Bridgestone Corporation is a key contributor to the smooth running of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, supplying a range of tyres, automotive services, and performance products. As an official worldwide partner, Bridgestone is committed to enhancing the experience of athletes, staff, fans, and visitors throughout the Games.

Bridgestone Tyres Keep the Fleet Moving

As the official tyre supplier, Bridgestone is equipping over 1,000 vehicles in the Paris 2024 fleet provided by Toyota. This includes the new Bridgestone Turanza 6 and Alenza 001 tyres, featuring the company’s advanced ENLITEN technology. ENLITEN optimises performance, durability, and sustainability through cutting-edge materials and design. This focus ensures Bridgestone delivers premium tyres that meet customers’ evolving needs and the future mobility landscape, particularly electric vehicles (EVs).

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are powerful platforms that unite and inspire people worldwide through emotion and performance,” said Laurent Dartoux, Management Board Chair and Group President, Bridgestone Europe Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA). “The objectives of the Olympic and Paralympic movements closely align with Bridgestone’s mission, ‘Serving Society with Superior Quality’, and our vision to create a more sustainable world for future generations. Through our support for Paris 2024, we promote and demonstrate our shared values to our employees, communities, and customers.”

Bridgestone also supplies high-performance motorcycle tyres for over 20 motorcycles supporting road course events, including a prototype Kawasaki hydrogen motorcycle. Additionally, over 36 Bridgestone-owned Speedy and First Stop service centres will be on call during the Games to maintain the fleet and service athletes’ and visitors’ vehicles. These centres will provide tyre checks and related services for the nearly 3,000 cars operating at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Speedy will also offer glass repair and replacement services.

Prioritising Road Safety for Paris 2024 Drivers

Bridgestone promotes road safety through an e-learning module for the nearly 4,000 volunteer drivers piloting the Paris 2024 fleet. The training highlights the crucial role tyres play in vehicle safety and performance and offers tyre care tips for maintaining proper inflation and checking tread depth.

“Bridgestone has driven innovation for nearly a century, and we continue to build on that legacy today through advanced tyre technologies and beyond,” added Dartoux. “We are proud to support Paris 2024 athletes and operations with products, services, and solutions where our technological know-how can help. It demonstrates our commitment to more sustainable premium performance because what matters is that we enable all people to perform at their best for generations to come.”

Collaboration for Sustainable and Accessible Transportation

Bridgestone, in addition to supporting the 100 percent electric Toyota fleet, is providing tyre fitments for a significant portion of Toyota’s hydrogen-powered and inclusive mobility offerings. This collaborative effort includes supplying tyres for 500 hydrogen-fueled Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), two hydrogen-powered FCEV buses, and 250 Toyota zero-tailpipe emission electric Accessible People Movers (APMs) that will transport athletes, staff, and fans during the Games. APMs are specifically designed for people with physical disabilities and feature Bridgestone Ecopia EP150 tyres for a comfortable ride and low rolling resistance, maximising fuel efficiency.

Bridgestone is also supplying over 600 bicycles for alternative, non-motorised transportation. Partnering with Decathlon, a French sporting goods manufacturer and Official Partner of Paris 2024, these bicycles will be available across venues and the Olympic and Paralympic Village for athletes, volunteers, and staff for convenient and efficient transportation. After the Games, Bridgestone will partner with the City of Paris to donate approximately 500 bicycles to local community organisations.

High-Performance Sports Equipment for Olympians and Paralympians

Bridgestone’s innovation and premium performance extend beyond tyres, with a presence at the Paris 2024 men’s and women’s golf events. Bridgestone is providing approximately 3,500 high-performance golf balls for use on the practice range, supporting numerous professional golfers using Bridgestone golf balls who have qualified for the Olympic Games.

Bridgestone’s commitment extends to the Paralympic Games, where adaptive athletes from the United States and Japan use Bridgestone rubber and equipment during competitions. Bridgestone engineers have leveraged their tyre and rubber technology expertise to explore applications for various paralympic sports. These innovations include using Bridgestone tyre rubber for gloves, wheelchair hand rims, prosthetic running blades, spike plates, and wheelchair tyres.

Bridgestone’s work with global athletes aims to inspire people of all backgrounds and abilities to overcome challenges and chase their dreams. As Team Bridgestone brand ambassadors, Bridgestone partners with 40 Olympians, Paralympians, and aspiring athletes.

Bridgestone’s support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which embodies eight core values: energy, ecology, efficiency, extension, economy, emotion, ease, and empowerment. The E8 Commitment guides Bridgestone’s efforts to create a more sustainable world.

As part of a strategic effort to increase its presence in the region's premium original equipment (OE) market, Kumho Tire has confirmed its plans to establish its first tyre production facility in Europe by 2027.

The company has shortlisted Poland, Serbia and Portugal as possible locations for the plant, which is projected to need an investment of more than KRW1 trillion (USD 705 million). The decision is closely linked to Kumho’s ambition to strengthen its partnerships with European automakers and was revealed by Kumho Tire CEO during the South Korean premiere of Kumho's new Ecsta Sport tyre line.

Kumho has recently secured OE supply contracts with major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen Group. At the moment, Kumho runs eight tyre production plants in China, Vietnam, South Korea and the US. Its capacity to compete in the premium OE market, however, has come to be perceived as being constrained by the absence of a European production base. Through the benefits of local production, the new facility will improve response to European client requests, save freight costs and shorten delivery times, all of which will strengthen the company's partnerships.

Sentury Tire USA has opened pre-enrolment for its two associate dealer programmes (ADPs), the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program and the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program, underscoring the company’s commitment to rewarding dedication and partnership to the Landsail and Delinte brands.

The ADPs, which are customised for each brand and intended to encourage dealers, will formally start on 1 June 2025. Both programmes give dealers access to special benefits, incentives and strong tools to help them expand their businesses. This involves dependable customer service, effective marketing and worthwhile financial incentives to promote dealers' success at every stage.

Beginning in Q3, dealers may earn up to USD three per tyre through the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program. Dealers can receive retroactive benefits for purchases completed in Q2 if they register before 1 June. The awards are available for all Delinte PTR, LTR and the new DV3 LMD AS last-mile delivery tyres. For all Landsail PTR and LTR tyres, independent dealers that sign up for the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program can also earn up to USD three per tyre. For customers who sign up by June 1, the new LMD 100 AS last-mile delivery is also eligible for the benefits and will get the same early bird incentive for Q2 2025.

No initial order is necessary. Dealers only need to register to begin making money. According to the monthly programme rewards structure, 48 tyre purchases each month are eligible for a reward of USD one per tyre, 120 tyres are eligible for a reward of USD two per tyre and 240 or more tyres are eligible for a reward of USD three per tyre.

ENSO, a London-based tyre manufacturer engaged in the production of sustainable tyres specially designed for electric vehicles (EVs), has launched its new ENSO Premium range of EV-specific ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres aimed at drivers of high-performance EVs such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

Specifically designed for electric passenger vehicles, the ENSO Premium range comes with A/A EU-label ratings for both energy efficiency and wet grip. The tyres are designed to provide safety, increased range and a reduced total cost of ownership. Conventional tyre designs frequently fall short of the special performance needs of electric vehicles, which include greater vehicle weight, regenerative braking and higher torque loads. By lowering tyre wear and rolling resistance, ENSO Premium takes care of these issues.

The company is an authorised provider of replacement tyres for LEVC's electric taxis and has partnered with Uber to install its tyres in high-mileage metropolitan areas. The company now plans to grow throughout Europe and North America, and with ENSO Premium, it is now offering its services to individual EV owners throughout the United Kingdom. According to ENSO, the range offers advantages including longer tyre life and fewer replacements, lower energy usage, fewer charging stops and lower CO₂ emissions and tyre particle pollution.

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, CEO and Co-Founder, ENSO, said, “We’re plugging a long-standing gap in the tyre market by offering EV drivers a purpose-built, affordable, premium EV tyre alternative that matches the innovation of their EV.”

Kraton Corporation, a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value bio-based products derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has announced a general price hike in North America for its SBS, SIS and HSBC product lines with effect from 1 May 2025.

Following a careful analysis of the effects of recently implemented tariffs, related cost increases and a conclusion that the company cannot independently absorb these repercussions, Kraton is adopting these pricing hikes, according to a company statement. The company further said that it will keep an eye on the scene and reassess these measures promptly in the event that conditions and US import tariffs alter.