Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (U.S.A.) Inc. will start supplying nose and landing gear tires for the A380 Airbus S.A.S. jumbo jet during the fourth quarter of 2005.
The A380 Airbus, which will carry more than 500 passengers, is in the early stages of production and will go into commercial service in early 2006.
Bridgestone's new-generation Airbus tires will contain a proprietary belt structure containing ultra high-strength cord.
A fully loaded A380 will weigh more than 560 tons and will take off and land at speeds of up to 230 miles per hour.
Bridgestone makes aircraft tires at its plant in Fukuoka, Japan.
