Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Tire Line ExpandedAll-season tire supports company’s long-term environmental goals to help reduce CO2 emissions, improve fuel efficiency in products

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 29, 2011) - An expansion of the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 tire line will give even more drivers a chance to experience improved fuel efficiency and a smooth, comfortable ride.

Engineered for the environment-conscious and cost-conscious driver, the Ecopia EP422 is expanding from five to 29 sizes in 2011 to a full power line, ranging from 15- to 18-inch tires, fitting vehicles from the Toyota Prius to the Lexus ES, Chevy Malibu, Nissan Altima and Honda Odyssey minivan.

“With gas prices continuing to climb and the busy summer travel season upon us, we know consumers are concerned about fuel economy and getting the most out of their tires,” said Larry Magee, President, Consumer Tire U.S. & Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (BATO). “The Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 is a great option for consumers looking for an all-season tire that offers low rolling resistance without sacrificing the performance people have come to expect from a Bridgestone tire.”

The line features several, fuel-efficient technologies and designs, including:

• Fuel Saver Sidewall Compound that helps lower rolling resistance by both returning more energy back to the tire and reducing heat generation compared to normal sidewalls

• Silica to improve traction in wet conditions by increasing flexibility of the tread compound

• A panel of judges will select 10 finalists based on the following criteria: how well the video compels viewers to be more safety-conscious when using their vehicles, and how well the video effectively and creatively communicates its message.

• NanoPro-Tech (Nanostructure-Oriented Properties Control technology) improves rolling resistance and helps contribute to fuel-efficiency and CO2 reduction by controlling the interaction between polymers, filler materials and other rubber chemicals at the molecular level

• Circumferential grooves to help channel water out of the footprint area to improve resistance to hydroplaning

In addition to the technology and design innovations mentioned above, the Ecopia EP422 tread compound is constructed using 5 percent post-consumer recycled tires.

The Ecopia EP422 is a critical product offering in helping Bridgestone Americas support its parent company, Bridgestone Corporation (BSJ), in reaching their global goal to improve tire rolling resistance by 25 percent in all of its products, resulting in less fuel use and CO2 emissions while driving by the year 2020 (based on a 2005 benchmark). The company also strives to reduce CO2 from its entire product lifecycle by 35 percent per sales by the same year.

“This tire incorporates proprietary Bridgestone technologies to provide improved rolling resistance, a smooth, quiet ride, and reliable wet handling and braking,” said Julie Porter, Product Manager for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. “All of these performance characteristics are in response to what customers have been telling us they want and need. Further, this Ecopia line was designed for all vehicles, not just hybrids and helps consumers to enjoy fuel saving benefits regardless of what they drive.”

To help consumers understand the cost savings benefits of the Ecopia product, BATO also recently launched a fuel calculator that can help consumers discover how much money they can save in fuel over the life of their tires.

Fuel calculator link: http://www.bridgestonetire.com/FuelCalculator/

“With this new fuel calculator, consumers can see for themselves the difference a set of Ecopia tires can make every time they fill up at the pump,” Magee continued.

The new Ecopia line is produced at BATO facilities in Aiken County, S.C., and Wilson, N.C. BATO’s Aiken County plant earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in February 2010, and both the Aiken County and Wilson facilities are home to Certified Wildlife Habitats, a conservation program aligned with the efforts of Bridgestone Corporation’s “One Team, One Planet” global environmental initiative. (Some sizes produced in Cuenevaca)

“We are committed to providing consumers with a healthy environment for current and future generations not only through the products we provide but in every aspect of our business,” Magee said. “The expanded Ecopia line and new fuel calculator are directly in line with our environmental commitment. We look forward to giving our customers the opportunity to do their part for the environment, one set of tires at a time.”