inRoadsBridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC Fall 2005

Motorcycle

page ..........................8,10

Commercial page ..........................6,12

OE page ................................5

Dealers page ..............3,6,7,9,10,11

Canada page ..........................2,11

Where’sMario

page ................................2

ExecutiveEdge

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Consumer

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Marketing the Right Tire to Your CustomerHow well do you know yourcustomers? Therein lies the

key to effectively marketing your tires.Finding the right tire for the rightapplication benefits both you and yourcustomers. Why should someone buy aBlizzak tire? What type of tire is appropriatefor a customer wholikes to take his orher vehicle off-roadbut also wantssuperior highwayperformance? Onceyou find out howcustomers plan toutilize their tires, youknow which tires tooffer. A great way toillustrate theimportance of tires iswith a simplecomparison — toshoes.

Wearing sandals inthe snow is not appropriate. Running shoesfor a formal occasion would be very out ofplace. Just as proper footwear is importantto your comfort and correct body alignment,appropriate tires are vital to affecting theoverall performance and handling of avehicle.

An inappropriate tire provides littlebenefit to the vehicle it supports. A sportysedan offers little excitement if notsupported by properly designed and fittedtires. It makes no sense if you are seekingoptimum performance to purchaseinexpensive tires, just as it makes little senseto wear the wrong size shoes.

When choosing tires, just like shoes,customers need to look for the proper fit.With the on-going popularity of light trucksand SUVs, tire manufacturers have workeddiligently to offer many tire options.

A tire marked "A/T" is designed for all-terrain use but also performs well on thehighway. An all-terrain tread has manyindependent blocks separated by largegrooves for off-road traction. Varied sizesand shapes of tread blocks minimizehighway noise. The A/T could be compared

to a tennis shoe:comfortable anddependable, butonly able to handlemildly ruggedconditions.

An A/T tire mightoffer options that anoff-road enthusiastwould enjoy, but itis not as aggressiveas the M/T tire. Atire designated withan "M/T" is used for"Max-Traction."These dutifulsoldiers easily

handle muddy and rocky surfacesfrequented by the serious adventurer. TheM/T tire is the "hiking boot" of tires. Luggy,rugged tread elements with large treadvoids offer excellent traction to handle themost severe driving conditions.

An A/S denotes all-season tires which aredependable for many road conditions. Forsevere snow conditions, a mountainsnowflake pictograph with an M+Srepresents the industry's standard for tires,much like snow boots, designed for wintryconditions.

When selecting tires, don't let yourcustomers be intimidated by the choices.Describe it as a chance to shop for shoes —but for their automobiles. Search forcomfort, style and performance to suit theirpersonal driving habits.

Feature

2 inRoads Fall2005

Where’s MarioWhere’sMario

This month'sedition of

InRoads focuses on stories tohelp you discover new waysto reach your customer.

The cover article,"Marketing the Right Tire to

your Customer," encourages you toinvestigate with your customers what theyneed and want from theirtires. Whether a consumer isseeking improved handlingand wet performance orimproved mileage and fueleconomy, we have the answers on how youcan deliver just what he or she demands.

As you know, Bridgestone Americas has avast array of products and resources fromwhich you can draw upon to improve yourbottom line. Through InRoads our goal is toenlighten you about what is going on withinthe global Bridgestone group as well asstimulate your creativity by showcasing whatothers are doing in the industry.

This edition has great stories about how wecontinue to work to showcase ourBridgestone and Firestone brands — fromtheir high profile spot in Times Square to theirhigh profile position on your showroom floor.

I encourage each of you to reach out to usfor assistance — from grassroots marketingand product insight, to customer researchand the new "Know Your M.A.R.I.O.S." safetycampaign. In this newsletter we are alsopointing out ways in which you can buildyour business through Internet marketinginitiatives in the story "Set Up Shop on theWorld Wide Web."

Finally, to all our familymembers on the GulfCoast: our hearts andthoughts are with you.The punches recently

dealt to you by Mother Nature have beenenormous. Please know that we will be therefor you to assist you in your rebuildingefforts. To those of you who have reachedout to assist these dealers and our company-owned store teammates through monetarycontributions or other gifts, we commendyour efforts.

We are here to help you improve, andrebuild YOUR business AND our businessTOGETHER.

Kindest regards,

Mark A. Emkes

A Note from Mark EmkesExecutive

Edge

Hundreds of fans lined up at theFirestone Complete Auto Care location inRoyal Oak, Mich., to meet racing legendMario Andretti on August 19th. Andretti,often called the greatest driver inmotorsports history, visited the store in

celebration of the annual Woodward DreamCruise weekend, which draws more than 1million automobile enthusiasts each year.

"I'm excited about participating in thislegendary event and meeting new peoplein Michigan — a state so important to theautomotive and racing industries," Andrettisaid. "I'm thankful to the FirestoneComplete Auto Care team for making ithappen. I'm also happy for the opportunityto cruise along Woodward in a classic car— a great way to spend any Friday."

Winners of the "Lunch with Mario"Contest met the racing legend at a privatelunch reception. Two grand prize winnerscruised with Mario along Woodward Ave.for the Woodward Dream Cruise. Later thatafternoon, Andretti met fans and signedautographs at the Woodward store.

Canada

AndrewFirestonerecentlyparticipated inthe BridgestoneRacingAcademymedia day inToronto. Whilein town,Firestone helda wine tastingand mingledwithBridgestone Firestone customers andstaff.

Mario signs autographs and pauses forpictures as fans wait in line to meet theracing legend.

Mario and fans cruise Woodward Avenue as part ofthe annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak,Mich.

“Please know that we will bethere for you to assist you inyour rebuilding efforts.”

3Fall2005 inRoads

The key to long-term successrests not just with a solid business plan andloyal customers and employees, but also byfostering strong ties with communities. Agrassroots campaign should increase yourbusiness opportunities and add long-termvalue to your company while contributingto the welfare of the places we call home.

To begin, appoint someone at your storeto be the community liaison. That person isresponsible for building ties with communityleaders and businesses. By developing long-term relationships with these people, you areopening up doors for future opportunitiesand learning about your town.

Next, invest in your community by givingback to local charities and non-profitorganizations. Make sure that you spread

the word and encourage your customers toparticipate, too. One great cause is theupcoming Marine Corps Reserve Toys forTots campaign.

Finally, educate your community aboutwhat you're doing. Though the generalpublic is the most difficult group to involve,they are also the group that can have anenormous impact. In order to build arelationship, provide regular informationupdates to your contacts by e-mail, letter orphone. You may also coordinate pressreleases through our Public Affairs office inNashville.

And remember, InRoads is alwaysinterested in hearing your success stories.Please share your experiences with otherdealers by letting us know about them.

How to Build a Grassroots Campaign in Your CommunityNews

RainCouldn’tDampen

Spirits at GrandOpening ofCunningham Tire

Cunningham Tire in Danville,Va., shone through the rain atits recent grand opening event.The B.E.S.T. I transporter was on-site with its racing simulators,offering customers theopportunity to check out IRLand F1 race cars. The storereceived great exposure fromthe event and sold almost 200units — an impressive featconsidering the weather.Congratulations to DaveCunningham and the rest of thecrew at Cunningham Tire!

Dealers

Bridgestone Corporation Announces 2005 First-HHalf ResultsBridgestone Corporation,

parent company of Bridgestone AmericasHolding, Inc., recently announced itsconsolidated financial results for the six-month period ending June 30, 2005. Lookingto full year 2005, BSAH is forecasting net salesof $10.15 billion, a $1 billion increase over2004, breaking through the milestone $10billion sales mark for the first time in thecompany's history.

The company's North American tire

manufacturing and wholesaling operations,Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire,LLC, reported a slight increase in overall unitsales of passenger and light truck tires in thefirst half, with robust sales in the replacementsegment and a decline in original equipmentshipments due to a decline in unit vehicleproduction. BFNT experienced overall growthin unit sales of truck and bus tires during theperiod. BFNT's off-the-road and agriculturaltire groups also experienced a strong first half.

News

The Praxis AdvancedSuspensions System from

Bridgestone Firestone Vehicle Systems hasbeen getting a lot of attention. The group'ssecond vehicle application, for the BMW, hasreceived coverage in a number of magazines:

• 2004 issue of Automotive Engineeringmagazine;

• September 2004 and October 2004issues of Roundel, the official magazineof the BMW Club of America;

• November 2004 and February 2005issues of Bimmer magazine;

• November 2004 issue of european carmagazine;

• May 2005 issue of Sports CarInternational;

• July 2005 issue of Eurotuner; and • August 2005 issue of Car and Driver: a

three-page article written by LarryWebster, technical editor.

Praxis will also receive major televisioncoverage on an upcoming segment of PBS'Motorweek TV show where the Praxis-equipped BMW will be featured. Pat Goss, host,recently test drove the vehicle for a 2½-minutespot that will air during the 2006 season. Staytuned, and we'll tell you when to watch.

Praxis will be exhibiting Nov. 1-4 at theupcoming Specialty Equipment MarketAssociation Show to promote its thirdautomotive application for Golf/Jetta 1999-2005 (booth #22175 in the racing andperformance section). William S. Niaura,manager, light duty business development,Firestone Industrial Products, noted Praxiswill also be participating in the Motor PressGuild's Annual Track Day. It will be held Nov.16 and 17 at Willow Springs InternationalRaceway in California.

Praxis Grabs Media Spotlight

Pictured (l-r) are David Cunningham,owner, Steve Spangler, salesman, andJeff Green, store manager.

News

The Firestone brand andlegendary racer Mario

Andretti have teamed up in order to savelives with a driver safety educationcampaign. The program includes a series oftelevision and print ads in which Andrettistresses the importance of proper tireinflation and maintenance, and urges driversto check their tires every month. Theprogram also includes a curriculum thatencourages young drivers to learn their“M.A.R.I.O.S.” (Mario Andretti’s RealInformation On Safety), which includestaking care of your tires, wearing your seatbelt, driving alert and defensively, and neverdrinking alcohol before getting behind thewheel.

Firestone has committed to spend morethan $15 million on the campaign over thenext three years. In addition to the ads andthe safety curriculum, the program includes

a complete revision and re-launch ofthe company’s public service Website, www.tiresafety.com, which sendsmotorists monthly e-mail remindersto check their tires and includes awealth of practical safety information.

Andretti will also be visitingschools across the country to talk tostudents about safety and to urgethem to learn their “M.A.R.I.O.S.”

The “M.A.R.I.O.S.” curriculum(available online atwww.tiresafety.com under the“Driving Tips” tab) includesinformation from the NationalHighway Traffic SafetyAdministration’s Web site,www.nhtsa.dot.gov, which urgesdrivers to know their PSI (proper tireinflation pressure in pounds per squareinch).

Know Your M.A.R.I.O.S.News

Bridgestone Firestone Looms Large in Times SquareBillboard reinforces brand longevity, enduring quality and strength

Once again, Bridgestone Firestone haspaired its premier brands and its long-standing racing success with a dual-sidedbillboard in the heart of Times Square. Theprominent ad placement — now in its thirdyear — is sure to spark interest as itenhances brand visibility.

"We recognize the advantage of beingimmersed in a district known for cultivatingcreativity, energy and an edge that hasmade the area an icon of entertainment,culture and urban life for over a century,"said Phil Pacsi, executive director of NorthAmerica Consumer Tire Marketing, BFNT."Times Square is the perfect location tohighlight our commitment to providing thehighest level of technologically sophisticatedproducts."

The Bridgestone and Firestone brands arerepresented on alternate sides of thebillboard. Bridgestone-brand race tires,which carried the past seven FIA Formula 1world champions to their titles, are fitted onthe Scuderia Ferrari race car. Mirroring thisspeedster is the new Ferrari SuperAmericastreet car equipped with the Bridgestone®Potenza™ RE050 street tire.

The Bridgestone brandcampaign tagline "Passionfor Excellence" sits beneathin dramatic neon display.

The flip side of thebillboard showcases theFirestone brand's strongrelationship with theIndianapolis 500 MileRace® in a vertical image ofthe Firehawk Indy race-style vehicle. TheFirehawk's flames set theappropriate tone for thetires that have dominatedthe Indy 500.

"Firestone-equippeddrivers have won the Indy500 a total of 56 times,more than all other tiremanufacturers combined,and our success at Indy hasbeen one of thecornerstones of the successof the Firestone brand,"said Pacsi.

News

4 inRoads Fall2005

The next issue of InRoads will featureinformation on how to use M.A.R.I.O.S.in your community

5Fall2005 inRoads

Mazda's latest all-wheel drivehigh performance sedan, the 2006MAZDASPEED6, features Bridgestone®Potenza™ RE050A tires as originalequipment.

The 274-horsepower MAZDASPEED6includes a direct-injection turbocharged 2.3-

liter engine and a new activetorque all-wheel drive system.Drivers can expect enhancedacceleration and cornering dueto the increased surface contactof the RE050A asymmetricaltread pattern.

"The high-performancecapabilities of the BridgestonePotenza RE050A tire are aperfect complement for thispowerful vehicle," said Michael

Martini, president of the original equipmentconsumer tire division, BFNT.

The tire's tread pattern promotes rapidwater evacuation, along with variabledimensions in the tread block and asmoother shape to reduce road noise.

"This marks the first Bridgestone-brandperformance tire fitment on a MAZDASPEEDvehicle," Martini said. The BridgestoneCorporation supplies the Potenza RE050Atires to Mazda's Hofu, Japan, manufacturingfacility. The fitment is the result of acontinuing relationship betweenBridgestone Corporation and Mazda inJapan.

The 215/45R18XL 93Y-size tire boasts aUTQG rating of 140 for treadwear, an A fortraction and an A for temperature.

MAZDASPPEED6 Features Bridgestone Potenza RE050Aas Original EquipmentOE

Your customers are online —are you? If not, you may be

missing an important opportunity to connectwith potential and existing clientele. To helpyou become part of the World Wide Web,Bridgestone Firestone and 50 Below™ have

developed the Bridgestone FirestoneInternet Development and SupportProgram.

A recent study by the Harris Pollfound that 71 percent of adults are nowonline. Your customers are accessingthe Internet on a daily basis in search ofproducts and services they need, soestablishing a solid presence in this newmarketplace is an essential part of anymarketing program.

"Dealers can greatly benefit fromutilizing the IDS Program to build andmaintain an impressive presence on theInternet in a cost-effective way," saidMichael Fluck, advertising and Internetmanager, North American ConsumerTire Sales Group, BFNT. "This programoffers assistance on everything you

need to build an effective site to market yourbusiness online 24/7. Moreover, individualWeb sites enjoy a link from the BridgestoneFirestone consumer tire Web site to beexposed to tens of thousands of consumersevery month."

Bridgestone Firestone has developed astreamlined Web site, including 15 differenttemplate designs and mapping directions.With the Bridgestone Firestone IDS Web SiteProgram you'll receive:

• 14-page streamlined Web site;• 15 different Web site templates to

choose from;• Mapping locator/driving directions;• Domain name registration;• Search engine optimization;• Domain name e-mail;• SurfWatcher™ reporter tool;• Toll-free customer support;• Online editor tool; and• Complete system security.Your Bridgestone Firestone IDS Web site

includes 14 pages: Home, Tire Catalog,Services, Interactive Map, Links, Staff, AboutUs, Car Tips, Contact Us, Locations, Specials,Request Service, Community Events andCalendar of Events.

Templates can be viewed athttp://bridgestonedealers.com/select_template.htm. For more information onhow to enroll in this program, visitwww.bridgestonedealers.com or call 1-866-365-5474.

50 Below designs, develops and maintainsWeb-based solutions, targeting industries witha network of independent dealers.

Set Up Shop on the World Wide WebNews

6 inRoads Fall2005

BFNT Cooks for STTC Birthday BashOn June 10, more than 1,200customers and suppliers

converged on Service Tire Truck Centers'(STTC) headquarters in Bethlehem, Pa., tohelp STTC celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Besides running a busy informationbooth, BFNT supplied barbecue for thewhole crowd — and then some.

BFNT hired Howard Blankenship,barbecue connoisseur, who drove hiscustomized Peterbilt sleeper and custom-built barbecue trailer 1,052 miles fromMemphis to cook nearly 1,200 pounds ofmeat for the celebration.

The feast included 900 pounds of ribs,210 pounds of tenderloin and 180 poundsof bologna, lovingly tended for more thanseven hours by Howard and his team. Ittook almost half a ton of charcoal to do thejob.

STTC provided side dishes and guests atefrom noon 'til well into the evening. Therewere enough leftovers to serve an employeecelebration the next day.

Representatives from numerous STTCsuppliers were on hand to celebrate thecompany's half century of success. Inaddition to supplying the great food, BFNTalso presented the STTC management team

with an engraved crystal vaseand ran a full-pagecongratulatory ad in that day'snewspaper.

On hand to makepresentations were Brian Ebert,BFNT regional general manager;Art Campagnoni, director ofNorth American commercialsales, truck and bus tires; SinghAhluwalia, president ofcommercial products, truck andbus tires; and Duke Nishiyama,vice-chairman and president ofBridgestone Americas Holdingand BFNT.

Service Tire Truck Centerswas founded in 1955 andtoday employs more than 550 people,operating 19 truck tire centers and threeretreading plants serving the eastern UnitedStates. STTC offers 24-hour emergency roadservice through a network of more than 150vehicles.

As Singh Ahluwalia said, "We're delightedto have been a part of STTC's success formost of these past 50 years and lookforward to working with STTC for manyyears to come."

Commercial

VanWinkle Tire Celebrates Wedding Anniversarywith Big Foot

Longtime BFNT friends HowardBlankenship and Pete Scott barbecuedfor more than 1,200 people at ServiceTire Truck Centers' 50th anniversaryparty.

David and Melissa VanWinklecelebrated their 22nd wedding anniversaryin an unusual way — with Big Foot andmore than 800 customers who showed upfor their weekend promotion at VanWinkleTire, a TireStarz dealer in Ramsey, Ind.

VanWinkle Tire workers started planningmonths in advance to ensure a successfulpromotion. They ran a full-page ad in thecounty paper and had a live radio remote. Inorder to capture the names of all the peopleattending the promotion, the dealer held adrawing for a set of tires, a Big Foot go-cart,tickets to the Sparta IRL race, a bicycle andtwo remote-control Big Foot cars. Therewere free hot dogs, Koozie cups, hats andkey chains. Special Big Foot T-Shirts werealso created for this event.

David and his family will spend the next

several weekscalling everyonewho filled out anentry form tothank them forcoming to theevent and to invitethem back to thestore for futurebusiness.

All the results ofthis promotion arenot in yet, but thepreliminary resultsare outstanding.David is alreadythinking of how tomake next year's event even bigger!

Dealers

David VanWinkle, owner, and his wifeMelissa celebrate their anniversary withBig Foot.

7Fall2005 inRoads

Chuck Wait Tire Promotion Causes Traffic JamChuck Wait Tire, a TireStarzdealer in Hillsboro, Ohio,

knows how to throw promotions. Eachyear they get bigger and better, and thisyear was no exception — the resultswere phenomenal.

The dealer spread word of the eventwith full-page ads running two weeksbefore the promotion and placed posters

all over town. There was a live radio remote,and four bands played music throughout theweekend. The crowd came out to see Big

Foot and its driver Keith Sturgess — bothdid a great job of impressing customers.Eagle Wheel brought a wheel display, whichprompted the sale of many wheel andFuzion packages. Finally, Chuck Wait held acar show in the lot beside the store.

Highlights of the promotion were:• More than 2,500 people attended the

event;

• Over 3,000 hot dogs were grilled;

• 99 cars participated in the car show;

• Increased traffic to the store causedtraffic jams on Route 62; and

• Credit First National Association openedup more than 200 quality accounts.

Dealers

It's that time of year again.The holiday season is just

around the corner, and children everywhereare already making their Christmas lists.Once again, Bridgestone Firestone NorthAmerican Tire, LLC is working with theMarine Corps Reserve Toys for TotsFoundation to gather toys, books and othergifts for needy children during the holidayseason. Local toy collection campaignsbegin in mid-October and last untilDecember 16.

Designated Bridgestone Firestone retailoutlets (independent and company-ownedstores) will act as drop-off points for theircommunities. Those who want to contributecan take unwrapped toys and gifts to theirnearest participating Bridgestone Firestonedealer, Firestone Complete Auto Care,TiresPlus or ExpertTire location and placethem in a collection box.

Last year, the Marine Corps Reserve Toysfor Tots campaign delivered 19 million new

toys to 7.4 million needy childrenthroughout the nation. It was the mostsuccessful campaign in the 57-year historyof Toys for Tots, thanks in part to teammatesand facilities all across the BridgestoneAmericas family of companies. Let's makethis year even better!

Get in the Spirit: Toys for Tots Campaign Kicks OffNews

Mark Emkes (far right), chairman and CEO, BFNT andBSAH, and John Gamauf (kneeling, left), president,consumer replacement tire, BFNT, drop off toyscollected during last year's Toys for Tots campaign.

Pictured (l-r) are Keith Sturgess, Big FootDriver; Tracey Wait; Chuck Collier, MidAmerica Tire; George Illig, area salesmanager, BFNT; and Chuck Wait, owner.

8 inRoads Fall2005

ConsumerBridgestone Firestone Announces Size Additions forWinter TiresAdditions address drivers’ safety and performance needs

The new sizes of the Blizzak LM-25, available now, and their target vehicles are: Size Target vehicles195/55R15 BW Acura RSX, Honda Civic, Hyundai Tiburon

205/50R16 BW Ford Focus, Mitsubishi Lancer, Volvo 850, SAAB 900

215/55R16 BW Saturn L300 Sedan, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz E320, Saab 9-3 & 9-5, Volvo S60 & S80

225/55R16 BW Audi A6, BMW 525, Jaguar S-Type, Lexus GS430, Mercedes-Benz E320

225/45R17 BW Audi TT; Mercedes-Benz C-Class, CLK-Class & SLK-Class; Porsche Boxster;

Saab 9-3 & 9-5; Volkswagen Jetta & Passat

235/45R17 BW Audi A4, BMW 528, Mercedes-Benz E420

245/45R17 XL BW Lexus IS300, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E320 & E500

*245/40R18 XL BW Audi A6; Mercedes-Benz E320, E500, CLS500 & SL500, BMW 545

*255/40R18 XL BW Lexus IS300; BMW M3; Mercedes-Benz SL55, SL500 & SL600

*265/35R19 BW Nissan 350Z

**205/45R17 BW RFT Mazda Miata

*Available Nov. 2005**Available Oct. 15, 2005

In order to address the ice and snow conditions many drivers face every day, Bridgestone designed a winning combination of technologies for the Blizzak DM-Z3 with UNI-T. The TUBE MULTICELL compound improves control on ice by cutting through thin layers of surface water. The 3D sipes enhance dry performance while UNI-T technology combined with silica helps keep traction strong in wet conditions.

The new sizes of the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3, available Nov. 1, and their target vehicles are:

Size Target vehiclesP205/75R15 BW Chevrolet Blazer & S-10, GMC Canyon & Sonoma

P215/75R15 BW Dodge Dakota, Ford F150, Jeep Wrangler

P225/75R15 BW Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Escape & Ranger, Jeep Wrangler

P235/75R15 BW Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Mazda B3000 & B4000,

Nissan Frontier

215/70R15 BW Pontiac Aztek, Toyota Tacoma

P225/75R16 BW Jeep Liberty, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Isuzu Rodeo

P245/75R16 BW Chevrolet Silverado,GMC Sierra, Mazda B4000, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Pathfinder

P265/75R16 BW Chevrolet Silverado, Hummer H3, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Pathfinder & Xterra

225/70R16 BW Hyundai SantaFe, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX300, Volvo XC90

P255/70R17 BW Ford F150

265/70R17 BW Chevrolet Tahoe & Silverado, GMC Yukon

P245/65R17 BW Chevrolet Trail Blazer, Ford Explorer, GMC Envoy, Infiniti QX4

P255/65R17 BW Ford F150

*235/60R18 BW Mazda Tribute

*P265/50R20 BW Infiniti FX45 & FX35

LT235/75R15 BW Small pick-up

*Available Nov. 15, 2005

The Winterforce provides a quiet and comfortable ride regardless of the weather conditions; its directional, computer-modeled tread design delivers confident snow, wet and ice traction.

Bridgestone Firestone North AmericanTire, LLC is already preparing for the wintermonths with size additions to theBridgestone® Blizzak™ LM-22 RFT,Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25, BridgestoneBlizzak DM-Z3 and Winterforce™ tire lines.

"It may be hot outside now, but winter isjust around the corner — and with it comeshazardous snow and ice conditions," saidPhil Pacsi, executive director of NorthAmerican Consumer Tire Marketing, BFNT."The Blizzak and Winterforce winter tire linesare rapidly growing as customers appreciateand value their ability to handleunpredictable driving situations with ease."

Many of these winter tires are also Run-Flat tires, which provide an added benefitby allowing drivers to travel up to 50 milesat 50 mph after loss of air.

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 is a uni-directional, studless winter tire developedfor high-performance vehicles. The uni-directional tread pattern features super-slantgrooves to reduce the risk of hydroplaning,while the tread compound's high silicacontent enhances both winter and wetperformance.

UNI-T® technology further improveshandling performance in all conditions.Drivers will find that the Blizzak LM-22provides a well-balanced overall proficiencyfor each of their winter needs. Theadditional sizes — 225/45R17 and205/55R16 — are targeted for the newBMW 3 Series vehicles, which will be facingtheir first winter season this year.

The new sizes of the Blizzak LM-22,available now, and their target vehicles are:

Size Target vehicles225/45R17 BW RFT BMW 3 Series

205/55R16 BW RFT BMW 3 Series

The Blizzak LM-25 (conventional and RFTfitments) with UNI-T is a directional, studlessH- and V-speed rated winter tire thatdelivers excellent snow and ice traction forhigh-performance vehicles.

The 3D sipes of the Blizzak LM-25 offergreat dry performance, while its UNI-Ttechnology provides well-balancedperformance in wet conditions. The tread'sadditional silica further enhances winter andwet traction.

For more news about Blizzak tires, seepage 10.

9Fall2005 inRoads

Fastest Woman on an Open-WWheel MotorcycleRides on Bridgestone Tires

Susan Robertson, thefastest woman on an open-wheel motorcycle, wasrecently on hand for theinaugural Taylor WoodrowGrand Prix of San Jose —round eight of the 2005Champ Car World Seriesseason.

Robertson, a member ofthe Falkner/Livingston (FL)racing team, was clocked at205.345 mph on July 16,2005, at El Mirage Dry Lake

in El Mirage, Calif. She became the fastestwoman on an open-wheel motorcycle andone of only two women to exceed the 200-mph land speed mark. Robertson rode intohistory atop a Makita Suzuki sport bikeequipped with the Bridgestone® BattlaxBT014 tire.

Robertson is the marketing director for RedMountain Retail Group, a developer ofshopping centers throughout the westernUnited States. In her personal time, shepursues her love of speed. Robertson has nowset two land speed records and looks forwardto setting more with FL Racing in the future.

Motorcycle

Springdale Automotive, aTireStarz dealer in Louisville,

Ky., ran its first promotion ever — and it wasa huge hit with customers. The dealer usedthe B.E.S.T. lite transporter. Advertisements,flyers and a live radio remote helped bring innew customers to the store.

The store also got its local NAPAdealer involved with the promotion.The NAPA team brought a tent anda grill, and provided hamburgersand hot dogs to customers for theentire event.

The dealer was most pleased bythe fact that 100 percent of the 165units sold were BridgestoneFirestone products: 60 percent wereBridgestone tires, 30 percent wereFirestone tires and 10 percent were

Fuzion tires.Also, other than a few truck tires, this store

had never sold a 20" tire. Before noon on thefirst day, they sold 2 sets of 20" Fuzion tires.

Great job to the team at SpringdaleAutomotive!

Springdale Automotive Hosts First PromotionDealers

The new sizes of the Winterforce, available now, and their target vehicles are:Size Target vehiclesP265/75R16 114S Chevy C/K, Chevy Silverado, Chevy Tahoe, Dodge Ram, GMC C/K, GMC Sierra,

GMC Yukon, Mazda B4000

P265/70R16 111S Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Avalanche, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, Dodge Dakota,

Dodge Durango, Ford F-150, GMC Yukon, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Xterra,

Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota T100, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra

P265/70R17 113S Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Avalanche, Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, Dodge Ram,

Ford Expedition, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon, Nissan Xterra,

Toyota Sequoia

205/60R16 92S Acura CL, Acura TL, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Stratus, Honda Accord, Hyundai

Sonata, Hyundai XG350, Lexus ES300, Mazda6, Mercury Sable, Toyota Avalon,

Toyota Camry

225/55R17 97S Audi A8, Audi Quattro, Chrysler 300M, Chrysler Concorde, Chrysler LHS, Dodge

Intrepid, Infiniti Q45, Land Rover Freelander, Lexus LS430, Mercedes CL,

Mercedes S, Mitsubishi 3000GT, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac Grand Prix

10 inRoads Fall2005

Kemper Tire Draws Fresh Faces to PromotionBig Foot and the Fuziontransporter recently made a

stop at Kemper Tire, a TireStarz dealer inFranklin, Ohio, for a promotion. A live radioremote at the dealership helped drive traffic

to the promotionwhere customersenjoyed free pizzaand soft drinks.During the two-dayevent, about 200customers stoppedby the store, andSteve Kemper,owner, wasparticularly happythat 60 percent of hisguests were first-timecustomers.

Dealers

Does severe winter weather keep youtrapped indoors? Not anymore. BridgestoneFirestone North American Tire, LLC hasannounced the newest member of theBlizzak family of winter tires, theBridgestone® Blizzak™ Revo1 with UNI-T®Technology. The Blizzak Revo1 tires aredesigned for severe ice or snow conditionsand allow a solid grip on wet and dry roads.

The tirecontains TubeMulticellcompound,which greatlyimproves thetire’s iceperformance inmost slipperyconditions. Biteparticles

embedded in the Tube Multicell compoundhelp grab the ice while the Tube Multicellcompound cuts through and disperses thewater. A cross-riblet surface provides icetraction until the Tube Multicell compoundis exposed.

Zigzag sipes contribute to upgradedtraction on ice through drainage and edgeeffect, and 3D sipes improve dryperformance while maintaining snow, iceand wet traction.

The Blizzak Revo1 is available in 11 Q-speed rated sizes and has a non-directionaltread design for the 65-60 series and adirectional tread design for the 55-45 series.

The new sizes, and their popular 2005 vehicle fitments, are:Size Target vehicles 185/65R15 88 Q Toyota Corolla CE(03-05), Prius(04-05)

195/65R15 91 Q VW Golf (05)/Passat GL(05), Volvo S60(01-05)/V70 2.4(02-05), Chrysler PT

Cruiser(01-05), Honda Accord DX(03-05), Mazda 3(04-05), Pontiac Sunfire(05),

Toyota Corolla LE(04-05)/S(03-05)

205/65R15 94 Q Chevrolet Malibu(04-05), Chrysler Sebring(05), Honda Accord LX(03-05), Hyundai

Sonata(03-05), Pontiac Grand Am SE(04-05), Toyota Camry LE(00-05)/Solara SE(05)

195/60R15 88 Q Hyundai Elantra GLS/GT(03-05), Chevrolet Cobalt(05), Ford Focus(05), Honda Civic

EX/LX(04-05), KIA Spectra(05), Nissan Sentra 1.8(05), Saturn ION2(03-05), Toyota

Celica GT(00-05)

215/65R16 98 Q Ford Mustang V6 Deluxe(05), Toyota Sienna CE/LE/XLE(04-05), Hyundai

Tucson(05), Chrysler Town & Country Limited/Touring(03-05), Dodge Grand

Caravan(03-05), Volvo XC70(03-05)

215/60R16 95 Q Mazda MPV LX(03-05), Chevrolet Malibu LT(04-05), Ford Taurus(02-05), Honda

Accord Hybrid(05), Lexus ES300(04-05)/GS300(96-05), Mercury Sable GS/LS(01-

05), Nissan Altima 2.5(05), Pontiac G6(05), Toyota Camry XLE(02-05), Solara

SLE(04-05), Subaru Forester(03-05)

205/60R16 92 Q Chrysler Sebring(05), Dodge Stratus(03-05), Honda Accord EX(03-05)/LX(03-05),

Hyundai Sonata GLS/LX(02-05)/XG350(02-05), Mazda 6(04-05),

Suzuki Verona LX/EX(05)

225/60R16 98 Q Buick Century(05)/LaCrosse CX/CXL(05), LeSabre Celebration Edition(05)/Park

Avenue Prestige package (04-05), Cadillac Deville(96-05)/DHS(00-05), Chevrolet

Impala(00-05), Chevrolet Monte Carlo LS(01-05)/LT(05), Ford Crown Victoria(03-

05), Mercury Grand Marquis GS(04-05)/LS(05), Pontiac Bonneville SE(04-05),

Pontiac Grand Prix(05), Subaru Outback 2.5(05), Ford Freestar S/SE(04-05),

Kia Amanti(04-05)

205/55R16 91 Q BMW 325(01-05), Mercedes C240/320(01-05), VW GTi 1.8(02-05)/New Beetle(01-

05)/Passat(05), Volvo S40 2.4/T5(05)/V50(05)/V70 2.5T(04-05), Acura RSX(02-05),

Chevrolet Cavalier(04-05)/Cobalt LS/LT(05), Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible/Limited

Platinum Edition(05), Honda Civic Si(04-05), Hyundai Tiburon(03-05), Lexus IS300,

Mazda 3(04-05), Mitsubishi Eclipse(01-05), Pontiac Sunfire(05)/Vibe(03-05), SAAB

9-2X(05), Saturn ION3(03-05), Subaru Impreza RS/WRX(05)/Legacy 2.5(05), Toyota

Matrix XR(03-05)

215/55R16 93 Q Saturn L300(05), Audi A4 1.8T(03-05)/3.0 (02-05), SAAB 9-3(03-05),/9-5 2.3(05),

Volvo S60 2.5(05)/S80 2.5(05)

225/45R17 91 Q Audi TT(03-05), Jaguar X(02-05), Mercedes C230 Kompressor(05)/C320 Sport(04-

05)/CLK500(05), AMG C55/CLK55/SLK55(05), Subaru Impreza WRX STi(04-05)

ConsumerBlizzak Welcomes New Addition to Family of Winter Tires

Don’t miss the Blizzak story on page 8.

11Fall2005 inRoads

Montreal Gets in the Racing SpiritThe city of Montreal drewlarge crowds for its 27th

Formula 1 Grand Prix on June 9-11. Theexcitement blanketed the city, which held astreet décor program and numerous streetfestivities.

More than 200 bars and restaurants and28 stores showed their enthusiasm for thebig race by decorating store windows anddisplay aisles with Bridgestone-suppliedvisuals and tires. Bridgestone/FirestoneCanada also sponsored Open House Day atthe race track and a press conference and

autograph session at Montreal's City Hallwith both Jordan Grand Prix drivers.

The following weekend, June 17-19, theBridgestone brand repeated its feat withsimilar décor activities in downtownIndianapolis for the United States Grand Prix.The B.E.S.T. II transporter and its show carswere on display all week. BridgestoneMotorsports and Michael Schumacher held apress conference at the IMS in front of10,000 spectators during Pit Walkabout Dayat the track.

Canada

Bridgestone Brand Scores a Hole-iin-OOne as TitleSponsor of World Golf ChampionshipsThe global Bridgestone family

of companies recently announced some veryexciting news: Beginning in 2006, theBridgestone brand will be the title sponsor ofthe World Golf Championships- BridgestoneInvitational at the Firestone Country Club inAkron, Ohio. The tournament is an importantevent on the PGA Tour and typically featuresthe top 50 golfers in the world. This year thefield included Tiger Woods, who won thetournament for the 4th time.

"This sponsorship is a perfect fit for us,and we couldn't ask for a better opportunityto enhance the global prestige and visibilityof our brands," said Mark Emkes, chairmanand CEO of Bridgestone Americas Holding,Inc. "The World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at the FirestoneCountry Club brings our two strong brands,our proud heritage and our shared spirittogether in a very special place. We believethe tournament will provide great visibilityaround the world for both of our brands anda great showcase for the quality, precision

and performance of Bridgestone golfequipment and Bridgestone and Firestonebranded tires."

Bridgestone also has a significant golfheritage, beginning in 1935 when thecompany manufactured its first golf balls.After becoming the leading golf equipmentsupplier in Japan, Bridgestone entered theU.S. market in 1983, selling products underthe Precept brand. Beginning this year, theBridgestone Golf brand was introduced toAmerica as a premium Tour brand. PlayersStuart Appleby, Nick Price, Shigeki Maruyamaand Freddie Couples use Bridgestone ballsand clubs.

"Just as in tires and in our other rubberproducts, Bridgestone Golf products areknown for their precision and performance,"said Emkes. "And as anyone who's ever hit aB330 golf ball or driven a vehicle withpremier Potenza tires knows, the Bridgestonebrand represents a passion for excellence. It'sthat passion that sets us apart, whether we'redriving down the road or on the fairway."

News

FirestoneMemorabiliaon Display

at Greene County Tireand Supply CompanyGreene County Tire and SupplyCompany, a BridgestoneFirestone affiliated dealer inGreenville, Tenn., is attractingcustomers with an impressivedisplay of Firestonememorabilia. Chris Douthat,

manager, began his collectionabout five years ago andpurchases items on eBay and atvarious sales. The display areafeatures nine antique Firestonebicycles, a console Firestoneradio/record player, a portableFirestone record player, a smalltable Firestone radio, a Firestonemotorboat motor and a glassexhibit case with a wide array ofitems, including a thermometer,pen, brochures and nearly everyadvertising item that Firestonehas distributed. If you're in theneighborhood, check out thiseye-catching display at GreeneCounty Tire and SupplyCompany!

Dealers

12 inRoads Fall2005

Bridgestone Firestone535 Marriott DriveNashville, TN 37214

Fall 2005

inRoads a publication producedby the North American ConsumerTire and North American CommercialTire Groups of Bridgestone FirestoneNorth American Tire, LLC for thebenefit of our customers.

We welcome and encourage comments about inRoadsor Bridgestone Firestone and the industry in general. Comments,suggestions and requests forinformation should be sent to:

Susan SizemorePublic AffairsBridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.535 Marriott Dr.Nashville, TN 37214sizemoresusa@bfusa.com615/937-1417

© 2005 Bridgestone Firestone

Bridgestone Brand Truck Radials Put the Show on the RoadThe 2005 Shell Rotella® Road

Show is traveling on premium Bridgestonebrand truck radials as it tours the country,compliments of the company's BFNT Truckand Bus Group.

The eye-catching tractor-trailer is speciallydesigned to entertain and educate owner-operators and maintenance professionals onengine lubricants and tires. The Road Showvisits trade shows, truckstops, dealershipsand retail stores.

Inside the air-conditioned 53-foot trailer,visitors can sit in a comfortable 24-speakersurround-sound theater to watch an action-packed video, play truck video games andexamine an engine cutaway.

Outside, under the large tent, visitors candig their fingers into the treads of theBridgestone® R287, Bridgestone M726 EL,Firestone® FS590 PLUS and Firestone FD690

PLUS radials. The Bridgestone radial-

equipped tractor-trailer willvisit about 80 truckstops,dealers and truck showsthrough November, includingthe Walcott TruckersJamboree in Walcott, Iowa,the Great American TruckingShow in Dallas and theSpecialty Equipment MarketAssociation Show in LasVegas.

If you're at one of theseevents, look for the giantbottle of Rotella motor oil poised on top ofthe trailer — you can't miss it.

To find out if the Road Show is coming toa town near your dealership, check outwww.rotella.com/roadshows.

Commercial

The Firestone FD690 PLUS andBridgestone M726 EL radial tires greetvisitors at the entrance to the ShellRotella® Road Show. The Road Show istouring the country, visiting trade shows,truckstops, dealerships and retail stores.