Bridgestone India launches fuel efficient tyres Ecopia

Bridgestone India launched the new Ecopia EP150 and EP850 tyres on October 7, 2015. The company claims that Ecopia tyres are more fuel efficient than conventional tyres, the EP150 provides 7 pc better fuel efficiency while the EP850 provides 10 pc better fuel efficiency. The tyres have been manufactured by combining light and strong materials, which result in reduced carbon emissions and better mileage.

The word Ecopia has been derived from a combination of “Ecology” and “Utopia” and is one of Bridgestone’s flagship brands to represent the company’s eco friendly initiatives. The Ecopia range of tyres use unique compounds and cutting edge technology in the tread design which has led to better fuel efficiency, lower rolling resistance, improved safety and durability.

The EP150 series of tyres are meant for passenger vehicles while the EP850 series will cater to the SUV segment of the Indian car market. The company claims the EP150 series improves fuel efficiency by 7 pc and will enable cost savings thanks to a better mileage. The Ecopia series deliver better fuel efficiency thanks to a lighter weight and lower roll resistance of tires. This however does not compromise on other areas of performance. An internal test conducted by the company proves the Ecopia series of tyres provide better braking power and more control in wet conditions when compared with conventional tyres. The tyre tread also has an optimised 3D block shape which pushes aside water and reduces the effects of hydroplaning. The tread also comprises of RIB – linked blocks which provide a uniform road contact.

The EP850 series which is meant for SUVs improves fuel efficiency by 10 pc and also has better performance results than conventional tyres. Ecopia tyres are available in 26 sizes for now which will be expanded in the coming years. The sizes presently range from 13” to 18” rim diameter. Though the Ecopia series is available in a few international markets (China and Indonesia being the largest for the product) the Indian version has been launched after 1 year of product testing. The Indian Ecopia variant has been customised to country specific conditions, like increased durability and ware.

The fuel savings which has been enabled by Ecopia series of tyres contributes to Bridgestone’s global goal of improving tyre rolling resistance by 25 pc by 2020. Kazuhiko Mimura, MD, Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd. said “The Company’s environmental mission statement ‘To help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations’ has been the driving force behind the launch of Ecopia in India. The Ecopia series provides better fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions apart from being highly durable and exhibiting excellent road performance”. As of April 2015 Bridgestone has sold more than 10 million Ecopia tyres in the Asia Pacific region. Even though the Ecopia series is not 100pc localised the majority of production takes place in India with a few parts being imported from Thailand. The EP150 series will be manufactured in Bridgestone’s kheda, Madhya Pradesh plant while the EP850 series will be manufactured from their Chakan, Pune plant.