Bridgestone Americas is to develop new tire technologies aimed at greatly reducing the environmental impact of heavy-duty Class 8 long-haul tractor trailer trucks.
The company will receive federal funding as a team member of the Cummins-Peterbilt SuperTruck II program. The US Department of Energy (DOE) will match the Bridgestone investment dollar-for-dollar, to create prototype tires in all three axle positions (steer, drive and trailer).
The program will incorporate six different tire technologies: tire sizing, curing, casing construction, casing compounds, tread patterns and tread compounding.
The prototype tires are expected to deliver up to a 6% improvement in fuel efficiency through a 30% decrease in rolling resistance compared to the MY2009 baseline product tires, while meeting or exceeding customer expectations in wear and traction.
Meanwhile Bridgestone Americas has taken out a two-year lease extension option on its Advanced Technology Workshop manufacturing facility in Akron, Ohio, where the company produced its race tires. This extension will keep more than 50 highly-skilled jobs in Akron.
“We’d like to thank our city, county and state leaders for their continued support of Bridgestone and our investments in Northeast Ohio,” said Steve Charles, vice president of product development for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.
