What’s Happening
Bridgestone Americas has globally launched the Turanza EV grand touring tire, specifically tailored to fit premium electric vehicles. The debut includes immediate availability at national tire retailers. Designed, developed, and manufactured in North America, the initial launch will cater to Tesla and Ford Mustang Mach-E models, with plans for 13 additional sizes to be launched in early 2024.
Why It Matters
This tire launch is significant as it’s the first replacement market tire in North America featuring Bridgestone’s ENLITEN technology. ENLITEN optimizes all-season performance, prolongs wear life, and integrates renewable and recycled materials in its products. Bridgestone’s focus on this groundbreaking core technology includes next-generation tread compounds, new structural components, and efficiency optimization for both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and EV platforms.
Key Points
The Bridgestone Turanza EV tire is designed to improve the overall electric vehicle experience by providing excellent tread life, minimal ride noise, and confident wet handling. The technology behind this tire includes the use of recycled carbon black from end-of-life tires, synthetic rubber derived from recycled plastic bags and bottles, renewable soybean oil, and rice husk silica.
A new feature debuting on the Turanza EV tire is PeakLife, a novel polymer technology developed by Bridgestone engineers at the Americas Technology Center in Akron, Ohio. PeakLife enhances tread resistance to wear, thereby aiding in the extension of tire life.
Riccardo Cichi, President and Chief Sales Officer of Bridgestone Americas, remarked on the potential of the Turanza EV tire to reshape how tire technology and design are approached, offering exceptional dynamic performance and increased use of renewable and recycled materials.
The Turanza EV tire includes key engineering features such as maintaining long mileage range, sustainable longevity, a quiet ride, and readiness for wet roads. Bridgestone further supports sustainability by ensuring that Turanza EV tire incorporates 50% renewable and recycled materials.
Bottom Line
Bridgestone’s Turanza EV tire underscores the company’s commitment to sustainability and its aspiration to use 100% renewable and recycled materials by 2050. Manufactured at Bridgestone’s passenger car tire production facilities in Wilson, North Carolina, and Monterrey, Mexico, the new tire aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, reflecting the company’s values: Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, and Empowerment.
By developing this unique electric vehicle replacement tire, Bridgestone is signaling a significant stride toward a more sustainable and energy-efficient future, contributing to the ongoing transformation of the automotive industry.
