Firestone Tracks Available at Rudy's Tires

Firestone Farm Tires, a division of Bridgestone Americas, has launched a line of Firestone-brand agricultural rubber tracks as part of its product portfolio.

Bridgestone said the introduction of tracks “solidifies the company’s commitment to the North American farmer,” while its expanded products portfolio reinforces its position as a leader in the ag tire solutions market.

Bridgestone has been manufacturing rubber tracks under the Bridgestone brand in smaller sizes since the 1960s, adding larger application sizes in the 1990s, according to Tony Orlando, president of the Firestone Farm Tires unit. The new Firestone-brand tracks, like those, will be produced in Japan.

“We see tracks as a complement to our ag tire business,” Mr. Orlando told Tire Business. “The addition of tracks to our tire portfolio allows us to provide complete product solutions to the North American farmer.”

Features of Firestone agricultural rubber tracks include:

• Vulcanized lugs — guide lugs and the carcass of the tracks are vulcanized as one piece with a seamless molded radius, which Bridgestone said ensures the guide lugs remain steadfast to the rubber track. Lugs are made of a wear-resistant rubber compound.
• High-performance steel cables — the tracks feature steel cables that are designed to meet modern high-horsepower  farm equipment, offering a precise balance of tensile strength and flexibility for  durability.
• Cut-resistant rubber compounds — tread bars and the main carcass are vulcanized as one piece with a seamless molded radius, allowing the tread bars to remain steadfast to the rubber track, Bridgestone said.
• Pro Edge — the sidewall protection technology used in Firestone agricultural rubber tracks was designed to provide extra protection for the main carcass and additional stiffness.

Firestone tracks are available in three design options: All Traction Class 4 (ride comfort and high traction with more ground contact points), All Traction Class 5 (ride comfort and high traction with more ground contact area) and All Traction Class 6 (improved mud release and is suitable in softer soil conditions).

Firestone agricultural tracks come with a warranty program of four years or 4,000 hours. Distribution of the tracks in North America will be handled by seven distributors that will sell them to qualified dealers, including Firestone Ag Certified Direct Certified Associate Dealers, the company said.