Bridgestone van tyre sales ‘buoyant’ as upgraded Duravis Van driving impressive performance

Bridgestone is reporting a buoyant sales period to coincide with the start of summer, with its upgraded Duravis range credited for a significant share of success. Bridgestone says the Duravis Van tyre is gaining more traction than ever before, due to its impressive performance characteristics. In TÜV SÜD testing carried out on the request of Bridgestone in July-August 2022, the tyre secured best in class mileage against key premium brand competitors (the tests were conducted on a VW Caravelle 2.0 TDI with the tyre size 205/65 R16C). The testing organisation also found the Duravis Van to be ahead of the competition in dry and wet braking performance and fuel or energy efficiency when it pitted the tyre against premium competitors at ATP Papenburg, fitted to VW Caravelles and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. Bridgestone says these performances have left a lasting impression on van fleets.

Bridgestone states that feedback from customers on its premium summer tyre for light commercial vehicles (LCV) has been “extremely encouraging.” The tyre is said to minimise downtime while contributing to reducing total cost of ownership.

The “EV Ready” Bridgestone Duravis Van has been developed to meet customer demands and boost business efficiency. In addition to its tested performance, the Bridgestone Duravis Van also achieves the highest EU label rating for wet grip, increasing safety for drivers and ensuring delivery schedules are met efficiently. The tyre contains several of Bridgestone’s technologies that aim to support key EV benefits. It uses the sustainable Enliten tyre technology platform, which combines multiple technologies to offer sustainability benefits alongside safety, achieved largely by reducing the weight of the tyres.

The Bridgestone Duravis Van presents various innovations including a new symmetric tread pattern, cavity crown optimisation, and new sipes design and void distribution – all benefitting from a new enhanced contact technology to amplify its performance capabilities. A sidewall protector rib is protecting van drivers from the inevitable kerbside bump and scrape during their last-mile deliveries.

Compared to its predecessor, the Duravis R660, the Bridgestone Duravis Van delivers a 21 per cent improvement in rolling resistance, securing an EU label Grade B for fuel/energy efficiency in most sizes. This translates into enhanced fuel savings or extended battery range for businesses.

Bridgestone’s consumer sales director Brett Emerson said: “We’ve been able to report some really impressive sales results in recent months, and there is no doubt that our van tyre offering has played a significant role.

“The Duravis Van has been a game changer for us because, quite simply, it’s a brilliant product which delivers on safety, performance and sustainability.”

The Enliten tyre technology platform helps make the Bridgestone Duravis Van suited to both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles (EV), helping to optimise their performance. Specifically for EV drivers, the Bridgestone Duravis Van’s higher wear tolerance counters the increased weight and higher torque of EVs, while its low rolling resistance saves battery life. Compared to its predecessor, the Bridgestone Duravis Van tyre also delivers decreased noise for EV driver comfort owing to the near silence of EV engines, offering a reduction of 2dB in pass-by noise, earning it an EU label A grade.

The Duravis Van adds more strength to Bridgestone’s offering, on top of an impressive performer in the shape of the Duravis All Season.

Designed with both small and large fleet operations in mind, the all-season solution is ideal for professionals who want to maximise their business efficiency and stay in control with the same tyres throughout the year.

Achieving a best-in-class EU label A-grade in wet grip, the Bridgestone Duravis All Season allows fleets to keep going even in adverse weather conditions. The tyre delivers this through high-volume slots in its shoulder for improved water evacuation and an optimised contact pressure distribution. This latter design feature also improves the tyre’s snow and wear performance.

Such innovations are all part of Bridgestone’s vision to provide customer and social value as a sustainable solutions company, embodying five of the eight pledges in Bridgestone’s “E8 Commitment’. Specifically, Bridgestone says the Duravis Van embodies: Energy, Efficiency, Ecology, Ease and Economy.