Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNAT) has announced that Bridgestone Turanza EL40002 tyres will be original equipment on the new 2007 Toyota Prius Touring Edition. BFNAT will supply the tyres in size P195/55R16 86V. The Bridgestone Turanza EL40002 is described as a “V-speed rated, all-season, luxury, touring original equipment tyre.” The 2007 Touring Edition of the Toyota Prius is hitting US dealerships this month.
First Stop dealer, Steve Andrews, has discovered a new winning formula after using a race-ready Williams racing car to impress visitors at a local festival. Andrews, owner of Steve Andrews Tyres, St Austell, booked the car, used during last year’s Formula One World Championship, as a showpiece for an evening of live music and fireworks at the Charlestown Regatta in Cornwall. And it certainly made an impact, attracting huge crowds and helping to raise more than £1,200 for local causes.
(Akron/Tire Review) Even as both sides continue to pick over the fine print of the United Steelworkers (USW) new three-year master contract with Michelin North America, Goodyear and the Steelworkers reportedly remain far apart in their contract talks.
Goodyear’s union workers continue on the job, working on a day-to-day basis off their now expired contract. The USW’s deal with MNA has been established as the “pattern contract” for ongoing talks with Goodyear and now stalled talks with Bridgestone/Firestone.
With raw material prices rising dramatically all over the world, the cost of manufacturing tyres has obviously also risen. As a result, Bridgestone motorcycle tyre distributor, Biketyrestore is reporting that the manufacturer will be increasing prices on 1 September 2006. The price increase affects all radials by between four and five per cent. Biketyrestore is encouraging customers to beat the price increase by ordering tyres in August.
Bridgestone Corp. has reported that first half operating profit fell 8.7 per cent to 84.11 billion yen (£382 million) on account of raw material costs. Net profit dropped 67.7 per cent to 32.82 billion yen (£146.6 million), partly due to a one-off pension-related gain of 80.8 billion yen in the year-earlier period.
The founder of a charity improving life for handicapped and impoverished African youngsters has praised the efforts of six First Stop tyre dealerships for helping her receive an MBE. Sister Elizabeth Dawson was awarded the honour last month (July) for her work with the Zambia Project, a cause she championed in the late 1990s to provide education, accommodation and amenities for young people living in the Lusaka region of Zambia.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone Americas Holding’s Bridgestone/Firestone Chile S.A. (BFC) unit said it is closing its Coquimbo, Chile, plant at year’s end. The company said that because of “intense competition from low-cost producers, the plant is not globally competitive and is projected to begin losing significant amounts of money with no viable strategy to reverse the losses.” The plant produces mass market and bias ply tyres and bias tyres.
Jenson Button scored his first Formula One victory last weekend in what Michelin called a “topsy-turvy Hungarian Grand Prix.” Michelin’s partners dominated the early stages of the rain-affected race and Button swept to the front of the field on lap 52, when world championship leader Fernando Alonso stopped with a rear wheel problem.
Tyres & Accessories asked Bridgestone UK senior marketing analyst, Andy Dingley to explain why the company recently decided to advise Toyota RAV4 T180 diesel owners to go back to the showroom at tyre changing time. Bridgestone is keen to point out that there is no alternative motive attached to this move, just simple technological constraints. According to the Japanese manufacturer, the situation all comes down to the fact that the new RAV4 uses the Bridgestone Support Ring (BSR) run-flat system rather than a sidewall supported product.
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire have both announced prices increases. CTNA said it is increasing prices on all Continental, General, Semperit and private brand medium truck tyres by up to 5 per cent, effective 1 August.
BFNAT said it will boost prices on its Bridgestone, Firestone, Fuzion, Dayton, associate and private brand tyre lines by up to 4 per cent, effective 1 September. The increase includes OE, replacement and export sales, and covers passenger, light truck/SUV, medium truck, agricultural and OTR tyre lines.
Michael Schumacher increased his title chances by winning the German Grand Prix this weekend, leaving title rival Fernando Alonso struggling in fifth place after lumps reportedly fell from his tyres. The Hockenheim crown was Bridgestone’s 100th win of the 165 Grand Prix races it has participated in. “We improved the car so it’s a package which is the reason why we can perform as we do perform. Although I have to say it was a bit of a surprise being that much in front,” said Bridgestone-equipped race-winner Michael Schumacher. The Ferrari of Felipe Massa took second place on Bridgestone tyres.
Bridgestone has continued to spread safety messages to UK motorists, and raise money for charity, by exhibiting its Think Before You Drive roadshow at the world’s largest military air tattoo. Thousands of people visited the Bridgestone stand at the recent Fairford Air Tattoo, where they not only received potentially life-saving road safety information but also had the opportunity to have their photos taken with a stunning replica of Michael Schumacher’s World Championship-winning Ferrari Formula One car in return for charity donations.
Michelin and the United Steelworkers on Tuesday reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for hourly workers at three of its BFGoodrich tyre plants in the United States. Details of the agreements, which cover about 3,450 workers, will not be released until the union has completed ratification votes, Michelin spokeswoman Lynn Mann said. The contracts covering the Michelin union workers in North America were to expire at midnight on July 22, but both sides had agreed to temporary extensions while talks continued. The agreement covers two of Michelin’s BFGoodrich plants in Alabama and one in Indiana and is to be used as a template for contract talks with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Bridgestone Corp. in North America.
(Akron/Tire Review) The United Steelworkers’ (USW) master contracts with Michelin North America, Goodyear and Bridgestone/Firestone expired Sunday at midnight without incident and without a walkout by union workers. But twice over the weekend the union and Michelin agreed to extensions of their contract – one 24-hour extension on Saturday and a 48-hour extension on Sunday. The contract, which covers Michelin’s unionized plants in Tuscaloosa and Opelika, Ala., and Fort Wayne, Ind., is now scheduled to end at midnight on July 25.
The second generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class continues to set the standard, using a new tyre set up from Bridgestone that is said to offer a sportier ride without compromising high speed stability or on-the-road comfort.
The classy SUV bears all the hallmarks of the ground-breaking mark one M-Class that paved the way for modern off-roaders following its launch in 1997 – majestic looks, stunning performance, a stylish interior and masses of load capacity.
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