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News

Firestone Introduces Its LargestCapacity R-4 Backhoe Tire

Las Vegas, NV. (March 13, 2008) – Firestone Agricultural Tire Company (FSAG), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) today introduced its largest load capacity R-4 backhoe tire.

The Firestone 21L24 (18 ply) All Traction Utility tire has a load-carrying capacity of 10,500 pounds and will be the original equipment fitment on 2008 CaterpillarTM 450E Backhoe Loaders.

“Compared with our standard 10-ply tire, this new product features more than 41 percent greater load-carrying capacity,” said Tom Rodgers, Marketing Manager for FSAG. “It’s designed for the tough, on- and off-the-road tire requirements of today’s utility tractors where moderate traction, as well as flotation and long wear, is needed.”

Designed specifically for tractor backhoe loaders, the 21L24 (18 ply) All Traction Utility has wide buttressed lugs for durability and long life in construction service. It offers good traction and flotation characteristics. Special rubber compounds help resist tread cutting and tearing to give long tread life under a variety of working conditions.

For more information on Firestone construction tires visit us on the Web at www.firestoneconstructs.com.

About Firestone Agricultural Tire:
Firestone Agricultural Tire Company (FSAG), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, is the largest manufacturer of agricultural tires in North Amercia. FSAG’s Des Moines, Iowa, facility is located in the heart of America’s farm belt and is a leading supplier of the North American original equipment market and supplies about 40 percent of the replacement market with agricultural tires. FSAG also has approximately 50 percent of the market in harvesting and planting machinery. The FSAG testing facility, located in Columbiana, Ohio, is the only facility in the world solely dedicated to the development and testing of agricultural tires. In addition to agricultural tires, FSAG markets and sells forestry, ATV and construction tires.

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off the road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.\