Tokyo (November 22, 2007) - Bridgestone Corporation announced today that it will raise prices on March 1, 2008 for tires, tubes and flaps sold in the replacement market in Japan. Prices for winter tires will be increased on April 1, 2008. Specific price increases include 5.5% for passenger car and light truck tires, 7.0% for truck and bus tires, 10% for construction vehicle tires, 7.0～10.0% for industrial vehicle tires, 10.0% for motorcycle bias tires, 7.0% for other kinds of tires, and 10.0% for tubes and flaps.

The market price for natural rubber, a key material in tires, continues to be high, while the price of petrochemical materials such as synthetic rubber and carbon black remain at high levels in line with an historic high in the price of crude oil.

Bridgestone has endeavored to offset the rises in raw material prices through continuous measures aimed at increasing productivity and enhancing efficiencies. However, those rises have proven too large and persistent to absorb entirely through internal measures.