Bridgestone Tyres U.K.

[ziggy stardust]

Having read Coxy's recent post about Bridgestone tyres I logged onto the Bridgestone Tyres U.K. site last week to check things out. On the home page there is a drop down menu listing all manufactures of motorcycles so you can match tyres for your bike, there were many makes I'd never heard of but one particular name was missing. Yes you've guessed it..... Bridgestone.

As there was a contact email address I pointed this out to them mentioning their past motorcycle manufacturing history, I also mentioned the world wide growing interest in classic motorcycle restoration that included Bridgestones and how grateful we BS owners would be if we could fit Bridgestone tyres to our bikes rather than the likes of Avon and others.

To date no response.

Z

[reed]

Lee,
I did this last year and i got a response and it was said in a very nice way to buy Avon tires.
Thanks.
Steve.

[slawsonb]

Aren't there Bridgestone Metric sizes that would work, or is it the 19 inch rear that's the issue? I know they aren't the orig version, but this might work and an 18 inch rim from a 175/200 might allow finding a current replacement. Food for thought.
After reading about this and other interactions with Bridgestone on this topic, it's almost as if they are intentionally denying the existence of their motorcycle lines. You would think that this would be good PR with the performance legacy that this mark has.
Guess it doesn't have to make sense, and it doesn't. 
...bert

[reed]

Bert,
Its the 19 inch rear unusual size for a rear but i do have 2 sets of bridgestone tires like new but 40 years old!!
I have Avon on one of my Bridgestone 350 GTR good tires.
Thanks.
Steve.

[OldSwartout]

Guess it doesn't have to make sense, and it doesn't. 
...bert

The business case is probably very poor. It probably costs $100,000+ for a mold for each tire, and to do it right you have to have front and rear types. Given that there is probably a market for 1000 sets (maybe), the selling price would have  to be in the neighborhood of $200/tire or more to account for engineering, production, shipping, distribution and profit. Ask Ray and Richard; the cost for 100 clutch plate sets was $20,000 and they donated many hours of their time.  Bridgestone might be willing to write off a little as PR, but how much do you get from 4000 BS enthusiasts in he overall scheme of a worldwide company with millions of customers.

The best bet would be to buy a Kenda, Avon or Heidenau with a similar tread pattern, grind off the name, glue on letters cut off a Bridgestone modern tire. You could fool the casual observer, but don't count on winning at Pebble Beach.   

[ziggy stardust]

I know Bridgestone won't tool up just to make us GTR enthusiasts happy but there may be a tyre or two that will fit a smaller Bridgestone? I was just testing their PR for a response that could have been interesting but wasn't surprised to hear nothing.

Z 

[slawsonb]

All true, but still sad. I guess the business side will inevitably win in a case like this.
You're right Karl, the 4000 of us will not generate enough goodwill to make this worthwhile (or drive much incremental demand for that matter).
In my experience not all projects are justified solely based on their ROI, but apparently Bridgestone does not value their motorcycle manufacturing heritage enough to make such an investment.
Sometimes I hate reality.
...bert

[moonpup]

OK, time for Plan B.

Buy this, send it to BS Corp. headquarters with return postage paid and ask them please fill it up! 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Bridgestone-MOTORCYCLE-TIRE-DISPLAY-RACK-Sign-Tin-Gas-Oil-Advertising-/390970437105?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b07a76df1#ht_70wt_1161

[OldSwartout]

, but apparently Bridgestone does not value their motorcycle manufacturing heritage enough to make such an investment.
Sometimes I hate reality.
...bert

Unfortunately, there is probably no one currently working at Bridgestone that was involved in the motorcycle manufacturing business, so absolutely no one there even feels a connection to the motorcycles.

[slawsonb]

Again, I agree. The kind of projects I'm referring to do require a relatively highly placed sponsor with a budget to throw around.

...bert

[reed]

I know that Bridgestone looks at this site because this site puts Bridgestone motorcycles back on the map.
They will use more of there motorcycles at the shows etc.
Thanks.
Steve.