Radial Firestone OTR lines to debut

KAHUKU, Hawaii (Feb. 21, 2017) — Bridgestone Americas is adding a line of Firestone-branded radial loader, grader and earthmover tires, known as the "VersaBuilt" line, to its North American OTR tire portfolio.

The company plans to roll out the range at the upcoming Conexpo-Con/Ag 2017 trade show in Las Vegas, March 7-11.

The launch marks the debut of a radial Firestone-branded OTR tires, according to Taylor Cole, president of Bridgestone Americas' commercial OTR business, speaking to Tire Business at the recent Tire Industry Association OTR Tire Conference in Kahuku.

The line complements the company's extensive range of bias-ply OTR tires, Mr. Cole said, and will be a more economically priced companion to the Bridgestone-brand offerings in these applications.

It's not known at this point whether or when Bridgestone might add more radial lines to the Firestone OTR range.

The launch covers three applications: VersaBuilt All Traction G2/L2; All Purpose E3/L3; and Deep Tread E4/L4.

The range is designed with "Sidearmor" sidewall protection.

Mr. Cole did not go into detail as to pricing differences between the Firestone-brand radials in these categories and the Bridgestone V-Steel offerings in the same applications.

Bridgestone is building the radial Firestone range at its farm/OTR plant in Bloomington, Ill, where the company invested $47.2 million in 2012-14 to boost and upgrade capacity.

Mr. Cole, president of the Bridgestone OTR unit since February 2015, was the keynote speaker at the 2017 TIA OTR Tire Conference.