Bridgestone Corp.’s Americas business posted higher sales and adjusted operating profit during the first half of 2026, while the tiremaker said it gained replacement tire market share in North America despite continued weakness in demand.

Revenue in Bridgestone’s Americas segment, which includes North America and Latin America, totaled approximately $7.19 billion during the first six months of the year, up 11% from the same period in 2025.

Adjusted operating profit in the Americas increased 12% to approximately $652 million. The segment’s adjusted operating margin edged up to 9.1% from 8.9% a year earlier.

Bridgestone calls the Americas its largest market and said its multi-brand strategy in North American passenger and truck tires continued to expand during the first half.

Bridgestone outpaces replacement tire market

Bridgestone estimated that total North American replacement demand, including nonmember tire brands, fell 5% year-over-year in the passenger and light truck tire segment and 13% in truck and bus tires during the first half, using data from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada.

Bridgestone’s own performance was substantially better. Its North American passenger and light truck replacement tire sales were 97% of prior-year levels, representing a 3% decline, while truck and bus replacement tire sales were 99% of their year-ago level, a decline of just 1%.

The company also reported stronger original equipment results. North American passenger and light truck OE tire sales increased 8% year-over-year, while truck and bus OE tire sales rose 6%.

Bridgestone said its passenger and light truck tire business benefited from continued growth in premium tires, improved product mix, North American market share gains and improved profitability in its retail business. Globally, passenger and light truck tire revenue increased 11% to approximately $8.27 billion, while adjusted operating profit grew 18% to approximately $930 million.

Truck and bus tire revenue increased 8% to approximately $3.31 billion, while adjusted operating profit climbed 24% to approximately $321 million. Bridgestone specifically cited North American market share gains and higher OE sales as contributors to the truck tire business’ revenue and profit growth.

Tariffs remain a cost pressure

Bridgestone’s first-half gains came despite what the company estimates was an approximately $158 million impact from U.S. tariffs versus the prior year.

The tiremaker continues to expect tariffs to have an approximately $367 million cost impact for full-year 2026. Bridgestone said the first-half tariff impact was in line with its previous plan.

Bridgestone said higher sales volume, pricing and product mix helped offset cost pressures during the first half. The company plans to continue using sales growth, pricing and mix improvements and other initiatives to counter higher costs for the remainder of the year.

The company has not changed its full-year 2026 forecast. Bridgestone continues to project approximately $30 billion in revenue and  $3.43 billion in adjusted operating profit.

New products support multi-brand strategy

Bridgestone also continued to add products to its North American portfolio during the first half.

The company launched the Bridgestone UltraWeather all-season tire, which carries the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS) designation, in June. It also launched the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 V2 ultra-high-performance summer tire in January.

Bridgestone said its U.S. Firestone branding and motorsports activities, including Firestone’s role as exclusive tire supplier to the NTT IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500, also contributed to its U.S. multi-brand strategy.

Globally, Bridgestone reported first-half revenue of approximately $14.69 billion, up 9.7% from the prior year. Adjusted operating profit increased 19.7% to approximately $1.78 billion, while profit attributable to owners of the parent increased 78.9% to approximately $1.30 billion.