Bridgestone to showcase lunar rover tire developments at Space Symposium

Tokyo, Japan – Bridgestone Corp. will exhibit its latest developments in lunar rover tire technology at the 41st Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, taking place 13–16 April.

In a 7 April statement, Bridgestone said it has been developing tires for lunar rovers since 2019, alongside “co-creation activities with domestic and international partners” aimed at commercialisation.

The group signed a collaboration agreement with Astrobotic Technology in 2024 and a basic agreement with ispace in 2025.

At the event, Bridgestone will demonstrate “elastic wheels” for small and medium-sized lunar rovers.

Visitors will be able to “see and touch” the tires and assess their performance on simulated lunar terrain, including “fine sand and rocky, rough terrain.”

According to Bridgestone, the tires are designed to deliver “high traversability” under challenging surface conditions.

The development forms part of Bridgestone’s work to extend its “AirFree” tire technology, which it described as “an exploratory business” under its mid-term plan.

Bridgestone added that it aims to apply technologies developed for the “extreme lunar environment” to tires used on Earth.

The group will present at the Japanese Space Industry pavilion, organised by JAXA, marking its third consecutive year at the event since 2024.