Firestone FD833 and FS833 tyres now Proudly South African and made for South African road conditions

JOHANNESBURG – 07 October 2022 – Bridgestone Southern Africa has announced that its Firestone FD833 and FS833 truck and bus radial tyres that were previously imported are now fully manufactured at its manufacturing facility in Brits, Northwest. The move is in line with Bridgestone’s strategy of “localising” some of its products in line with South African conditions, says Dries Venter, Technical Manager, Bridgestone Southern Africa.

“We began importing these tyres from Europe two years ago. After trials, we identified and made design improvements that would make the tyres better suited for South African road conditions. Our European R&D labs supported with creating a compound that provides higher resistance to cuts and chips,” he says.

Venter says that the Firestone FD833 and FS833 tyres have several advantages over cheaper second and third-tier competitors. The tougher material means that the tyres last longer, even on our bad roads, which means that they need to be replaced less frequently. Their tread design also provides excellent traction and are self-cleaning for consistent performance.

Another major plus is that the sturdy construction means that the tyre can be retreaded at least twice—in fact, the Firestone FD833 and FS833 tyres come with a casing confidence pledge guaranteeing this.

“Local manufacturing is a big plus because it helps protect local jobs and contributes to increasing the country’s gross domestic product—especially as these tyres are also exported to other markets in the region,” says Venter. “From a sustainability point of view, the longer life of the tyre plus its retreadibility are major pluses because they reduce the amount of waste going into landfill. At the same time, Bridgestone is pursuing a strategy making its tyres more recyclable - and fuel efficient. The lighter tyres also contribute to reducing the impact on the environment.”

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Media information:

Issued by The Riverbed Agency on behalf of Bridgestone Southern Africa: Lungile Manganyi, Senior Accounts Executive, E: lungile@theriverbed.co.za C: +27 78 595 2467, T: +27 86 099 4164

About Bridgestone in Europe, Russia, Middle East, India and Africa:

Bridgestone in Europe, Russia, Middle East, India and Africa (BSEMIA), headquartered in Zaventem (Belgium), is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader providing sustainable mobility and advanced solutions. In addition to its premium tyre products, BSEMIA offers a growing portfolio of tyre-centric and mobility solutions and serves its customers in an extensive retail network with thousands of touchpoints. 

Together with its partners and guided by its global corporate social responsibility commitment, Our Way to Serve, Bridgestone is dedicated to shaping a sustainable future of mobility and improving how people move, live, work and play.

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