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.

Apollo Tyres Ltd has secured a one-season shirt-sleeve sponsorship agreement with AS Monaco, one of French football's most successful clubs, to increase awareness for its premium Vredestein brand.

This partnership will leverage Ligue 1's ranking as the fifth most watched football league in the world to raise awareness of Vredestein's award-winning products among a large audience in France and abroad. On November 22, AS Monaco's home league game against Brest will have the new sleeve branding for the first time. The Vredestein brand will be heavily promoted at Stade Louis-II for the 2024–2025 season, including on player sleeves and LED screens around the field. Exclusive social media initiatives will further help make the brand prominent, reaching a large and interested audience.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen Vredestein’s presence in one of our key markets. AS Monaco’s rich history and commitment to excellence mirror our focus on performance and innovation. We look forward to building a successful relationship with the club and celebrating its achievements this season.”

Thibaut Chatelard, Marketing and Revenue Director, AS Monaco, said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein brand to the family of AS Monaco partners. This collaboration makes sense in view of the values we share, such as the constant pursuit of performance and excellence. There’s no doubt that this new support will be precious for the rest of our season, which promises to be thrilling.”

Nexen Tire, a leading global tyre manufacturer, has launched the Nexen N´Blue S tyre, adding to its range of summer tyres and providing drivers with advanced safety, energy efficiency and superior driving stability in wet and dry conditions.

Developed using highly dispersed silica and equipped with an optimised structural design, the Nexen N´Blue S tyre provides reduced road noise and improved driving stability. The tyre features an innovative tread compound, formulated with hydrophilic fillers and microstructure-controlled polymers, and provides lower rolling resistance and exceptional dry and wet grip. The tyre also excelled in test results by demonstrating an 11 percent improvement in wet braking distance compared to its predecessor.

Apart from providing excellent performance, the Nexen  N´Blue S also scores high on the sustainability index. The tyre provides an eco-friendly solution for environmentally conscious drivers by minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Nexen N´Blue S summer tyre is available in 58 sizes, which makes it compatible with different types of vehicles.

Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. is all set to expand its investment project in Binh Duong province of Vietnam, with the phase 3 of expansion commencing in early 2025. This was discussed at a recent meeting between Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The meeting was held on 13 November at the Administrative Centre of Binh Duong province, as per an official statement. Apart from the company’s investment till date and the planned investment for phase 3, the two also discussed about the challenges and obstacles regarding procedures and processes to have more land funds to expand the manufacturing plant, along with taking measures to tackle the obstacles. Kim Hyun Ho also conveyed to the PPC Chairman that Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. belongs to South Korea's Kumho Tire Group and is currently ranked 10th in the car tyre manufacturing industry.

The company had invested in a tyre manufacturing plant in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in 2007 with a total initial investment of USD 308 million, which was supplemented by another USD 300 million in 2021. This extended the factory scale to six hectares and increased the production capacity to 12.5 million tyres annually. With the expansion in early 2025, the company will raise its total investment to USD 908 million and increase the factory's production capacity to 17 million tyres annually. The expanded capacity is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Yokohama-ATG, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain and off-the-road tyres, has expanded its Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range of forklift tyres with the launch of white, non-marking tyres.

The Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range consists of puncture-proof SDS tyres with extended wear limits designed for high-intensity working shifts and long durability. These are premium, solid rubber tyres developed for tough demands, a long service life and high driving comfort. The addition of white, non-marking tyres is specifically aimed at clean working environments.

Marked by a 3-stage construction process, the forklift tyres feature reduced heat build-up, effective shock absorption and minimised vibrations. The pattern design guarantees a smooth ride and good steerability thanks to its continuous centre lug and circumferential grooves. Furthermore, the flat walls and wide flat profile offer excellent stability when using a forklift for vertical stacking. The tyres are also equipped with anti-slip steel beads for improved rim fitment

In a case study on a CAT 2.5-tonne forklift that was used for handling heavy pallets on asphalt, the Galaxy MFS 101 SDS outshone the competitors with impressive performance. The tyre delivered an approximate 900 working hours before replacement against competitors’ 500 working hours.