Bridgestone Develops Aircraft Tyres With More Than 20% Longer Service Life
- By TT News
- October 28, 2026
Bridgestone has launched a new generation of aircraft tyres for Boeing 737 jets, designed to increase the number of landings per tyre by more than 20 percent and reduce irregular wear, as airlines seek to improve operating efficiency and cut emissions.
The Japanese tyre maker said that the tyres had initially been introduced on aircraft operated by partner airlines. It plans to extend their use to carriers worldwide, with the technology scheduled to be fitted to a broader range of aircraft from 2027.
The new radial tyres, designed for the main landing gear of the Boeing 737-8 and 737 Next Generation (737NG) aircraft, use an improved tread compound and an optimised contact profile to enhance wear resistance. Bridgestone said these changes also reduced irregular wear by more than 20% compared with the previous product.
The development draws on flight data from partner airlines and the company’s proprietary simulation technology. Bridgestone said the design retained the durability of its existing Revolutionarily Reinforced Radial (RRR) technology while incorporating an optimised sidewall to improve casing durability.
The longer service life is intended to reduce the frequency of tyre replacements, particularly on high-frequency domestic routes, where maintenance requirements can limit aircraft availability. More uniform wear is also expected to lower the risk of unplanned replacements and associated flight delays.
Bridgestone has also combined the tyres with wear-prediction solutions developed in collaboration with airlines and retreading, a process that allows used tyre casings to be fitted with new tread material.
The company estimates that about 80% of the materials in a retreaded tyre can be reused from the original product. Extending tyre life through retreading can reduce demand for new materials and lower manufacturing-related carbon dioxide emissions.
The launch comes as the aviation industry addresses labour shortages following the recovery in demand after the Covid-19 pandemic, while facing pressure to improve environmental performance. The International Civil Aviation Organization has set a goal of achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
Bridgestone said its aircraft tyres had the highest installation share among airlines ranked in the top 10 of the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards 2025. The company said its latest development was intended to improve airline productivity and operating economics while maintaining safety and reliability.
FALKEN Secures Original Equipment Supply For Audi Q7 And Q9 With AZENIS FK520 (R0)
- By TT News
- October 28, 2026
FALKEN has secured original equipment supply approval from Audi for its AZENIS FK520 summer tyre, which will be fitted to the premium brand’s flagship SUVs, the Q7 and Q9. Production begins in May 2026, with the tyres carrying the R0 designation to mark the Audi-specific fitment. The deal reinforces FALKEN’s standing in the premium original equipment market.
The AZENIS FK520 (R0) comes in three sizes covering 20- to 22-inch wheel diameters, with vehicles assembled at Audi’s Bratislava plant in Slovakia. Buyers can inspect the fitted tyres and their EU tyre label data through Audi’s vehicle configurator. The ultra-high-performance tyre is built for sporty road cars, offered in reinforced Extra Load versions across all sizes and rated to Y speed specifications for up to 300 kmph, targeting drivers focused on stability, precision and safety.
FALKEN’s original equipment record with premium marques spans many years and includes Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. The AZENIS FK510A SUV gained Porsche Macan approval in 2018, and the AZENIS FK520 (NG0) followed in 2026 for the Porsche Cayenne Electric. Since 2011 the brand has maintained a motorsport presence, campaigning a Porsche 911 GT3 R in the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series and the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring.
Christian Stolting, OE Sales Director, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, “It is an important step for our original equipment business to fit the Q7 and Q9, two models of great importance to Audi, with the FALKEN AZENIS FK520 (R0) as a factory-fitted option. The choice of our tyres for these Audi models reflects confidence in the performance and quality of FALKEN in this segment.”
New Nissan Fairlady Z To Run On Yokohama ADVAN Sport V107 Tyres
- By TT News
- October 27, 2026
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has secured an original equipment supply deal with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. for the automaker's new Fairlady Z, which reached the Japanese market in August 2026. Yokohama's ADVAN Sport V107 will be fitted in size 245/45R18 100W.
Belonging to Yokohama's flagship ADVAN range, the Sport V107 sits in the ultra-high-performance (UHP) segment aimed at premium vehicles. It is engineered to reconcile qualities that usually pull in opposite directions – combining confident dry and wet grip and stable steering with comfort and safety – and in this Fairlady Z application it pairs high-speed handling composure and quick steering response with a comfortable ride.
Nissan's new Fairlady Z carries forward its heritage-inspired design language alongside contemporary technology, and the model remains celebrated for its characteristic driving feel, with the refresh sharpening performance while honouring the nameplate's lineage. The fitment advances Yokohama Rubber's Yokohama Transformation 2026 medium-term plan covering 2024–2026, under which the consumer tyre business is working to lift the proportion of high-value-added tyres sold by winning original equipment contracts for its ADVAN range and its GEOLANDAR tyres for SUVs and pickup trucks.
New Porsche Panamera Rolls On Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z Tyres
- By TT News
- October 27, 2026
Hankook Tire is now supplying its ultra-ultra-high-performance (UUHP) Ventus S1 evo Z tyres as original equipment for the new Porsche Panamera, expanding a relationship that dates to 2021. The fitment lineup adds 21-inch sizes – 275/35 ZR21 at the front and 325/30 ZR21 at the rear – alongside the 19- and 20-inch dimensions previously supplied. Every size carries Porsche-specific ND0 homologation markings on the sidewall, completing the Ventus S1 evo Z range across 19 to 21 inches.
Engineered to balance ride comfort with dynamic driving performance for the Panamera, the tyre was validated beyond standard segment homologation tests. Hankook subjected it to maximum-speed testing at Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit to confirm structural robustness and its ability to meet high-performance sports driving demands.
The Ventus S1 evo Z incorporates an asymmetric tread pattern for exceptional handling and stable grip, with tread blocks engineered to maintain optimal stiffness under varying conditions. Three main grooves on the inner tread improve wet-road water drainage, while a larger outer tread block area enhances cornering performance and dry-road grip. A double-layer carcass reinforced with aramid hybrid fibres bolsters high-speed stability by minimising heat-induced deformation, helping preserve precise steering response. High-strength steel belts and beads, together with a reinforced sidewall structure, further sharpen straight-line stability and handling precision.
The tyre is currently supplied as original equipment to global premium automakers for high-performance vehicles. In the replacement market, it is offered in 15 sizes from 18 to 21 inches, with widths of 225 to 315 mm and aspect ratios of 30 to 45. In July 2026, the Ventus S1 evo Z was also selected as an OE fitment for Porsche's iconic 911 Carrera sports car.
Continental EcoContact 7 S Approved As Original Equipment For Volvo EX60
- By TT News
- October 16, 2026
Continental has secured original-equipment approval for the fully electric Volvo EX60, with its EcoContact 7 S tyre line homologated across numerous countries worldwide. Approval covers the sporty summer tyre for the electric SUV. Two fitments were sanctioned: 235/55 R20 for the front axle and 255/50 R20 for the rear axle.
Both approved versions carry an integrated rim protector, a reinforced sidewall area that lowers the risk of rim damage from accidental curb contact. This protective feature strengthens the sidewall zone, guarding the wheel rim against unintended impacts during everyday driving situations.
A sporty summer tyre, the EcoContact 7 S targets low rolling resistance, high mileage and minimal rolling noise. Its optimised compound and construction cut energy consumption, and the sportier S variant of the EcoContact 7 also stresses wet grip and handling for a direct, responsive feel, bearing an EV-compatible sidewall logo identifying electric vehicle suitability.
A golf-inspired principle boosts efficiency: Aerodimples, tiny sidewall indentations mimicking a golf ball's surface, reduce air turbulence behind the tyres, so less energy keeps the vehicle moving. A specially tuned tread pattern also curbs rolling noise, especially at low urban speeds, cutting noise pollution for pedestrians and nearby residents.
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