MUSCATINE, Iowa (April 22, 2010) – Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS),
a division of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, is introducing the new
Bridgestone-brand Greatec M825 wide base drive radial with extended tire life and
low cost per mile.

“Building on the success of the Greatec Drive, the new Greatec M825 wide base drive radial is deeper and wider for longer tire life. It’s ideal for weightconscious fleets, like bulk haulers, where the vehicle reaches its gross weight limit while there’s still cargo room left over,” said Chris Hoffman, Manager, TBR & Retread Product Marketing, BBTS. “Because Greatec M825 wide base tires weigh less than the dual assemblies they replace, these fleets may be able to convert weight saved into extra revenue-producing payload. We recommend fleets also consider switching to Greatec R125 wide base trailer radials for all-around weight-saving-advantages.” The wider tread and very deep 29/32˝ tread depth of the M825 distributes weight and torque over a wider area for longer, smoother tire life. The stabilizing solid shoulder design combats side forces that can lead to irregular wear and a stiff, staggered tread block design resists “heel-and-toe” wear.

M825’s rugged tread compound resists squirm while its aggressive tread pattern, which resembles the legendary Bridgestone M726 EL drive pattern, uses buttressed blocks to fight block tearing for even more miles of smooth wear. To enhance retreadability, straight shoulder grooves and an optimized groove design reduce stone retention and groove bottom cracking. In the central tread grooves, casing-saving stone rejector platforms prevent trapped stones from pushing deeper and piercing the belt layer, damaging the belts and exposing them to rust. Thick shoulder ribs on both sides fight curbing damage, protecting the casing. If one side wears away, flip the tire over for continued protection.

The new M825 wide base drive radial is built with the Bridgestone patented Waved BeltTM design that balances stiffness and resiliency to provide a very strong, stable casing that, in turn, produces a remarkably stable footprint shape throughout the life of the tire. In addition, Greatec’s exclusive T.I.P.TM (Turn-In Ply) design wraps the body ply around the bead bundle – an innovation that promotes a stronger, more resilient bead. The new M825 wide base drive radial is available in the 445/50R22.5 size with an “L” load rating. For more information, ask your Bridgestone representative, your dealer or truckstop operator or visit BridgestoneTrucktires.com.