(Tire Review) Bridgestone Americas is disputing Liberian government claims that its Firestone rubber plantation is causing pollution in nearby creeks. Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency closed out a lengthy investigation, finding high levels of orthophosphate being released into the water in creeks near the company’s natural rubber plantation and processing enter in Monrovia.
(Tire Review) Firestone Complete Auto Care launched “Together For Life,” a student video competition aimed at addressing the issue of senior hunger in America. Ten finalists will be awarded a set of Bridgestone or Firestone tyres, and three winners will be awarded scholarships of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500, respectively. "This contest is an opportunity to offer a unique point of view on this very serious issue," said Victoria Condell, director of public affairs for Bridgestone Retail Operations. "By engaging students, we hope to build awareness of senior hunger and inspire viewers to get involved to help solve this important problem."
A group of 10 workers at Bridgestone America’s Firestone agricultural tyre plant in Des Moines are a bit happier today. The group cashed in on a winning ticket in the Iowa Powerball lottery last week, taking in a total of US$1 million.
Kings Road Tyres has a newly-opened Liverpool (Widnes) location, offering customers better service in the North West of England. The company, one of the UK and Ireland’s largest independent tyre distributors, can offer the majority of its customers, either next day/two day delivery throughout the countries using its own fleet of vehicles, from its eight strategically located sales and distribution centres.
Bridgestone’s annual US Safety Scholars contest has a 2009 winner, in addition to two runners-up, all of whom will receive $5,000 towards their college studies and a set of Bridgestone or Firestone tyres. The competition highlighted a wealth of creative talent, as entrants took their cue from an eclectic range of inspirations including rap videos, emotional personal stories and important topical issues.
Emergency, rescue and police vehicles often participate in jobs where lives are at stake. Therefore they require a tyre that delivers top performance while offering durability and dependability. In the US, specialist magazine Police Fleet Manager rated a number of tyres for their suitability, and Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) reports that its Firestone Firehawk GT Pursuit was shown to be "the best tyre for this demanding job." The Firehawk GT Pursuit was rated top overall tyre and secured top position in wet-oriented performance.
According to the findings of the latest J.D. Power and Associates Retail Tire Experience Report, improving recommendation rates amongst sales staff at independent tyre retailers is one of the most effective means of increasing market share. This conclusion was reached after compiling the results of more than 4,000 ‘mystery shopper’ telephone calls to 2,100 retail tyre locations in the US during 2008 and 2009. The report examines which tyre brands are recommended by salespeople at major tyre retailers and how effectively retailers handle telephone shoppers.
Taking their cue from an eclectic range of inspirations, including rap videos, emotional personal stories and important topical issues, students from across the United States grabbed their video cameras and got behind the lens to produce creative and compelling messages in the hope of saving lives. Three of the more talented of these teenagers have been granted college scholarships for their efforts.
An extension of Bridgestone’s title sponsorship for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational through to 2014 has been agreed upon. An agreement with the International Federation of PGA Tours was reached and announced on August 9. Bridgestone comments that details of the agreement are currently being finalised; these will be agreed upon in the "coming weeks".
Four years after Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage throughout the city of New Orleans, Firestone Complete Auto Care has celebrated the reopening of one of its centres in the city. The outlet on Carrolton street was forced to close its doors due to damage received on August 29, 2005, and to-date has been one of only a handful of automotive retailers to have returned to the area.
“Our Firestone Complete Auto Care stores are important parts of their communities,” said Ottis Lewis, vice-president, South Central Zone, Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO). “Our teammates not only care about our customers, but we care about the communities that we call home. Since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it has been BSRO’s goal to reopen this store – we are thrilled to be able to serve this close-knit community once again.”
The top ten finalists have been selected in the 2009 Bridgestone Americas Safety Scholars video contest, and now consumers get their chance to vote. The national competition challenges 16- to 21-year-old drivers to create short videos about automotive safety or making eco-conscious decisions when operating a vehicle. The finalists were selected by a panel of judges from 817 entries received by Bridgestone Americas.
The top ten videos are now posted at safetyscholars.com for online voting until 3 August. Votes will determine the three grand prize winners who will be announced on 10 August. Finalists’ videos are also available for viewing on social networking sites including Facebook, YouTube and MySpace. The grand prize winners will receive a $5,000 scholarship and a set of new Bridgestone or Firestone tyres, and their winning videos may be used on TV stations nationwide as part of a public service announcement campaign. (Tire Review/Akron)
Bridgestone/Firestone has recalled 127,000 Firestone FR380 tyres manufactured between 9 September 2007 and 2 July 2008 in the size P235/75R15. Continued use could lead to vibration and groove cracking. The company will notify buyers and replace the products free of charge, including mounting and balancing.
Tire Review adds that the recall will encompass 127,183 tyres manufactured with insufficient tread base gauge, which could lead to tread distortion or separation. The tyres were produced at the Bridgestone de Costa Rica S.A. plant in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The US journal reports that Bridgestone Americas said that it was possible that a small number of these tyres from the additional production weeks may have been sold in the Canadian replacement market. The recalled tires carry DOT numbers starting with WBHL 380 3607 through and including WBHL 380 3008.
B.I.T.S director Bill Daly sadly passed away on Sunday 28 June after a courageous battle with cancer. Bill, an industrious and caring person, spent all of his working life in the tyre industry. His career began some 43 years ago in the local office of Firestone. Through a lot of hard work and determination, he gained successive promotions and progressed to administration manager for Firestone, covering the northern part of the UK.
In August 1982 Bill joined B.I.T.S, a member of The County Tyre Group of Companies, and together with Stan Naylor started the first expansion of B.I.T.S in the North at Preston. Through the success of the Preston location and Bill’s dedication, he was made a director of B.I.T.S Group in 1996. He was a valuable and influential member of the team, contributing greatly to the further expansion of B.I.T.S. He will be very dearly missed by his wife Linda and his loss will also be deeply felt by his many colleagues, some of whom have known Bill since he was a teenager.
Following 27 years with Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, Michael Sigillito has been appointed the sales and marketing director for sister company Firestone Industrial Products Co. Sigillito most recently served as director of retail, channel and Canadian marketing for Bridgestone Americas.
Firestone has recently added seven new sizes for larger American and European Grand Tourers such as Packard and Hispano Souza. Available sizes include: 700×17, 700×18, 750×18, 700×19, 750×19, 700×20. According to influential vintage and classic tyre wholesaler and the Firestone classic tyre distributor, North Hants Tyre, the moulds are brand new and replicate the original Firestone Balloon Tread design. The tyres are available in both blackwall and whitewall.
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