Bridgestone And Continental Welcome Yokohama Into Runflat Collaboration
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 25, 2002) – Bridgestone
Corporation, the parent company of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.
(BFAH), today announced that it and Continental AG, based in Hanover,
Germany, have agreed to welcome Tokyo-based Yokohama Rubber Company Ltd.,
into their collaboration on the Support Ring technology. The three companies
will cooperate in establishing a global standard for runflat technology.
Bridgestone and Continental already have begun cooperating
in runflat technology. The collaboration between Bridgestone and Continental
spans two complementary runflat systems that are both compatible with
conventional wheels:
One of the systems, the Self Supporting Runflat Tire
(SSR) system, employs a reinforced sidewall to maintain the tire shape
in the event of a loss of air pressure. The SSR system is well suited
to vehicles with lower aspect ratio tires, especially sporty cars.
The other system, the Support Ring system, employs a
light-weight metal ring that is mounted on conventional wheels. In the
event of a loss of air pressure, the support ring bears the wheel load
and secures the tire on the wheel. The Support Ring system can be easily
mounted in conventional wheels with existing mounting devices. The Support
Ring system is scheduled to go into production in late 2002 by Continental.
It is well suited to passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles with higher
aspect ratio tires. The support ring can be reused, subject to usage
conditions, and it is suited to use on summer tires as well as winter
tires.
In the first step, Yokohama will obtain the Support Ring technology from Continental
and Bridgestone on a license basis. The three companies will exchange related
technical information with an eye to further developing the Support Ring Technology
and to promoting that system in the marketplace. Yokohama limits its participation
to the Support Ring system at present, since it is developing its own SSR technologies.
Bridgestone and Continental welcome Yokohama as a new
partner in the cooperation and expect the broadened partnership to add
momentum to their progress in establishing a global standard for runflat
systems. The three companies have been negotiating their three-way collaboration
since mid-2002, and their managements expect to conclude a formal agreement
by the end of the year
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is
the world's largest manufacturer of tires and other rubber products.
Tires account for 79 percent of Bridgestone Group sales worldwide. The
company also manufactures industrial rubber and chemical products, sporting
goods, and other diversified products. It sells its tires and other products
in more than 150 nations.
Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.
is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest
tire and rubber company. BFAH, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures
and markets a wide range of tires to address the needs of a broad range
of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle
original equipment manufacturers and those in the agricultural, forestry
and mining industries. The companies also produce Firestone air springs,
roofing materials, synthetic rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles
and operate the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and services
centers. |
