Bridgestone Corporation announced it has received certification from Boeing for its radial tires to be used as the main tires on the 737 MAX 9. The tires will be released in countries around the world. Bridgestone also produces radial tires for the 737 MAX 8.
As aircraft tires perform under extreme condition, tire manufacturers must have comprehensive and sophisticated technological capabilities. Aircraft tires must have the durability required to withstand harsh operating conditions, supporting and enduring the heavy weight and high speed of the aircraft while being exposed to repeated takeoffs and landings.
These tires also need to be light in order to improve fuel efficiency during flight. The tires for the 737 MAX employ Bridgestone’s Revolutionarily Reinforced Radial (RRR)*1 structure to accomplish the technologically difficult feat of achieving both high durability and light weight. In addition, it applies a tread compound using Bridgestone’s NanoPro-Tech material technology to realize superior abrasion resistance. Bridgestone will continue to expand its technology to contribute to improved fuel efficiency and greater economic benefits for aircraft operations.
The Bridgestone Group’s Aircraft Tire Solutions business combines both new and retread tires*4, with services to deliver solutions for the issues faced by both aircraft manufacturers and airlines. Bridgestone leverages its strengths of new, retread tires and service networks and will continue to work together with aircraft manufacturers and airlines to create new value which ensures safe and secure aircraft operation.
The Revolutionarily Reinforced Radial (RRR) structure has the following features and advantages.
1. Reduced fuel consumption and enhanced cost management The radial construction with high elastic modulus/strength cords makes the tires lighter, which contributes to improved fuel efficiency and therefore a reduced environmental burden, and also results in higher abrasion resistance, allowing for more landings of the aircraft before tire replacement, thus contributing to better cost control while maintaining quality.
2. Enhanced safety Higher-durability belt structure realizing increased safety in comparison to conventional structures
NanoPro-Tech
The collective name for Bridgestone Corporation’s polymer technology that draws out the characteristics required to control the microstructure of materials through molecular design, etc. It is one of Bridgestone Corporation’s base technologies.
This photograph is used with permission from Boeing and may not be reproduced or reused without permission.
Retreaded tires are made by bonding freshly vulcanized new treads to the tire casings so that the casings can be reused. Retreads have the following environmental benefits when compared to new tires:
1. Reduced natural resource usage due to lower requirement for use of natural rubber and other raw materials
2. Lower CO2 emissions than would result from manufacturing new tires
3. Reduced tire waste due to extended lifespan of tire casings
About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.
