Bridgestone opens $3M Akron training hub as tire retread industry fights for workers. Published on October 30, 2026 Bandag Learning Center - Other Designated Training Location Google Street View Bridgestone Americas has opened a new $3 million Bandag Training Center at its Akron campus, a nearly 15,000-square-foot facility built to teach hundreds of tire dealers, fleet workers and company employees the craft of retreading commercial truck tires every year. The center sits inside Bridgestone's tire test laboratory, right next to the company's Advanced Tire Production Center, putting hands-on training steps away from the research side of the business. According to cleveland.com, the facility is designed to provide training on the benefits of retread tires, equipment, and related processes. The outlet reports the space is expected to train hundreds of industry professionals annually, a notable scale-up for a company looking to feed trained workers back into a stretched supply chain. Per a Bridgestone announcement distributed via PR Newswire, the center includes production-scale retread manufacturing equipment along with stations built to walk trainees through each of the ten individual retreading steps. There's also a classroom and what the company calls the Bandag history walk, tracing the brand's roots inside the new space. Bridgestone says that when classes aren't in session, it plans to use the facility as an additional site for tire-retreading innovation work. What actually happens inside the center. The Bandag process itself relies on pre-vulcanized tread rubber, which is applied to a worn tire's casing and then vulcanized onto it, a method also known as precure, according to Bridgestone's corporate news site. At the Akron center, rotating wheels press that tread against the casing to eliminate air pockets, as documented in photos and reporting from Rubber News. The Akron Beacon Journal reports the facility sits at 1690 Firestone Parkway and will train commercial fleet and tire dealer professionals alongside Bridgestone and Bandag employees. The outlet's report also notes that the full demonstrated process, start to finish, takes about five to six hours. Bandag itself became a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas back in 2007, the Beacon Journal notes, giving the Akron campus a direct lineage to the brand now anchoring its newest training investment. As Crain's Cleveland Business reported, the new Akron center puts a spotlight on a process that's existed for decades but is getting fresh investment attention now. The Akron facility becomes Bridgestone's second designated Bandag Training Center, joining the existing Bandag Learning Center in Muscatine, Iowa, according to the company's own announcement. Bridgestone says the two locations together are meant to expand access to training and technical resources as demand grows. An industry under pressure. The timing lines up with broader strain across the retreading business. U.S. truck tire retreaders are navigating rising operating costs, labor shortages, and sustained pricing pressure from low-cost imported new tires, according to FleetOwner. Even so, the outlet notes that demand for retreads has remained steady in many regions as fleets focus on controlling costs and extending the life of their tire casings. FleetOwner's reporting also found that companies across the sector have responded to those cost pressures by consolidating operations, improving process efficiency, and investing in larger, more productive facilities, a trend the new Akron center fits squarely into. The new Akron center is one investment in Bridgestone's retread network. The environmental pitch behind the investment. Bridgestone frames the training push as part of a larger sustainability argument for retreading. Since 1957, Bandag retread efforts have helped divert more than 300 million tires from landfills, the company said in its announcement covered by cleveland.com. Compared with manufacturing new tires, Bridgestone has said retread tires can reduce the consumption of raw materials such as natural rubber by two-thirds. The company has also pointed to industry-wide savings tied to the practice. Bridgestone says the retreading industry saves fleets more than $3 billion annually and conserves more than 217 million gallons of oil each year, according to figures reported by Fleet Equipment Magazine. Those numbers are part of the broader case Bridgestone is making for why training more retreaders, not just building more retread plants, matters to the industry's future.

Brisa swings to profit as third-quarter earnings grow. 29 Oct 2026 Turkish tire maker reports 41% rise in quarterly net profit helped by premium tire sales and efficiency gains Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish tire maker Brisa returned to profit in the first nine months of 2026, supported by higher sales volumes, an improved product mix and operational efficiency gains. The Bridgestone-Sabanci joint venture reported a net profit of TRY807 million (€14 million) for the nine months to 30 Sept, compared with a loss of TRY1.2 billion a year earlier. In the third quarter, net profit rose 41% year-on-year to TRY532 million, while earnings (EBITDA) increased 12% to TRY2.43 billion, Brisa announced 26 Oct. Quarterly sales declined 2% year-on-year to TRY13.47 billion, but the tire maker saw earnings margin improve to 18%, from 15.8% a year earlier. For the nine-month period, sales increased 2% to TRY38.74 billion, while earnings rose 27% to TRY5.89 billion. Brisa attributed the improved performance to increased sales volumes, a favourable product mix led by higher-value tires and operational efficiency gains. The company said it had increased its market share across all core segments in Turkey, with growth in high-value-added products reaching twice the overall market rate. "We strengthened both our market position and profitability through our strong customer focus, efficient capacity utilisation, targeted channel strategy, and disciplined cost and balance sheet management," said CEO Vecih Yilmaz. "In particular, our performance in high value-added products exceeded market growth, validating our strategic focus on this segment," he added. Brisa also reported gains in international markets, particularly in Eastern and Central Europe, through its Lassa brand. "With our Lassa brand, we also delivered strong performance in international markets, particularly in Eastern and Central Europe," Yilmaz said. The company gained market share in 18 countries during the period, while continuing to expand in European and non-European markets. * Every issue of European Rubber Journal (6 issues) including Special Reports & Maps. * Unlimited access to ERJ articles online * Daily email newsletter - the latest news direct to your inbox * Access to the ERJ online archive

2027 Bridgestone Battlax Adventure A42 tyres launched - 25% longer wear life, 14% better wet performance. Bridgestone has unveiled the Battlax Adventure A42, a new road-focused adventure motorcycle tyre with improved wet grip, longer wear life and reduced noise over the outgoing A41. The new tyres will launch in markets worldwide from January 1, 2027, followed by Japan on February 1. Malaysian availability and pricing have yet to be announced. The Battlax Adventure A42 is designed for adventure riders who spend most of their time on paved roads, from daily commuting to long-distance touring. Compared with the A41, Bridgestone claims 14% less rear-wheel slip during wet acceleration, 18% longer front tyre life and 25% longer rear tyre life. Tyre noise is also reduced by 15%. The improvements come from new rubber compounds and a revised tread pattern. The front compound uses a flexible polymer to improve road contact, while the rear compound prioritises wear resistance. Optimised silica and carbon content aim to balance wet grip and durability. The new tread pattern incorporates Bridgestone's Pulse Groove technology to improve water drainage, while a revised groove layout balances wet performance, handling, tyre life and noise reduction. Bridgestone also reports improvements in dry grip, contact feel and handling compared to the previous generation A41. The 2027 range starts with six sizes, with another three front and rear sizes added in 2028. This comprises of front sizes in 90/90-21 M/C 54V TL, 110/80 R19 M/C 59V TL and 120/70 R19 M/C 60V TL. Rear options are 150/70 R17 M/C 69V TL UM, 150/70 ZR18 M/C 70W TL and 170/60 R17 M/C 72V TL. The range expands ithe following year with front sizes 90/90-21 M/C 54V TL UM, 100/90-19 M/C 57V TL UM, 120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) TL and 120/70 ZR19 M/C 60W TL. Rear sizes will be 130/80 R17 M/C 65H TL UM, 140/80 R17 M/C 69V TL UM, 150/70 R18 M/C 70V TL UM, 160/60 ZR17 M/C (69W) TL and 170/60 ZR17 M/C 72W TL, with TL denoting tubeless construction, while UM sizes require an inner tube when fitted to tube-type rims.