Tokyo (June 4, 2008) - Bridgestone Corporation announced today that it shipped its 10 millionth runflat tire in April 2008 (Bridgestone Group total*). After marking five million shipments in August 2006, this figure has been doubled in a mere one year and eight months.

Runflat tires continue to operate at a specified speed for a specified distance after losing pressure under normal conditions at 0kPa air pressure. This vastly improves safety in the event of a sudden loss of pressure as with a puncture, by ensuring that handling remains steady. In addition, runflats eliminate the need for carrying a spare tire, which helps to minimize the risk of secondary accidents, by making tire changes in dangerous places such as highways unnecessary. Eliminating the spare tire also helps to contribute to resource conservation as well as fuel economy through weight-savings, while it affords automakers greater latitude in designing vehicles. It also reduces rubber consumption and rubber scrap.

Bridgestone Group recognizes runflat tires as strategic products. As runflat tires can also contribute greatly to safety and reduce environmental burden, Bridgestone will strive to further permeate and expand the market. Bridgestone Group seeks to achieve stable supply of high-quality runflat tires to automakers and drivers the world over going forward.

A pioneer in developing runflat technologies, Bridgestone delivered its first runflat tires in the early 1980s. Its initial runflat tires were for specially manufactured vehicles for physically disabled persons. The tire manufacturer delivered its first runflats for a production vehicle model in 1987. That was for the Porsche 959. Bridgestone's runflat production has accelerated since 1999 as automakers have adopted runflat specifications on a growing range of vehicle models on account of a changing environment surrounding motoring lifestyles.

*Bridgestone Group produces runflat tires at six plants in four countries worldwide - Japan, the United States, Poland and South Africa (As of April 30, 2008).

There are two types of runflat systems. The self supporting runflat tire has reinforced sidewalls to support the load of the vehicle even after a loss of tire pressure. With the support ring-type runflat system, a core ring supports the vehicle in case of air loss by fixing the tire bead on the rim. The 10 million shipments were of self supporting runflat tires, which help retain superior handling and comfort while incorporating runflat assurance.

In line with its status as company with a vast global presence, Bridgestone has formulated a universal environmental policy, dubbed “One team, One Planet,” to unite it with people and organizations beyond the standard corporate framework as well as to ensure the safety of the children of the world.

This mark expresses the environmental management activities promoted by Bridgestone. The “e” represents the first letter of the word “Ecology”, the cornerstone of these activities. The mark also symbolizes the seeds borne from our eco foundations in the form of a clear sky and growing trees.