Bridgestone to build new test track facility at Americas technology centre

Akron, Ohio – Bridgestone Americas is planning to expand its Americas technology centre campus to include a new vehicle dynamics test track for the development of future tire technologies.    

The new tire testing facility, said Bridgestone 19 Nov, will support ongoing research and play “an indispensable” role in the tire development work taking place across the Akron campus.

Set for completion in the autumn of 2022, the test track facility will feature multiple vehicle dynamics courses designed to simulate “real-world driving conditions.” 

These include a long straightaway to assess lane change performance; an NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) course to test ride comfort and road noise; and a wet and dry weather handling course. 

According to Bridgestone, the track will enable the team to drive prototypes “first-hand” and gauge the performance of the designed products.

The track will also supplement tire testing operations currently performed at Bridgestone's proving grounds in Texas, Ohio, Mexico, and South America. 

"This new tire test track will support enhanced product education and improve agility in engineering decision-making for our product development process," said Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer and group president, solutions businesses, Bridgestone Americas. 

The track is the latest in a series of investments by Bridgestone to solidify its Akron R&D campus as home to all its research, product development, technology, and core data systems throughout the Americas. 

On the same note, the tire maker said it was nearing the completion of its $17-million (€15-million) investment in an advanced tire production centre at the site.

Scheduled for opening next summer, the centre will manufacture Firestone race tires for the NTT Indycar Series. 

The unit, according to Bridgestone, will feature “state-of-the-art” production technologies to support race tire manufacturing.

The centre, it added, can ‘efficiently produce’ small batches of speciality, prototype tires for testing and development purposes for both racing and on-road applications.