NEED NEW TIRES?
Bridgestone Brand Campaign Kicks Off In Time For National Car Care Month And Tire Safety Week

Mississauga (Ontario), April 21, 2005 - Need new tires? Bridgestone/Firestone Canada Inc (BFCA) is offering an enticing promotion for those who need new tires (or for those who want better tires). Effective immediately through May 13, the Need New Tires^TM promotion will offer a rebate of up to $100 with the purchase of four select Bridgestone brand tires.

"At Bridgestone Firestone we understand the difference between wants and needs," said Michael Sigillito, director, Consumer Tire Marketing for Bridgestone/Firestone Canada Inc. "Tires are certainly a necessity: they support the load of your vehicle, when properly inflated they offer fuel savings which is critical with today's skyrocketing gas prices, and tires offer peace of mind when selected with key attributes such as wet traction design, Run-Flat technology or specific compounds or design for better grip in rugged or difficult terrain.

"We also recognize that tires can be a want: to offer better handling, better performance or as a matter of personal style," added Sigillito. "The concept of the 'Need New Tires' promotion was born out of the fact that tires are often critically overlooked and that they should not be taken for granted."

The Need New Tires campaign begins just as the automotive aftermarket industry celebrates in May the National Car Care Month with a renewed focus on building consumer car care awareness. Car Care Canada spearheads the effort through a consumer education campaign, "Be Car Care Aware," which promotes the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair.

In addition, the Rubber Association of Canada highlights tire maintenance and safety issues during Be Tire Smart Week, April 24-30, 2005.

Thousands of tire and auto service outlets across Canada participate in the RAC's initiative through the distribution of educational brochures and other efforts to promote tire and auto safety. Bridgestone Firestone participates in tire maintenance and safety efforts through its retail tire centers and its Web site www.tiresafety.com. For more information on the Need New Tires campaign, please visit www.bridgestonetire.com, your local Bridgestone or Firestone retailer or call 1-866-9GO-TIRE for additional details.

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, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. They are focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agriculture and other tires to their customers in the United States and Canada respectively.