Bridgestone 2004 Annual Report Download - page 11

9
Our Growth Scenario
Beyond tires
Airbus S.A.S. offers our tires on all of the aircraft models that it produces, and we have contracted
to supply tires for Airbus’s upcoming A380 jetliner. The A380, the largest commercial airliner ever,
will go into service in 2006. We also supply tires to most of the world’s leading commercial airlines.
The latest tires that we have developed for Airbus and for Boeing employ a new belt structure
that features high-elasticity, high-strength cord. That new belt structure has earned high regard
from both manufacturers, especially for its contribution to weight savings and to wear resistance.
We unveiled an in-wheel motor system for electric vehicles in September 2003, and in 2004 we
announced a greatly improved version of the system. Installing the drive motors inside the wheels
allows for controlling each wheel individually, which supports excellent handling. It also eliminates
the need for the differential and drive shaft. That means more space for the driver and passengers.
A drawback of in-wheel motors has been the weight they add to each wheel. That affects comfort
and road-holding ability adversely, and it has limited the applicability of in-wheel motor systems.
We employ a dynamic damper to overcome this drawback. Our damper provides better traction and
a more-comfortable ride than other in-wheel systems or other kinds of electric drive.
Another Bridgestone advance that offers exciting prospects beyond tires is our technology for
automating visual inspections. That technology has simplified the inspection process and raised
inspection accuracy in our revolutionary BIRD production system for tires. It is also applicable in
other product sectors.
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We have reduced the size and weight of
our in-wheel motor system for electric
vehicles. In addition, we have improved
its vibration-damping performance and its
resistance to water and to dust. We are
refining the system components—including
our low rolling resistance tires—with an
eye to commercializing the technology.
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The runflat performance of our SSR tires is
the result of specially reinforced sidewalls.
We have supplied automakers with SSR tires
for factory installation on more than 10 vehi-
cle models. A decisive advantage for our SSR
tires is that they can be installed on conven-
tional wheels. The Support Ring runflat tech-
nology is also compatible with conventional
wheels.
Our new proving ground in Italy strengthens our response to the continuing shift in European tire demand toward high- and
ultrahigh-performance specifications. On-site development work there and at our technical center in Rome enables us to
respond locally and quickly to automakers’ needs. Snaking around the perimeter of the site is a four-kilometer (2.5-mile) oval
track for high-speed testing. The proving ground also includes sections for evaluating comfort, pass-by noise, and cornering.
A second phase of construction will add tracks and facilities for wet-surface and other testing in 2006.
The number of car models
that leave the factory on our
runflat tires entered double
digits in 2004. On trucks and
buses, our AIRCEPT puncture-
safety feature for our
GREATEC extra-wide tires
gained market momentum,
and we began joint work
with Continental AG on
tire-pressure monitoring
systems for trucks
and buses.
2004
HIGHLIGHTS