a comfortable fit. The combination of over 100 parts makes this driving shoe a culmination of Onitsuka Tiger’s unique know-how, which has been cultivated through its history of creating stylish shoes with thin soles.

Another feature not found on the regular Mexico 66 is the metal plate on the heel. The shoe comes in two monotone colors, black and white, but we can expect more variations to be added in the future.

Improving driving skills

The sole, based on the traditional herringbone shape, allows for reliable pedal operation even on rainy days. — [1]

The uppers are made of carefully selected leather, and the selection of materials reflects the company's many years of expertise. It is said that more than 100 parts are used in one pair of sneakers. — [1]

This may seem obvious to readers of this media, but no matter how high-performance your car is, it’s all a waste if you don’t have good shoes. After all, the accelerator, brake, and clutch pedals are directly connected to your feet.

The Mexico 66 Driving is a driving shoe that is suitable for a variety of lifestyles, including everyday use around town, and also fits as if it were a part of your body when driving, improving your driving skills.

REPORT/Taichi FUJINO

PHOTO/Kunihisa KOBAYASHI

MAGAZINE/ GENROQ November 2024 issue