World’s Largest Front-End Loader And Mining Tire
Make Their Debut In Wyoming Mine

GILLETTE, Wyo. (Dec. 12, 2002) - LeTourneau, Inc. and Bridgestone/Firestone Off Road Tire Company (BFOR) recently announced the official debut of the L-2350, the world’s largest front-end loader, equipped with the world's largest loader tires, the Firestone 70/70-57.

The mammoth loader and tires were commissioned at the Triton North Rochelle Mine in Gillette, Wyo., on Nov. 22. One key feature that the L-2350 offers Triton North Rochelle is greater flexibility in moving from one location in the pit to another. For example, the L-2350 can move to a new location in 20 minutes compared to a traditional track shovel which may take as long as 12 hours for the same move.

The LeTourneau L-2350 is designed to center-load haul trucks with capacities of up to 400 tons and provides an operating payload of 160,000 pounds, a 24-foot dump clearance and an 11.5-foot reach.

The Firestone 70/70-57 Super Rock Grip Deep Tread tire towers almost 13-feet tall and weighs nearly eight tons. A four-person crew assembles each tire in approximately 17 hours with an additional 24 hours in cure time. The 70/70-57 was designed in cooperation with LeTourneau to specifically meet the requirements of the LeTourneau L-2350.

“We’re excited to see the Firestone 70/70-57 put to work on the LeTourneau loader,” said Manny Cicero, president of BFOR. “This gigantic, history-making machine demanded a tire that could measure up to its stature and capabilities. At Bridgestone/Firestone, we were confident we could create an enormous tire to support and enhance the LeTourneau’s performance.”

Bridgestone/Firestone Off Road Tire Co. is an operating company of Bridgestone/ Firestone North American Tire, LLC, and is solely dedicated to the marketing and sales of earthmoving, mining, construction and industrial tires. As an original equipment and replacement tire supplier, the company offers the industry’s most comprehensive selection of radial and bias off-the-road products, has sales and distribution outlets through more than 1,500 independent and company owned commercial outlets and is a pioneer of proprietary software TreadStat Tire and Rim Management System.