Aircraft Tires

About UsHistory

1931
Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd., established in Kurume and begins commercial production of auto tires.
1936
Begin the production of military aircraft tires.
1937
Headquarters moved to Tokyo from Kurume.
1939
The production of aircraft tires begins in earnest at the Kurume Plant.
1942
The mass-production of aircraft tires started.
1943
The manufacture of aircraft wheels started.
1951
A reinforced rayon tire is developed to replace cotton cord.
1953
Start of commercial aircraft tire production.
The retreading of aircraft tires started.
1955
Nylon tires for jet aircraft developed.
1958
High tensile machine installed at the Kurume Factory, and full-scale production of nylon cord tires begins.
1959
The Civil Aviation Bureau (CAB) approves eleven kinds of tires and tubes, including those for the Douglas DC-3.
1968
Installation of world's largest dynamic tester for aircraft tires.
Aircraft tire factory built within the compounds of the Kurume Factory and mass production of aircraft tires begins.
1969
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approves twenty-two tire sizes including that for the DC-8 aircraft.
1970
Kurume Aircraft Tire Retread Plant relocated to the Tokyo Factory.
1971
The FAA approves an additional thirteen tire sizes.
1973
Plant approval obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Full-fledged delivery of tires started to overseas airlines.
New and retreaded tires for the DC-9-40, L1011 and DC-10-10 approved by the CAB.
100% share of orders for Airbus tires for all domestic airlines.
1982
CAB/FAA/CAA and Boeing approve B767/757 tires.
1983
FAA grants Repair Station Approval.
1984
Renamed Bridgestone Corporation.
Amalgamated company Thompson Aircraft Tires (Asia) (TATA) established with Bridgestone holding a 10% investment.
1985
World's newest and largest dynamic tester with maximum load of 110,000 lbs installed.
1987
Office established in San Francisco to augment aircraft tire technology service activities in the U.S.A.
1988
B747-400 tires receive CAB, FAA, CAA and Boeing approvals.
Application of TCOT theory to aircraft tires leading to development of the Improved Bias Tire (IBT).
Radial tires for Airbus A320 developed.
AP domestic and overseas sales organization integrated.
1989
CAB/FAA approve radial tires for the A320.
1990
Production of the world's largest APS tires started for the main wheels of the MD-11 private jet manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company.
1991
A320 radial tires first delivered to customers.
Bridgestone acquired Thompson's European operations as well as 50 percent of the equity interest in its Asian operation.
Selected by DAC as original equipment supplier for the new MD-90-30 aircraft.
Name of TATA changed to Bridgestone Aircraft Tires Asia (BAA).
1992
Started radial tire retreading at the Tokyo Plant.
MD-90 main tires approved by DAC.
1993
First to complete development of B777 radial tires, and approved by Boeing.
A321 radial tires approved by Airbus.
New generation, super-light bias tires (PWO) for the A330/A340, A321, MD-90 and MD-11 aircraft developed and marketed.
Domestic carriers JAL and ANA both decide to use Bridgestone APR tires for B777.
1994
Started radial tire retreading services in Europe, and Hong Kong.
1995
A330/A340 radial tires approved by Airbus.
1996
Developed and marketed as original equipment supplier for the new B737-600/700/800 aircraft.
1997
Bridgestone acquired Thompson Aerospace in the United States.
Selected by Boeing as original equipment supplier for B777-200LR/300ER and B767-400ER through 2006.
Started global QA program for aircraft tires.
Retreading companies established in the four corners of the world: Japan, USA, Europe and Asia.
1998
Name of European Thompson Belgium changed to Bridgestone Aircraft Tires Europe (BAE).
1999
Started radial tire retreading services in the U.S.A.
2000
BAA made a 100% subsidiary company.
2003
Selected by Airbus as original equipment supplier for A380, A320 family and A330/340.
2004
Selected by Boeing as original equipment supplier for B787.
Development of the new Revolutionarily Reinforced Radial (RRR) structure started.
Decision to use Bridgestone tires on all models of Boeing's next-generation 7E7 Dream Liner aircraft.
2005
Selected by Boeing as original equipment supplier for B737-900ER.
Bridgestone Corporation acquires the global standard JISQ9100 Aerospace Quality and Safety Management certification.
The Kurume Plant acquires authorization as a manufacturing organization by the European Aircraft Safety Association (EASA).
The new RRR aircraft tires acquire CAB, FAA and EASA authorization for used on Airbus A380 and A340.
Bridgestone Aircraft Tires China (BAC) established as the forth aircraft tire retreading plant in Qingdao, China, as a BAA subsidiary company.
2006
Decision to increase and reinforce production capabilities of the Tokyo Plant as the second production plant for aircraft radial tires (production started in the second half of 2008).
2007
Bridgestone Aircraft Tires Company (China) (BAC) opened and started bias tire retreading.
2008
The Tokyo Plant acquires the authorization as a APR manufacturing organization by the European Aircraft Safety Association (EASA) and started APR manufacturing.
RRR (Revolutionarily Reinforced Radial), the advanced construction radial tire was selected by ANA for their Boeing 777-300ER, marking the global introduction of RRR on a Boeing Aircraft.
2009
Selected by Airbus as the supplier for the A350 XWB with its advanced radial construction tire RRR (Revolutionarily Reinforced Radial).
2010
The advanced construction radial tire RRR (Revolutionarily Reinforced Radial) was selected as the standard fitment on Mitsubishi Regional Jet.
Awarded 2009 Supplier of the Year by Boeing.