BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE ANNOUNCES CANADA, U.S. PRICE INCREASES

Mississauga (Ontario), March 27, 2006 - Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. (BFCA) and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) have jointly announced price increases on the companies' Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, associate and private brand tire lines. The announced increases, up to 5 percent on passenger and light truck, truck and bus, and agricultural and off-the-road tires, will affect the replacement, original equipment and export channels. The price increases are scheduled to take effect beginning May 1.

According to Asahiko "Duke" Nishiyama, President of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., parent company of BFCA and BFNT, "Our tire companies continue to face unprecedented increases in raw material costs, especially in natural rubber, carbon black and fabrics such as polyester and nylon. This situation has given us no choice but to take this action. Unfortunately, the impact of these rising costs simply can not be offset by the enhanced efficiencies and increased productivity that we continue to implement at all levels of our companies."

About Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc.:
Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. BFCA manufactures and markets a broad array of Bridgestone and Firestone brand tires and markets Dayton brand products through a coast-to-coast network of dealers, company-owned stores and distributors.

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC.:
Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.