NEW BRIDGESTONE TIRE WHISPERS "SUMMER AWAITS YOU"
Leave winter blues behind on new Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position tires

Mississauga (Ontario), March 13, 2006 - With months of dreary winter weather and being trapped indoors nearly eventually coming to an end, the driving enthusiast in you is itching to turn up the tunes, throw the top down, hit the gas and see where the road takes you. While waiting for the last snow to melt, you'll want to make sure you have the ultra high performance summer tires your spring break escape will demand.

The all new Bridgestone® Potenza RE050A Pole Position is that tire. Featuring Bridgestone's exclusive UNI-T® Technology, this ultra high performance tire is designed to achieve superior wet and dry performance – including handling, response, cornering, traction and braking – for premium high performance sport cars, all summer long.

"Our engineers and designers incorporated the best technology in creating the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position, and we're excited to bring it to consumers," said Phil Pacsi, executive director, North American consumer tire marketing for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT). "This extension of the Potenza Pole Position family line is the perfect tire for the selective ultra high performance enthusiast on a summer drive – across town or across the finish line."

Features and benefits of the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position include:

UNI-T is an acronym for "Ultimate Network of Intelligent Tire Technology" found only in Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and select associate brand tires. One of its core technologies is a Computer Optimized Component System, CO·CS, which uses a super computer to help determine an ideal combination of tread design, casing shape, materials and construction for a particular application.

The use of L.L. Carbon (Long Link Carbon), an advanced form of carbon black, produces a stronger tire, better able to resist cracking, chipping, tearing and excessive wear.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position is available in the following sizes (as of February 2006). The size offering will provide coverage for a wide variety of late model sports cars and performance sedans.

About Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc.:
Mississauga-based Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. (BFCA) is an affiliate of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT). BFCA and Nashville, Tennessee-based BFNT are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFCA and BFNT develop, manufacture and market Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. They are focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to their customers in Canada and the United States respectively.

For a downloadable image of the tire, please visit:
http://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/news/2006/06images/bspotenzare050app.tif