Air Jordan 4 "Tour Yellow" returns after twenty years. Releasing 5 September

Air Jordan 4 "Tour Yellow" returns after twenty years. Releasing 5 September

• The first retro of this colourway since its 2006 debut, arriving 5 September 2026

• Style code IO2463-102, in White / Tour Yellow / Dark Blue Grey / Black, priced at £189.99

• The pair joins the Rare Air programme, with swappable tongue labels

• Full family sizing, sold through Nike SNKRS and selected retail partners

• Buying through Soleback returns up to 5 percent, which is £9.50 at the £189.99 price

Why the wait ran this long

To understand the weight of this release you have to go back to 2006. It was a strong year for the 4, because "Lightning" and "Thunder" both arrived then, two colourways that have since been reissued repeatedly and entered the canon.

"Tour Yellow" came out at the same time, as part of the LS or Lifestyle line. That was the series where Jordan Brand put out bolder colourways stepping outside the palettes tied to Michael Jordan's teams, often alongside matching apparel collections. The same family holds the Air Jordan 3 "Cool Grey" and the Air Jordan 5 "Grape".

And that was that. While "Lightning" and "Thunder" returned several times, "Tour Yellow" did not receive a single retro in twenty years. September's release therefore completes a trio collectors have been asking about for a long time.

How it looks

On colour, the 2026 version is faithful to the original:

• white tumbled leather across the upper

• white mesh, which on originals has yellowed with age and here returns to clean white

• a Tour Yellow midsole with black speckling, the element carrying the shoe's entire identity

• black suede on the support wings, inside the tongue, on part of the midsole and across most of the outsole

• translucent Dark Blue Grey eyelets and a rubber Jumpman in the same shade on the heel

• silver lace hardware and a yellow Jumpman on the outsole

One caveat worth not skipping. The faithfulness covers colour, not shape. The slouchier build of 2006 has given way to the bulkier form Jordan Brand has applied to the 4 throughout this decade. Anyone who remembers the original in hand will see the difference immediately.

On colour this is one of the quieter 4s of its era: white with black, the yellow held to the sole alone. Paradoxically that is exactly what makes it easier to wear in 2026 than most pairs from that year.

What "Rare Air" means

This is the most interesting detail of the release and what separates it from a standard retro.

The Rare Air model comes with hook-and-loop tongue labels that can be swapped out to personalise the shoe. Peel one off and hidden "RARE AIR" branding is revealed underneath. The same device is known from the UNDEFEATED version, one of the most sought-after 4s ever made, and the branding was present on the 2006 original too.

There is also word that some pairs may carry differently coloured thread under the patch rather than the standard white. That is unconfirmed for now, but worth checking on your own pair once it arrives.

Release details

• Model: Air Jordan 4 Retro "Tour Yellow", originally designed by Tinker Hatfield

• Colourway: White / Tour Yellow / Dark Blue Grey / Black

• Style code: IO2463-102. A second number, IF3107-045, also circulates without a clear assignment

• Release: 5 September 2026

• Men's price: £189.99, or $220 in the US, where SneakerNews alone reports $215

• Sizing: full family run. GS at £119.99, younger kids at £69.99, toddlers at £54.99

Sales run through Nike SNKRS and selected retail partners, with Foot Locker, Finish Line, Hibbett, DSG and Shiekh named, online and in store. Nike added the model to the SNKRS calendar on 17 August, so the date is officially confirmed rather than leak-based.

Euro pricing runs to 209.99, 159.99, 89.99 and 69.99 across the same four size bands.

Where to buy in the UK

Beyond SNKRS, the retailers in the Soleback programme are worth watching:

• BSTN, up to 5 percent back

• Solebox, up to 4.5 percent back

• END., up to 3.5 percent back

• Sneakersnstuff, up to 3 percent back

• size?, up to 2.5 percent back

• Offspring, up to 1.5 percent back

At £189.99 the full 5 percent rate returns £9.50, taking the real cost to £180.49. The click through Soleback needs to be the last one before the shop, and cashback lands after the returns window closes.

What the odds look like

Worth staying calm here. Across 2026 Jordan Brand has handled availability on popular retros considerably better than in previous seasons, with stock holding longer and restocks arriving more often. "Tour Yellow" is also not an OG colourway, which usually lowers the pressure.

Pushing the other way are three factors: a twenty-year gap, the Rare Air branding, and an exceptionally strong year for the 4 itself, driven partly by Nigel Sylvester's collaborations.

The result will probably land somewhere in the middle, harder than a standard release but without the scramble of the hottest drops. Practically: have SNKRS notifications on, profiles saved at several retailers and your size decided. With full family sizing there will be plenty of pairs, so speed matters more than luck.

The year of the 4

It is worth noting the company this release keeps. In 2026 the Air Jordan 4 received the first ever "Toro Bravo" retro, a run of new colourways and, according to recent reporting, a Europe-exclusive "Light Army" set for the holiday window.

For a model that is once again among the best sellers in the Retro line, that is an unusually dense calendar. And "Tour Yellow" is one of the few entries in it that actually closes a twenty-year gap.

FAQ

When does it release?

5 September 2026, through Nike SNKRS and selected retail partners.

How much does it cost?

£189.99 in men's sizing, £119.99 GS, £69.99 younger kids and £54.99 toddlers.

What is the style code?

IO2463-102, in White / Tour Yellow / Dark Blue Grey / Black.

What is Rare Air?

A Jordan Brand programme with special branding under swappable tongue labels. Remove the label and "RARE AIR" is revealed.

Is it a faithful reproduction of the original?

On colour yes, on shape no. The silhouette is bulkier than in 2006.

Will there be kids' sizes?

Yes, the model arrives in full family sizing.

What happens next

The release lands on 5 September, so there is little time left to set up accounts and settle on a size. Once your pair arrives, peel back the tongue label and check the thread colour, because if the variant rumour holds up, that detail is what will separate pairs from one another.