Bridgestone to Exhibit at 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009

Tokyo (October 2, 2009) - Bridgestone Corporation today announced that it would exhibit at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009, to be held October 21 through November 4, 2009,* at Makuhari Messe, Chiba City. Bridgestone's exhibit, which will focus on its environmental-related initiatives, will also allow visitors to the Show to gain a deeper understanding of the Company's technological capabilities, products, and various activities.

<The highlight of Bridgestone's exhibit>

  1. The flagship ECOPIA brand of environmentally-friendly tires
    At the Show, Bridgestone will introduce the product lineup of the brand, which will be available for a wide range of uses and fitments including passenger vehicles, light trucks, trucks and buses. In addition, the company's display will highlight the history of ECOPIA since 1990 and the technologies incorporated in the tires.

  2. Retread tires
    The company will also emphasize its recent activities in the area of retread tires. Compared to new tires, retread tires can make a major environmental contribution in three ways.
    1) Contribute to resource conservation, as compared to new tires, retread tires can reduce by two-thirds consumption of raw materials such as natural rubber.
    2) Reduce CO2 emissions generated in tire production.
    3) Reusing the body of the tire also contributes to reducing the volume of scrapped tires.

  3. Runflat tires
    Also on display will be Bridgestone's runflat tires, which can be driven at a specified speed for a specified mileage even after a loss of air pressure. Runflat tires can eliminate the need for a spare tire, thereby providing the benefits of reduced vehicle weight, increased fuel efficiency, and reduced resource consumption. Bridgestone's “third-generation” runflat tires, announced in March 2009, will be displayed in order to demonstrate the Company's success in improving the riding comfort of runflat tires.

  4. the new BLIZZAK REVO GZ studless winter tires
    Bridgestone's exhibit will include the new BLIZZAK REVO GZ studless winter tire for passenger vehicles, announced in September. BLIZZAK REVO GZ is the first eco-product in the BLIZZAK lineup. Eco-product refer to tires with outstanding economic efficiency and environmental performance to a level that satisfies Bridgestone standards.

As part of its support for the Tokyo Motor Show, Bridgestone will also assist in the management of the Press Center, as it has since the 36th Tokyo Motor Show held in 2002.

Image of the Bridgestone booth

Image of the Bridgestone booth

* Admission on October 21-22 is limited to members of the press.

Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.