A Brief Bridgestone Timeline

Before we get to the good stuff, it’s helpful to travel back in time a bit and review Bridgestone’s history. And, since the company now owns both the Bridgestone and Firestone tire brands, it’s helpful to recall a few Firestone milestones as well. 

• 1930: Bridgestone was established in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan. By 1934, the company’s Kurume plant was cranking out tires full-time. During the same time period, Firestone began its campaign to “Put the Farm on Rubber” and was marketing the first (practical) low-pressure pneumatic tires to American farmers. 
• 1967: Fast forward to 1967 when the Bridgestone Tire Company of the Americas was formed to serve as the company’s U.S. sales headquarters. During the same era, Firestone hit a record $1.45 billion in sales across 23 countries. By the 1960s, Firestone was manufacturing 3,600 types/sizes of tires, not to mention thousands of other products ranging from seatbelts to plastics, textiles, and chemicals. 

• 1981: Bridgestone founded its first manufacturing plant in the United States by purchasing a former Firestone plant in Tennessee. By 1983, truck and bus tires were rolling off the assembly line. 

• 1988: Bridgestone acquired Firestone and became one of the world’s largest tire and rubber companies. The company continues to produce tires under both brand names today. 
• 2023: Bridgestone consolidated its ag tire divisions into one business unit. (This wouldn’t be a proper timeline without a purely corporate-org-chart entry.)
• 2024: In August, Bridgestone debuted three tractor tire lines in the United States, which are sold through authorized Firestone Dealers. The initial lineup included 41 tire sizes across three product lines.
• 2026: Bridgestone will begin manufacturing its tractor tire line in the United States in Des Moines, Iowa. (The company currently produces its tires in Europe.) The company will also expand the number of sizes offered in the row-crop segment.

A Good Reason to be King of the Road 

For people not familiar with the ag tire industry, it might seem strange that tire companies are engineering tires designed with road performance and longevity in mind. Bridgestone has marketed tractor tires in Europe since 2014, and from the initial tire launch, on-road performance has been a key focus of the brand. It makes perfect sense when you consider that many European farmers spend a lot of time on the road. 

From the autobahn to the autostrade, Europeans love high-speed travel, and farmers there are no different. With overall narrower equipment due to smaller fields and country roads, European farm equipment places an emphasis on speed. Both transport and fieldwork happen at a faster clip across the pond. 

If you’ve kept up with our blog over the years, you know what we’re about to say: The majority of a farm tire’s wear happens on the road. On American farms, travel distances and time on the road have both increased throughout the last decade. And this trend shows no signs of slowing down. Longer distances between fields and the need for more speed is here to stay. So, a premium tire designed to handle the stress of road travel—while also offering suitable traction in the field—may be just what the market ordered.

A Look Inside Bridgestone’s Tractor Tire Technology 

Similar to its sister brand Firestone, Bridgestone has positioned its tractor tires as premium products. We haven’t mounted a ton of these yet, since they’re relatively new to us. However, early customers have commented about the long, beefy lugs, which should translate to increased traction in the field. And, in our experience, beefier lugs can lead to a smoother ride on the road, especially when combined with a slightly lower void ratio (less space between the lugs). 

Triple Defense Rubber Compound

Every tire begins with some variation of a chemical soup, and Bridgestone’s latest formula features vegetable oils in the recipe. The company calls it “Triple Defense” because it’s engineered to resist stubble damage, provide longer wear, and increase durability. The last two points are especially important for farmers who do a lot of roading. Plus, there’s also more rubber to begin with. According to company testing, Bridgestone’s VX Tractor tire has 20% greater lug volume than competing models from Michelin and Trelleborg. 

Involute Lug Design

Search the Web for the definition of “involute” in its geometry sense and you’ll get a bunch of math equations that will make you want to quickly close your browser tab. However, it’s worth mentioning here because Bridgestone’s patented involute lug shape is designed to both increase traction and improve efficiency. The leading edge of the lug is curved in a way so that it increases the lug area that’s in contact with the soil as it enters the ground. As the lug exits the ground, the same lug angle allows it to lift straight out of the soil rather than flinging dirt as it’s yanked out. According to Bridgestone, this translates to lower drag and less rolling resistance. 

Comfort Enhanced Design

In both VF and non-VF versions, Bridgestone’s tractor tires incorporate flexible sidewalls that cushion you from road impacts while traveling down the road. As we like to say, it’s  better to drink your coffee than to wear it. If you look closely at a Bridgestone’s tread face, you’ll notice that the lugs overlap generously in the center of the tread, which also helps smooth out the ride. 

The Bridgestone Tractor Tire Lineup

There are three tractor tire models in Bridgestone’s lineup—the VT-TRACTOR, the VX-TRACTOR, and the VX-R TRACTOR.

Bridgestone VT-TRACTOR

Launched in Europe in 2014, the VT-TRACTOR line includes 6 sizes out of the gate for the U.S., designed for high-horse tractors, either 4WD or MFWD. The tires are rated to run loaded at 23 psi. As the chart below illustrates, according to company testing, the VT-TRACTOR saves fuel and time in the field versus the competition*.

Bridgestone VX-TRACTOR

Launched in Europe in 2018, the VX-TRACTOR drops on American shores with 27 sizes available. Designed for 4WD tractors and high-horse MFWDs, the VX is projected to offer a 45% longer service life when compared to a top competitor—the Michelin MACHXBIB, according to company testing. After some careful measuring, the VX-TRACTOR was also found to pack 20% more lug volume than the Michelin MACHXBIB or Trelleborg TM900. The VX-TRACTOR line is designed to carry rated loads at 35 psi. 

The ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) recently awarded the VX-TRACTOR a 2025 AE50 award. Each year, a panel of engineering and technical experts review a wide range of products intended for the agriculture industry and choose 50 products that embody innovation and engineering expertise and are likely to have a positive impact on the industry. The VX-TRACTOR joins a host of other products on the 2025 list including the LEXION 8900TT Combine, Precision Planting’s ReconBlockage™ for Strip Till, and the Walkabout Mother Bin—a 6,000-bushel grain cart that’s not a grain cart. You can see the full list of award winners here. 

Bridgestone VX-R TRACTOR

Launched in Europe in 2023, the VX-R TRACTOR is a baby brother to the VX-TRACTOR. Designed for low-horsepower tractors, the VX-R TRACTOR is designed to put down a wider footprint than competitors, with the tires’ advertised section widths measured at ground level instead of being measured a few inches above the ground.

The VX-R TRACTOR line is designed to carry rated loads at 23 psi. All around, the VX-R TRACTOR is positioned as a premium tire for smaller tractors. 

The Bridgestone Tractor Tire Warranty

In keeping with Bridgestone’s desire to be a top premium option in the U.S. ag tire market, its tires come with a robust 10-year prorated warranty. (Coverage is in full for the first two years and prorated after that up to year 10.) Bridgestone tractor tires also roll with the same field hazard and stubble policy that Firestone confers on its radials. We’ll spare you the fine print here. If you do have a warranty, stubble, or hazard issue with any brand of ag tire, our in-house warranty department will take up your claim with the manufacturer and save you the paperwork headache.

Finding the Right Tractor Tires for Your Farm

Bridgestone (and its sister brand Firestone) are among the spendier tires that we sell, which makes sense—tire models such as the Bridgestone VT or Firestone Maxi Traction incorporate the latest technology, from VF ratings to advanced rubber compounds designed to withstand farming’s most severe conditions. Ag tires are similar to any other product or service—you get what you pay for. 

Shopping for tractor tires for your tillage workhorse or planting tractor? It makes sense to spend the money on top-of-the-line VF tires to minimize soil compaction and maximize traction. Travel long distances between fields? Likewise, it will probably pay to invest in a tire, such as the Bridgestone VT-TRACTOR, VX-TRACTOR, or VX-R TRACTOR, designed to stretch your tire investment over as many seasons as possible. If performance problems are dogging you in the field or on the road, call and speak with one of our tire experts. We’ll connect you with the Right Tire System to Drive Your Farm Forward.