Bridgestone Unveils World's Largest Tyre
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| Newly developed 59/80R63 V-Steel E-Lug S tire for massive, next generation ultra-large dump trucks of 380 to 400 short ton payload |
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 Tokyo (November 15, 2001)--Bridgestone Corporation has developed the world's largest tire and will begin marketing it in spring 2002. The new tire, designated 59/80R63 V-Steel E-Lug S, is a radial tire for dump trucks that carry loads of 380 to 400 short tons. It is for customers in the mining industry and underlines Bridgestone's global leadership in large tires for earthmoving equipment. Bridgestone has marketed tires since 1998 for dump trucks of 360 short ton payload.
Mine operators in the Americas, Australia, Asia, and other regions have adopted increasingly larger equipment to lower operating costs. Dump trucks of 380 to 400 short ton payload are expected to emerge in the next generation of ultra-large earthmoving equipment.
Bridgestone has led the development of the increasingly larger tires required for each new generation of mining equipment. Its 59/80R63 V-Steel E-Lug S tire features a new belt package and a new bead structure to provide rugged, overall durability in carrying the world's heaviest loads. The new belt package, meanwhile, reduces tire damages from cuts, and the newly developed tread compound greatly improves tire wear.
The 59/80R63 V-Steel E-Lug S tire stands 4.02 meters (158.5 inches) tall, which is 11 centimeters (4.4 inches) taller than Bridgestone's former record holder, the 55/80R63 V-Steel R-Lug S tire. It measures 1.47 meters (57.9 inches) across, which is 9 centimeters (3.6 inches) wider than the 55/80R63 V-Steel R-Lug S tire. The 59/80R63 V-Steel E-Lug S tire has a nominal load rating of 101 metric tons, an increase of more than 6 metric tons. The 59/80R63 V-Steel E-Lug S tire weighs 5.1 metric tons apiece, an increase of 0.4 metric tons over the 55/80R63 tire.
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest manufacturer of tires and other rubber products. Tires account for 78 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.
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Bridgestone / Firestone Europe S.A - with European headquarters in Brussels, Belgium - is a key division of the Bridgestone Corporation. It develops and manufactures top-quality tyres in Europe which, through its 16 subsidiary sales companies and other channels, are distributed all over Europe including the Eastern European markets. Products are also exported outside Europe, including to Japan.
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| Media contacts: |
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- D. Collins
- G. Meylemans +32 2 714 68 40
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