DES MOINES, IOWA – January 12, 2010 – Firestone brand agricultural tires today unveiled a new class of farm tires for today’s larger, heavier machinery.

The new line of Firestone farm tires features Advanced Deflection Design (AD²) technology, which allows greater sidewall flexibility. The tires meet the North American Tire and Rim Association’s Increased Flexion (IF) standard. Compared with standard Firestone radials, Firestone tires with AD² technology can carry heavier loads at the same pressure, or the same load at lower pressures.

That’s important for farmers as they continue to operate larger, higher horsepower equipment, according to Tom Rodgers, director of marketing for Bridgestone Americas Agricultural Group, which produces Firestone farm tires.

“Tractors continue to increase in size and power. These large, higher-horsepower machines require more ballast to put that increased power to the ground,” said Rodgers. “Tire performance needs to grow with the equipment, and the Firestone brand is introducing this new tire technology to meet that need.”

The tires with AD² technology are built at the Firestone brand farm tire headquarters and production plant in Des Moines, Iowa. “These tires are the first American-made tractor tires to achieve the IF designation,” Rodgers noted.

End-User Benefits
Compared with standard Firestone radials, tires built with the AD² technology will offer several advantages to farmers. Because of their unique construction, tires with AD² technology can carry a load up to 20 percent greater than standard radials of the same size.

“That means the operator can carry heavier loads or add ballast to a tractor without having to raise air pressure in the tires,” Rodgers explained.

“Alternatively, they can carry the same weight at lower inflation pressures to reduce soil compaction.”

Tires with the AD² technology have a footprint that also is larger than that of a same-size standard radial. The larger footprint improves traction to help reduce both field time and fuel consumption, while also reducing soil compaction.

“Our AD² technology makes these improvements possible without compromising endurance or service life,” Rodgers noted. “And, the tire’s greater sidewall flexibility also improves operator comfort.”

Available Through Dealers and Manufacturers
The first Firestone farm tires with AD² technology will be available during the first quarter of 2010 through Certified Firestone Farm Tire Dealers and as options from major tractor manufacturers. The tires will come in five sizes, two for front-axle applications on MFWD tractors and three drive tires for MFWD and both axles on 4WD machines:

• IF420/85R34 – Row Crop Tractor Front
• IF600/70R30 – Row Crop Tractor Front
• IF480/80R50 – Row Crop Tractor Rear, 4WD Tractor Tire
• IF710/70R38 – Row Crop Tractor Rear, 4WD Tractor Tire
• IF710/70R42 – Row Crop Tractor Rear, 4WD Tractor Tire

“Standard radial tires such as the 710/70R38 have been used on larger 4WD tractors for over a decade,” Rodgers noted. “Farmers who are ready to replace tires on those machines definitely should consider the Firestone IF tires before they make their selection.”

Rodgers said additional tire sizes with AD² technology will be rolled out over the next year.

“In the future, as we introduce new, larger tires for tractors, they will be available only in the AD² technology. While it will be several years before these advanced tires become common on American farms, we see their introduction as a demonstration of Firestone farm tires’ continuing commitment to innovation that helps farmers improve productivity,” Rodgers said.

More information about the Firestone line of tires with AD² technology is available from Certified Firestone Farm Tire Dealers and on the Web at www.firestoneag.com.

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About Bridgestone Americas Agricultural Group: Bridgestone Americas Agricultural Group is the industry leader in the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of market-leading Firestone agricultural tires. The company’s Des Moines, Iowa, facility is located in the heart of America’s farm belt and supplies approximately half of the agricultural tires consumed by North American original equipment manufacturers and also is the leading agricultural tire supplier in the North American replacement market. Firestone agricultural tires can be found on farm tractors, planting and harvesting equipment and other farm implements in North America and around the world. In addition, Bridgestone Americas Agricultural Group markets and sells forestry and construction tires. In Columbiana, Ohio, Bridgestone Americas Agricultural Group also operates the only facility in the world solely dedicated to the development and testing of agricultural tires.