WILSON, N.C. (Nov. 10, 2006) — Bridgestone/Firestone has sent its first shipment of U.S.-made Bridgestone Potenza RE050 RFT run-flat tires to BMW A.G.
The tires, size 225/45R17 91 W, were produced in the company´s Wilson plant, which is the first BFS facility in the U.S. to produce Bridgestone-brand run-flats, the tire maker said. The tires will be shipped to BMW´s assembly plant in Spartanburg, S.C.
The run-flat tire originally was developed in the Bridgestone Technical Center in Japan then re-developed for production in Wilson.
"The successful production localization to the United States of this run-flat tire marks an important milestone in our efforts to increase our North American manufacturing capabilities to meet the increasing global original equipment market demands for high technology tires," said Michael Martini, president of BFS North American consumer tire OE sales.