Bridgestone Americas Inc. has unveiled its first replacement tire made for premium electric vehicles: the Turanza EV grand touring tire.
The Turanza EV tire features the company's new Enliten technology, and is designed to maximize tread life with minimal road noise while also providing ample wet handling. The tire's initial five sizes are a match for these fitments: Tesla Model 3, Model S, Model X, Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Thirteen more sizes will launch in early 2024.
The technology in the Turanza EV includes:
- a compound that provides for tire wear life along with all-season performance,
- new components in its structure that focus on balanced ride comfort, steering and noise,
- added efficiency for both EV platforms and internal combustion engines, and
- support for the added use of renewable and recycled materials, including recycled carbon black, synthetic rubber from recycled plastic bottles and bags, soybean oil and rice husk silica.
The new Enliten technology includes PeakLife, a new polymer that Bridgestone says will enhance tread resistance to wear to extend tire life and also offer lower rolling resistance to help improve fuel efficiency.
“With the accelerated progress toward an electrified vehicle fleet, we’re thrilled to launch a tire that is designed to help drivers get the best overall experience from their electric vehicles, including ride comfort, all-season driving performance and excellent wear life,” says Riccardo Cichi, president and chief sales officer for Bridgestone Americas. “We are also excited to introduce Enliten, which marks a major pivot in how we approach tire technology and design to deliver both exceptional dynamic performance and increased use of renewable and recycled materials.”
Bridgestone says the Turanza EV will help drivers maintain long mileage range for every charge, and it's designed to do so without giving up tread life or vehicle performance. The tire also comes with a 50,000-mile limited warranty.
The tire's QuietTrack technology in the tread reduces road noise, while the tread also prioritizes traction in wet road conditions.
Bridgestone says the tire incorporates 50% renewable and recycled materials — including 20% natural rubber and 18% recycled synthetic rubber.
The tire is being manufactured at Bridgestone's passenger tire plants in Wilson, N.C. and Monterrey, Mexico. (Both plants underwent improvements in new rubber mixing and tire construction to accommodate the company's Enliten technology.)
