Bridgestone Unveils Snow Simulation Technology

New Supercomputer Program
Helps Predict Tire Performance on Snow and Ice

Nashville, Tenn. (Dec.13, 2001) - - Bridgestone Corporation, the parent company of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc., announced today that it has strengthened its design capabilities for winter tires with computer simulation technology. The company started using its well-established supercomputer capabilities to simulate tire performance on snowy surfaces. The computer technology is used to analyze specific tread patterns in powering, stopping, and in turning a vehicle in slippery winter conditions.

The supercomputer simulations make the work of designing snow tires more efficient and more precise. Bridgestone began applying its supercomputer capabilities in 1999 to simulate tread performance and how water is dispersed to prevent hydroplaning.

Tread patterns are an important factor in vehicle handling on snowy surfaces. Tire designers have long sought tools for visualizing the action of tires in motion on snow and ice. Bridgestone's new technology provides those tools and furnishes a scientific basis for optimizing tread designs for winter driving.

The new technology simulates the action of the various tread patterns as they compact and grip snow. Bridgestone's supercomputer produces the simulations by processing vast amounts of data for analysis. Tire designers can view a simulated tread pattern in motion on a snowy road, these simulations even allow for quantifying the shear forces that arise between the tread grooves and the snow.

Bridgestone's snow simulation technology reduces the need for expensive and time-consuming cycles of prototype fabrication and analysis in tire development. Of equal importance is the technology's ability to simulate different kinds and amounts of snow, which helps achieve better all-around performance. Bridgestone has announced plans to employ snow simulations in a broad range of tire development.

Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest manufacturer of tires and other rubber products. Tires account for 78 percent of Bridgestone Group sales worldwide. The company also manufactures industrial rubber and chemical products, sporting goods, and other diversified products. It sells its tires and other products in more than 50 nations.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc. is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. Bridgestone/Firestone, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The companies also produce Firestone air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial fibers and textiles.

Photo:
Simulation of a tire in motion on snow (left) and a computer image of the distribution of the shearing forces that arise between the compacted snow and the tread (right).