Toyota taps Bridgestone for OE fitment on 2023 Lexus RX

TOKYO—Toyota Motor Corp. has selected versions of Bridgestone Corp.'s Alenza tire line as original equipment fitments on the 2023 Lexus RX, the car maker's mid-size premium crossover vehicle.

The fitments are the Alenza 001 for vehicles sold in Asia (including Japan) and Europe and the Alenza Sport A/S for those sold in North America, according to Bridgestone. The Alenza Sport A/S fitments are sizes 235/60R19 103V and 235/50R21 101V.

Both versions are built with Bridgestone's Enliten tire technology, which the Tokyo-based company said is designed to maximize both environmental and driving performance.

The fifth-generation Lexus RX repackages the nameplate on a new platform with new drivetrains that Lexus claims make the RX as fun as it is practical to drive.

The four-door hatchback's architecture delivers a lower center of gravity for improved handling while providing a longer wheelbase and tread for more legroom and cargo space. The North American versions feature four powertrain options, including three electrified offerings in addition to the RX 350 gasoline model. The internal combustion entry has a 2.4-liter turbocharged, 275-hp engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Alenza tires picked by Toyota incorporate casing materials that reduce rolling resistance in order to improve fuel efficiency, Bridgestone said, along with providing a contact patch and pattern design customized for RX to deliver a comfortable driving experience and driving performance.

By supplying different versions of the Alenza for the outlined regions, Bridgestone said it is delivering maximum value based on the usage conditions of customers in their respective regions.

Lexus is targeting about 102,000 RX sales in 2023 in the U.S. amid production challenges related to COVID-19 and global microchip shortages. In 2021, Lexus sold 115,320 RX crossovers in the U.S.