Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) announced today that it is on pace to achieve one of its highest year-over-year results in its Bandag business, with a nine percent increase over 2021. With the growth experienced by strategic fleet partners and the unprecedented demand in the market, the company forecasts year-end sales of Bandag retreads will reach more than seven million units in North America and anticipates continued growth in 2023, with a $60 million investment in its Abilene, Texas retread plant to increase production capacity.

Bridgestone claims that retreading is an increasingly important solution that fleets are incorporating into their tyre programme that not only extends the life of their premium tyre casings, but helps reduce the environmental impact of end-of-life tyres, maximises fleet uptime and mitigates overall operating costs. Retreading also remains a critical component for fleets to unlock their ESG and sustainability goals contributing to a circular economy.

Bridgestone states that in 2022, Bandag retreads, which account for nearly half of the North American retread market, are forecast to deliver environmental benefits of approximately as follows –

• 105 million gallons of oil saved
• 290 million pounds of landfill waste avoided
• 207 million pounds of tyre waste avoided
• 5.6 billion KwH of energy saved which is the equivalent of powering 500,000 US homes for a full year

“Retreading makes more sense today than it ever has for fleets,” said Jason Roanhouse, Executive Director of Bandag Operations, Bridgestone Americas. “Not only does retreading deliver the same reliable performance of new tyres, it helps fleets deliver on their sustainability goals while also driving bottom-line business efficiencies."

Earlier this year, Bridgestone announced a new $60 million investment in its Bandag tread manufacturing plant in Abilene, Texas, which will add 50,000 square-feet and additional production days to meet the accelerating demand for the company's retread products. According to Bridgestone, the expansion will increase the plant's retread output by 16 percent and further Bridgestone's sustainability commitments.

Additionally, the all-new Bridgestone Last Mile Tire System (LMTS), introduced in the second half of 2022, will begin utilising retread for small and medium-sized fleets in Q1 2023 with the goal of extending the benefits of retreading to a broader population of fleet customers. As per the tyre manufacturer, LMTS will allow smaller fleets operating out of the same terminal to realise greater economies of scale in their tyre operations, including access to Bandag retread solutions and Bridgestone fleet care products. The programme was launched at the 2022 Route Consultant Expo, where more than 500 fleet contractors expressed interest as potential early adopters of the programme.

Bridgestone claims that the continued expansion of Bridgestone Bandag retreading aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which consists of eight Bridgestone-like values starting with the letter ‘E’. These are energy, ecology, efficiency, extension, economy, emotion, ease and empowerment that the tyre manufacturer commits to implement together with employees, society, partners and customers to create a sustainable society.

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Birla Carbon will present its carbon black solutions at the Global Polymer Summit 2026, scheduled for 28–30 September at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. The company will exhibit at Booth 417, targeting tyre and mechanical rubber goods (MRG) manufacturers seeking higher performance and reduced environmental impact.

The company’s portfolio spans tyre and MRG applications, addressing durability, strength, abrasion resistance and product life across tyres, belts, hoses, sealing systems and anti-vibration products. Birla Carbon will also feature Continua Sustainable Carbonaceous Material (SCM), a circular carbon range with consistent quality and global availability and Continua Sustainable Carbon Black (SCB), produced from recycled or bio-based feedstocks.

Supported by extensive manufacturing, technical expertise and customer-focused teams across the Americas, Birla Carbon provides reliable volumes, responsive service and tailored solutions. Attendees can meet company experts at Booth 417 to explore its product portfolio, technical capabilities and sustainable offerings.

John Davidson, President – Americas & EMEA, Birla Carbon, said, “The tyre and mechanical rubber goods industries are at an important phase, where performance, supply resilience and sustainability must advance together. The next phase of growth will depend on stronger collaboration across the value chain and the ability to translate innovation into scalable, commercially viable solutions. At Birla Carbon, we are combining our manufacturing network, portfolio strength, technical expertise and regional capabilities to help customers navigate this transition and build more resilient and sustainable businesses.”

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Michelin has unveiled the X Multi Energy D2 tyre, developed to address the specific challenges of regional haul operations. Fleets in this segment face demanding roads, frequent stop-and-start cycles and escalating fuel expenses that affect both performance and profitability. By blending durability, fuel savings and Michelin’s established performance standards, the new tyre aims to boost fleet productivity while reducing overall operating costs.

The tyre features a revised tread pattern and a new tread compound to better resist tread damage caused by high-torque vehicles and stop-and-go regional driving. It is constructed on Michelin’s Duracore casing, which integrates Infinicoil and Powercoil technologies and benefits from a reinforced bead design known as Duracoil Technology. This casing is engineered to last up to one million miles and support as many as four retreads.

In the effort to curb fuel expenses, the X Multi Energy D2 improves rolling resistance by 9 percent over its predecessor, the Michelin X Multi Energy D tyre, and by 18 percent compared with leading competitors. It also enhances late-life traction, offering 10 percent better wet handling and 16 percent better snow starting traction when worn, giving drivers and operations managers greater confidence on varying roads.

For original equipment manufacturers, the tyre meets Greenhouse Gas standards and supports applicable vehicle carbon-reduction requirements. Designed for regional applications where traction, durability and fuel efficiency matter, it is available in 295/75R22.5 LRG and 11R22.5 LRG and LRH sizes, replacing the X Multi Energy D tyre in those sizes.

Yahn Heurlin, VP of B2B Marketing, Michelin North America, Inc., said, “Michelin is driven by a deep commitment to understanding the needs and challenges customers face every day. This customer-first mindset inspires the development of purpose-built solutions designed to address real-world pain points and help fleets operate more efficiently.”

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Firestone, a Bridgestone Americas subsidiary, has unveiled the Destination LE4 highway touring tyre as the successor to its best-selling Destination LE3. The new model features a deeper tread depth, an advanced compound and a non-directional tread pattern, delivering longer wear life along with improved wet and light snow performance for year-round driving confidence.

Backed by a 70,000-mile limited warranty, the Destination LE4 is projected in external testing to wear 16 percent longer than its predecessor, 9 percent longer than the General Grabber H/T and 43 percent longer than the BFGoodrich Advantage Control HT. Thinner 3D sipes enhance traction and handling, while internal testing showed wet stopping distances reduced by 8 feet versus the Toyo Open Country H/T II and 4 feet versus the BFGoodrich Advantage Ctrl HT, with dry stopping improved by 8 feet and 2 feet, respectively, plus a 2-foot dry gain over the LE3.

Sustainability gains come through wear-resistance technology, optimised material usage that lowers raw material consumption and enhanced traction technology. Two technical firsts originated at the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center in Akron, Ohio: a high-strength, lightweight carcass architecture using light body plies and steel cords for durability and low rolling resistance despite deeper tread, and advanced compound mixing that improves ingredient consistency for tread wear, handling and wet grip.

Available in 65 sizes for 15- to 22-inch rims, the Destination LE4 covers small CUVs, SUVs, pickups and larger trucks, including the Mazda CX-5, Ford F-150, RAM 1500, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Nissan Armada.

Jeremy Norwood, Chief Engineer, New Product Engineering, Bridgestone Americas, said, “Drivers loved the Firestone Destination LE3 for its comfortable, quiet ride and all-season reliability. With the new Destination LE4, we enhanced those strengths by extending wear life and improving wet-weather handling, delivering dependable performance, confident control and everyday value.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd. (YTRC), its Thai subsidiary focused on natural rubber processing, earned the Outstanding Provincial-Level CSR Organization Award. The honour formed part of the ‘CSR Award 2026’ initiative run by Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and the presentation took place on 22 August 2026.

Built around the idea of ‘CSR Partnerships for Sustainable Thailand’, the award programme highlights organisations demonstrating exemplary corporate social responsibility at provincial or metropolitan level throughout the country’s 76 provinces and Bangkok. A total of 92 recipients – among them YTRC, other firms and bodies chosen nationwide and provincial CSR centres – convened at IMPACT Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi Province to collect commemorative plaques.

Governor Jumpot Wannachatsiri (left) presents flowers to YTRC Managing Director Noboru Takita (centre) and Department Manager Supachai Choosuwan at the Surat Thani Provincial Council.

YTRC, established in Surat Thani Province in 2008, has long pursued environmental preservation and dependable ties with nearby communities. Working with the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), it surveys natural rubber plantations and supplies management assistance to farmers, supporting sustainable procurement of the material. The company further backs agroforestry practices that give rubber farmers steadier incomes while partnering with the Surat Thani Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security on efforts to nurture constructive community relations.

The recognition reflects YTRC’s continuous community-oriented CSR work and its notable local impact. A special event on 31 August saw the Surat Thani Provincial Council once more acknowledge those contributions, with the governor presenting a celebratory bouquet. Separately, the CSR Center of Surat Thani Province ranked among only nine centres nationwide to win the Outstanding Provincial CSR Promotion Center Award.

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