Bridgestone Americas Tire Operation’s Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division (BAAG), has announced price increases on all Firestone branded agricultural, construction and forestry tires as well as all Bridgestone branded garden tires sold in the United States and Canada replacement markets.

BAAG will increase prices by 5 percent, with possible specific in-line adjustments in excess of 5 percent. The increase will be effective April 1, 2010.

“In order to remain a viable supplier in the agricultural, forestry and industrial markets, we will continue to review our pricing structure and make quarterly adjustments as needed,” said Tom Rodgers, Director of Marketing, BAAG.

About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:

Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.

About Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:

Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division (BAAG), Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, is the industry leader in the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of market-leading Firestone agricultural tires. BAAG’s Des Moines, Iowa, facility is located in the heart of America’s farm belt and supplies approximately half of the agricultural tires consumed by North American original equipment manufactures as well as being the leading agricultural tire supplier in the North American replacement market. Firestone agricultural tires can be found on farm tractors, planting and harvesting equipment and other farm implements in North America and around the world. In addition BAAG markets and sells forestry, ATV and construction tires. BAAG also operates a testing facility, located in Columbiana, Ohio, which is the only facility in the world solely dedicated to the development and testing of agricultural tires.