Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone largest tyres & rubber company on global scale

Based in Japan, Bridgestone is the world's largest tyre and rubber company. Operating on a global scale, the company is at the forefront of tyre and rubber technology. Bridgestone was founded in the 1930's by Mr Shojiro Ishibashi, a forward-thinker who realised that the road to success in global markets lay in an English brand name. He took a literal translation of his own name, "Stonebridge", and created the Bridgestone brand.

The company now employs over 105,000 people in 150 countries and has production facilities and test and research centres around the world.

Today, Bridgestone plays a leading role in the development of Formula One race tyres. Although these tyres are vastly different from those used on the road, it gives the company a chance to work with casings and compounds that are exposed to tremendous stresses and strains. The data gathered for the F1 field then filters down through the Ultra High Performance (UHP) tyres offered by Bridgestone.

We sell the entire range of high quality Bridgestone car and van tyres and will fit them at a location of your choice. Of all the brands that we sell Bridgestone is our tyre of choice.

See manufacturer information at Bridgestone Tyres.

Bridgestone RFT

Bridgestone RFT Runflat tyres are of a sidewall-reinforced design and are available in a number of different sizes and patterns. They are fitted as OE to vehicles such as BMW Z4, Z8, 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 series (either as standard or as an option), Mercedes CL, CLK, SLK, SL, A, B, C-Klasse, Ferrari Enzo, 612 Scaglietti, Maserati, Lexus SC430.

Patterns available in Runflat are RE040, ER300, RE050 and RE050A and sizes range from 205/55R16 to 275/35R19.

Ferrari chooses Bridgestone Potenza RE050 radials for Ferrari Superamerica

Bridgestone has announced that it will supply Potenza RE050 radial tyres for the Ferrari Superamerica. The company will begin delivering tyres in January 2005 for factory installation on the newest Ferrari convertible. Ferrari will equip the Superamerica with Bridgestone's Potenza RE050 tyres.

The Superamerica is a brand new innovative convertible derived from the 575M Maranello that will be produced in limited edition, powered with a 12-cylinder engine and feature an innovative rotating roof in combination with electrochromic technology, which allows the driver to adjust the amount of sunlight that shines into the cockpit. The Potenza tyres will be of size 255/35ZR19 on the front wheels and 305/30ZR19 on the rear wheels.

Bridgestone has adopted a non-directional, asynchronous tread pattern in the Potenza RE050 tyres that will appear on the Ferrari Superamerica. Wet-weather handling is an especially important consideration in Europe.So Bridgestone's engineers have designed the tyres to provide excellent performance on both wet and dry surfaces. They have designed the inner tread to optimal wet-surface performance and the outer tread for optimal dry-surface handling.

Comfort was also a big emphasis in creating the tyres, and the result combines a quiet, pleasant touring experience with superior wet and dry handling. Potenza RE050 tyres similar to those destined for the Ferrari Superamerica have earned factory fitments on high-performance cars from Porsche, Mercedes-Benz AMG, BMW, and Aston-Martin, as well as Ferrari.

This latest factory fitment for Bridgestone tyres on a new Ferrari Superamerica marks another step in an extremely productive relationship. The legendary manufacturer of ultrahigh-performance cars has ridden Bridgestone tyres to six consecutive constructors' championships in Formula One racing. It has also installed Bridgestone tyres on a series of production models, including its present flagship model, the Enzo.

New European Plant in Hungary for Bridgestone

It has been announced that Bridgestone Europe NV/SA will build a tyre plant in Hungary. Construction of the new plant will begin in 2006, with production to get under way in 2008. Bridgestone's plans call for production capacity at the plant to reach about 8,000 tyres a day in the first half of 2009. The company has earmarked 190 million euros for investment in the project. The plant will produce radial tyres for passenger cars and light trucks, and it will be the first European installation of Bridgestone's revolutionary new BIRD production system. BIRD (Bridgestone Innovative and Rational Development) is the first tyre production system that automates the entire manufacturing sequence from the processing of materials to the inspection of the finished tyres.

Europe is considered to be one of the most advanced markets for the automotive industry in terms of the high-speed driving on the autobahn (German motorway), high demand for safety and environment, and consumers' awareness of designs. The Hungarian plant will serve the growing demand for high-performance and large rim size tyres for passenger cars in Europe, as well as increasing the group's overall supply capacity there.

When the Hungarian plant begins operation, Bridgestone will have 51 tyre plants in 24 nations. That includes three plants already announced in Mexico, Brazil, and China. The Hungarian plant will be the second tyre plant in central Europe for us, an addition to our facility in Poznan, Poland.

Bridgestone On Ferrari F430

Bridgestone has announced that it has begun supplying Potenza RE050A tyres for factory installation as standard equipment on the Ferrari F430. The 430, an ultrahigh-performance model powered with a 4.3-liter eight-cylinder engine, is the successor to Ferrari's 360 Modena. Bridgestone supplies the Potenza RE050A tyres in the size 225/35ZR19 84Y for the front wheels and 285/35ZR19 99Y for the rear wheels.

The Potenza RE050A tyres for the Ferrari F430 feature an asymmetrical, nondirectional tread pattern. Bridgestone has optimized the inner portion of the tread for wet-weather driving, especially important in Europe, and the outer portion of dry surfaces. The tyres thus provide a superior combination of dry- and wet-weather performance, along with a quiet, comfortable ride for touring. Bridgestone supplies similar Potenza RE050A to Enzo Ferrari, Superamerica and 612 Scaglietti.

Ferrari's selection of the Potenza RE050A tyres evidences the legendary sports car manufacturer's high regard for Bridgestone's ultrahigh-performance tyre technology.

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