Bridgestone Corp. is launching a new brand of off-the-road tires. The first MasterCore OTR tires are at work in select mines, and will roll out to customers worldwide in 2021 with additional patterns and sizes.
Bridgestone says MasterCore tires are engineered for ultra-high durability with performance that can be customized to various mine sites and operations. The MasterCore product line is launching initially with 63-inch tires.
“After many years of global product development that produced advances in engineering, chemistry and material science, we are excited to introduce the MasterCore brand to mining customers all over the world,” said Tomohiro Kusano, vice president and senior officer of the global mining, aircraft and agriculture solutions business for Bridgestone. “Each mine site is unique and requires a custom tire solution that enables operators to improve efficiency. Our MasterCore offering sets a new standard for off-the-road tire performance as we strive to achieve Dan-Totsu – our vision to be a clear and absolute industry leader.”
Bridgestone is calling MasterCore its "best-in-class mining tire." Here's a look at some of its unique features:
- MasterCore tires are engineered with steel cord that features metal surface coating technology that improves adhesion between the rubber and steel cord, offering better durability;
- the tires use proprietary anti-rust steel cord developed and manufactured by Bridgestone for added moisture resistance, plus more durability;
- new rubber compounds improve crack propagation, MasterCore tires have an enhanced casing; and
- new patterns and features reduce tire operating temperature for better performance.
Bridgestone says MasterCore tires can be optimized for a number of performance attributes including faster speeds, increased payload and maximized uptime, depending on the conditions and needs in a particular mine. Bridgestone began testing MasterCore tires with select customers last year.
The company's advanced mining solutions include not just the new MasterCore products, but its iTrack solutions business as well.