Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
(Akron/Tire Review – Des Moines Register) Al Skinner and Mark Highland both live in the Des Moines area, but they could be spending a lot of time together in St. Louis in the next several weeks.
Bridgestone has unveiled its first 4×4 run-flat for luxury sport activity vehicles (SAV). The company claims that their latest run-flat offering, the Dueler H/P Sport RFT, offers the same wet and dry handling, steering precision and comfort as the non-flat version launched at last year’s Geneva Motor Show.
The FIA is reportedly planning to impose an alternative to the controversial ‘red tyre rule’ during the 2007 Formula One season. Autosport magazine has reported that, in addition to the new regulation requiring drivers to race both the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ compound tyres Bridgestone supplies for each Grand Prix event, teams could also be asked to publish their initial tyre choice.
Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc.’s US$1 billion acquisition of Bandag Inc. has received early approval from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC ended a required 30-day waiting period for the acquisition ahead of schedule, on January 29, announced Bandag in a prepared statement. The 30-day period was not scheduled to end until February 8.
Bridgestone Tyre Centre franchisees in Western Australia recently signed a three year agreement with Australia’s Leukaemia Foundation to supply two fully maintained Holden Commodore vehicles for transporting patients to and from treatment centres in the West Australian capital of Perth.
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire
has added two new sizes to its North American Firestone Firehawk™ Wide Oval™ tyre range– P245/40R18 88Y RFT and P285/35R19 90Y RFT. These tyres are designed to fit Chevrolet’s sixth generation of Corvette.
As the World Economic Forum got underway in the Swiss resort town of Davos, Swiss globalisation opponents held their own ‘Public Eye’ awards, in which companies they have identified as being environmentally or socially irresponsible were given an “award” in recognition. This year tyremaker Bridgestone was the recipient of one such award.
A number of Bandag Inc. shareholders have reportedly filed a lawsuit against the retreading supplier for allegedly failing to seek offers of purchase from potential buyers other than Japanese tyre giant Bridgestone. The lawsuit was filed in the District Court in Bandag’s hometown of Muscatine County, Iowa on December 8 by the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 572. They are seeking class action status on behalf of all shareholders.
Michelin has launched the Pilot Road 2, unveiling its latest dual compound offering at the Motorcycle Trade Expo at Stoneleigh Park. The French manufacturer claims that its latest product means riders no longer have to compromise between wet grip and tread life. Michelin hopes results of tests conducted by CERM will help convince retailers and the motorcycle riding public of this.
In contrast to car tyre sales, the UK motorcycle tyre market continued the pattern of growth it has demonstrated in recent years in 2006. Europool figures put the total market size at about 775,000 units (not including non-EU produced tyres and grey and parallel imports), up around 2.2 per cent on 2005. But industry sources are expecting more next year and are projecting that European produced tyre sales will reach 800,000 units (up 3.22 per cent).
Bridgestone Australia has reported a 72 per cent drop in annual net profit, and has warned of another tough year ahead of it. This bleak news comes only a month after parent company Bridgestone Corporation disclosed its intention to buy back the publicly listed Australian operation.
ATS Euromaster (ATSE) has published further details of its plans to launch a nationwide run-flat fitting and puncture repair service. The main point that ATSE clarified is the fact that it is referring to the latest generation of self-supporting run-flat technology tyres manufactured by Bridgestone, Dunlop, Goodyear and Michelin. These, says the company, are “approved for minor repairs, subject to strict criteria.”
Despite Bridgestone’s support of the idea, it appears that red tyres are unlikely to be a part of the 2007 Formula One season. It now seems all but inevitable that the different rubber compounds required by Article 77c of the FIA Sporting Regulations will hit the racetrack without any accompanying visual identifier.
Further to our recent news regarding the Formula One ‘red tyre rule’, it appears that official agreement on the regulations has not as yet been reached. While Bridgestone is happy that the issue has been raised, Bridgestone Motorsport has not at this time held any official discussions with the FIA and the competing teams regarding the proposal. Tyres and Accessories apologises for any confusion our previous news article may have created.
(Akron/Tire Review) Master contract talks between the United Steelworkers and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) will start later this month in St. Louis, according to USW Local 1155 President Ron Vining. Local 1155 represents workers at BFNAT’s Warren County, Tenn., radial truck tire plant.
In a letter to Local 1155 members, Vining said union negotiators will be in St. Louis Jan. 18-19 to review the recently ratified Goodyear-USW contract, with formal talks with BFNAT set to start Jan. 30.
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