Bridgestone Commercialises Support Ring Run-Flat System

Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it has succeeded with the practical application of Bridgestone Support Ring run-flat system. The support ring will be delivered to Toyota Motor Corporation for use in its new RAV4 for the European market. This system has been in development since 2002 based on technical collaboration with Germany’s Continental AG and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

The Bridgestone Support Ring run-flat system keeps a tyre functioning after loss of air pressure so that the car can continue driving safely for up to specified maximum speed for a specified distance. The support ring is made of a lightweight metal ring and rubber so as to provide flexible support to the tyre. In case of air loss, the core ring supports the vehicle, and fixes the tyre bead on the rim of the tyre.

The system is suited for passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) that have high-profile tyres. Bridgestone says it aims to create run-flat systems for the wheels of all passenger cars and SUVs by providing sidewall-reinforcement run-flat tyres and Bridgestone Support Ring run-flat systems that correspond to the respective car.