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BridgestoneBridgestone has won the “Tire Concept of the Year” award at the 2024 Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence. The award was presented at the Tire Technology Expo in Hannover, Germany, and recognizes Bridgestone’s innovative work on airless tyres designed for lunar exploration.
Developed in partnership with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Toyota, the tyre concept is built to handle the extreme conditions of the Moon, including temperature swings from -170°C to 120°C and rough, rocky surfaces.
Instead of rubber, the tyres use a metal structure that makes them airless and highly durable. This design prevents punctures and allows for strong traction and flexibility in a low-gravity, airless environment. It’s a major advancement for future lunar missions expected to launch later this decade.
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Naotaka Horio, Director of the Moon Exploration Project at Bridgestone, said the award is an honor and a sign of the company’s commitment to space innovation. “Our team is deeply committed to supporting the development of a lunar mobility system,” he said. “This tyre concept reflects our long-term vision of ‘Serving Society with Superior Quality’—even beyond Earth.”
The concept tyre has gone through extensive simulation and testing to ensure it performs well under lunar gravity, which is about one-sixth of Earth’s gravity. It is a continuation of Bridgestone’s legacy of innovation, from motorsport to electric vehicles and now space applications.
The Tire Concept of the Year award is given by a panel of international tyre experts, researchers, and journalists. It honors new designs that are expected to shape the future of the tyre industry. Bridgestone’s entry stood out for its durability, forward-thinking engineering, and readiness for real-world use in space.
As global interest in lunar missions grows through programs like NASA’s Artemis, Bridgestone is positioning itself at the forefront of space mobility solutions. This award is not only a recognition of past achievement, but a step toward building the future of off-Earth transportation.