Aftermarket debut for Bridgestone Enliten

The expansion of Bridgestone Enliten into the replacement tyre market will commence in Europe this year with the launch of Bridgestone Turanza 6 and Duravis Van products featuring the technology. The tyre maker plans to debut a total of eight Enliten products for the European aftermarket in 2023, a figure representing around five per cent of all Bridgestone passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyres in the European replacement market.

These initial products will build a “foundation” for the “expansion (of Enliten) from 2024,” states Bridgestone. The plan is to offer 20 passenger/light commercial products featuring Enliten in the European replacement market by the end of next year, approximately 20 per cent of the regional total. By the end of 2030, all Bridgestone aftermarket passenger/light commercial tyres for Europe should utilise Enliten technology; the company speaks of around 90 products in total.

If taken at face value, these figures also represent a rationalisation of Bridgestone’s total aftermarket passenger/light commercial portfolio for Europe. According to figures published by Bridgestone, this consists of approximately 160 products in 2023 (WhatTyre currently lists 157 Bridgestone products) but will decrease to around 100 products by the end of 2024 and, as already mentioned, some 90 products by 2030.

Growth of Enliten in the aftermarket follows its increasing adoption for original equipment tyres. Bridgestone used Enliten technology in original equipment tyres for 27 models by the end of 2021, including 7 electric vehicles. This had increased to 45 models by the end of last year, including 16 electric vehicles.