NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 9, 2005) - The negotiating team for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC and BFS Diversified Products, LLC has successfully concluded its talks with the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union ("USW") resulting in tentative contracts for the companies' union facilities in the United States. The Master contract with the USW covers the union teammates at tire production facilities in Akron, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; LaVergne, Tenn.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; as well union teammates at the Firestone tube plant in Russellville, Ark. and the Firestone air spring plant in Noblesville, Ind.

Tentative agreements have also been reached for the maintenance group located in the LaVergne, Tenn., plant and for tire plants in Bloomington, Ill. and Warren County, Tenn.

It has been our goal throughout this process to achieve contracts that are in the best interests of both parties and we believe these agreements are reflective of that goal. We now look forward to the union membership ratifying these tentative agreements, a process which will likely take several days.