Bridgestone light tire technology on VW Golf 8

Brussels – Two months after debuting its “revolutionary” Enliten tire technology on VW’s all-electric ID.3, Bridgestone is now supplying lightweight tires as OE fitment on the new Volkswage Golf 8.

Launched in Germany in late August, the eighth generation of the iconic hatchback features custom-engineered Turanza Eco tires, using Bridgestone’s Enliten technology, the tire maker announced 8 Sept.

Developed at Bridgestone R&D centre in Rome, Italy, and produced in Spain, the new 205/55R16 91H Turanza Eco tire has been available to the European market since August 2020.

The tires, Bridgestone said, enable a “super low” rolling resistance, lower fuel efficiency, and offer ‘maximised wet and wear performance’ on less raw materials.

In addition, the tires are claimed to improve vehicle handling and driving dynamics through lowered rotating mass.

According to Bridgestone, a combination of "unique materials" and a new mixing process enhances the technology’s compound wear performance, without compromising on grip. 

Furthermore, Enliten also employs a cavity and full 3D pattern design, which Bridgestone says “maximises wet and wear performance.”

According to the tire maker, tires produced using the Enliten technology demonstrate a rolling resistance that is up to 30% lower than a standard premium Bridgestone summer tire.

This contributes, in a combustion engine vehicle, to a reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and significantly extends battery life in an electric vehicle.

In addition, Enliten tires are up to 20% lighter than their equivalent standard tires, reducing the use of raw materials by 2kg while decreasing the environmental footprint of vehicles.

Bridgestone described the new OE fitment as “another milestone” in its long-term partnership with Volkswagen.

“Due to the low driving resistance and low weight of the Turanza Eco… the tire’s impact on driving dynamics – on lower-powered engines in particular – becomes clearly visible,” VP consumer replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, Steven De Bock.

“It is fantastic that we’re able to bring to life the different benefits of Enliten Technology… in collaboration with our long-term partner Volkswagen,” he added.