Tokyo (July 1, 2011) – Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) today announced that it will raise the prices of new truck and bus tires sold in the Japan replacement market an average of 10 percent. At the same time, the prices of retreaded truck and bus tires sold in the Japan replacement market by Bridgestone’s subsidiaries will be increased by 5 percent. Retreaded tires are those vulcanized with new tread rubber for reuse. This price increase applies to both summer and winter tires, and will be effective Sept. 1, 2011.

The increase is attributed to the historic high price levels of raw materials, including natural rubber and petrochemical-based materials such as synthetic rubber and carbon black. Bridgestone has implemented a number of internal measures to mitigate rising raw material prices, such as increased productivity and enhanced manufacturing efficiencies. However, due to the larger portion of natural rubber necessary in the production of truck and bus tires compared to passenger tires and other groups, prices have risen to a level that cannot be overcome entirely through internal measures for these products. As a result, Bridgestone has made the decision to raise prices on new truck and bus tires for the second time this year.

The average percentage of price increase of retreaded tires manufactured and sold by Bridgestone’s subsidiaries is less than that of new tires because of the smaller amount of raw materials newly required in the production of retreaded tires compared to new tires.

Bridgestone Group will continue to implement internal measures to mitigate rising raw material prices, however, if raw material costs remain at high levels, additional price increases may be necessary in the future.

<Definition of Bridgestone’s subsidiaries>
“Subsidiaries” are the companies located in Japan which manufacture and sell retreaded truck and bus tires, and Bridgestone’s ownership ratio of the company, direct or indirect, is more than 50 percent.