Bridgestone secures OE fitments with Nissan, Lamborghini on 2021 models

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bridgestone Corp. has secured a pair of key OE fitments for the 2021 model year, including the debut of the company's "Enliten" lightweight/reduced rolling-resitance technology in North America on the new Nissan Rogue and a "halo" image fitment on the Lamborghini Huracán STO super sports car.

Bridgestone is using Enliten technology in the new Alenza Sport A/S tire, which will be a standard fitment on 2021 Nissan Rogue crossover, which is available as either front- or all-wheel drive with enhanced driving dynamics and powered by a 181-hp 2.5-liter inline four engine and paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission,

Introduced in Europe last year, Enliten is a lightweight tire technology that contributes to improved fuel efficiency by reducing tire weight and delivering reduced rolling resistance and enhanced handling, the tire maker said. Tires with Enliten Technology also require fewer raw materials to be produced, helping to deliver environmental benefits.

Bridgestone is supplying the Alenza Sport A/S tire with Enliten Technology in sizes 235/65R17, 235/60R18 and 235/55R19 for the 2021 Nissan Rogue in North America.

This is the second OE fitment disclosed for the Rogue. Earlier Sumitomo Rubber North America announced that Nissan was fitting the Falken Ziex ZE001 A/S OE on the front-wheel-drive models of the redesigned 2021 Rogue.

Meanwhile, Bridgestone said the Potenza Sport tires fitted to the Lamborghini's Huracán STO are the result of a collaboration between two Bridgestone and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

The tire maker said it developed a tailor-made Potenza tire capable of maximizing the Huracán's traction, handling, control and extreme overall performance.The STO — or Super Trofeo Omologata — incorporates a range of performance tweaks from the auto maker's Squadra Corse racing arm to make this version more extreme than the regular Huracán model.

The rear-wheel-drive STO is powered by a 640-hp V10 mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. This combination pushes the STO to 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 3 seconds.

Key to the tire's success in maximizing the super sports car's performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design and the use of state-of-the-art technologies, Bridgestone said, The fitments are 245/30 R20 front and 305/30 R20 rear.

The Potenza tires feature an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering, while a newly developed tread compound enhances grip.

Bridgestone said it carried out its tire development process despite limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, using virtual tire development, testing several combinations in its virtual environment and integrating tire behavior in the vehicle's system to find a match for Lamborghini in a virtual driving simulator.

The Lamborghini Huracán STO will begin production in early 2021. It's expected to be priced at over $325,000 in the U.S. 

Bridgestone also developed a version of the Potenza Sport for Maserati S.p.A.'s super sports car, the 621-hp, two-door MC20 coupe.

Bridgestone also will be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tire that applies "race" technologies to maximize the vehicle's track performance, especially in dry conditions.