real answers competition - Bridgestone EUROPE

SEPTEMBER ’99REALANSWERSEDITORIALALWAYS FURTHER!Real Answers n°4 ! Already fouropportunities to win the qualityBridgestone Motorsport Jackets,polo’s or T-shirts…This time Real Answers has decidedto go much further! Ontop of the numerous BridgestoneMotorsport gifts, a Formula OneGrand Prix “Grand Stand” ticketfor two people (including transport& hotel accomodation) willbe offered to the top 4 winners ofthe Real Answers competition.DIRECT FLEETCONTACTBridgestone’s strategy to prove its superior performance,by becoming directly involved with the Fleet managementas a partner to reduce operating costsMichael Muehlbauer is a Bridgestone AreaSales-representative in the South-East ofGermany. Only about six months after hejoined Bridgestone/Firestone in 1994, hebecame solely responsible for his salesarea,and he started to practice direct fleetcontact, with the efficient collaboration ofthe local tyre dealers.The best way to compare tyre performancesBy using this direct fleet contact, theBridgestone salesman provides a serviceto Fleets, by closely following and monitoringthe performance of tyres on differentvehicles in a fleet. The goal is to highlightthe performance advantage of ourBridgestone tyres compared with otherbrands.With good support from the tyre dealer, whohas the best knowledge of the fleet, thisprofessional tyre monitoring is the best wayto bring to the fleet manager the real factshe needs to compare tyre performances.Bridgestone’s Mr Muehlbauer checkingtyre wear rateAn extensive data base with detailedworksheets on every testFrom the time he began until now, MichaelMuehlbauer has set up monitoring testscovering about 60 vehicles in 29 fleets. Hisfiling system is filled with folders, in which hekeeps all relevant files. He has a detailedworksheet for every test, which next to all thedata, even includes a picture of the vehicle.CONTENTSDIRECT FLEET CONTACT . . . . . . . 1PRODUCT FOCUS R297 . . . . . . . 2HUNGAROCAMION . . . . . . . . . . . 3MAKING A TYRE . . . . . . . . . . . 4RECAUCHUTAGEM 31 . . . . . . . . 5STAF CARS AND BRIDGESTONE . 6MARTIN’S TECHNICAL TIPS . . . 7IMPRESSED BY BRIDGESTONE . 8Monitor tyre performance, a good way for all the fleetsto reduce the cost per kmHis detailed reports of the resulting performancecomparison, have helped him toincrease the BS share in some fleets from30% to a stunning 100%. It was the naturalconsequence of his proving to the fleetoperator that Bridgestone tyres gave himlower costs per km – it made sense to putthese tyres on all the vehicles in his fleet inorder to maximise the benefit for the wholefleet.(Continued on page 5) ➧

PRODUCTFOCUS R297R297 is proving itself to be another winner interms of bringing Real Answers to fleets. R227has already made a name for itself for its excellentperformance with long distance truck usersand now the R297 is winning admirers amongregional users.The R297 is a specially designed highwaysteer-tyre that brings real answers to regionaltruck operators and drivers, where the competitivedistribution market means that reliabilityand wear life are major factors affecting tyrechoice. A large proportion of truck use is inthe regional delivery market, with a mixture ofMotorway/A and B roads mainly used to transportgoods efficiently to their destination.Wear rates on tyres during these operationsare higher than on mainly motorway use.R297 has been developed for vehicles wherethe tyre-wear rate is relatively high, with anumber of Bridgestone technologies beingused to give the best possible performance.conditions, while providing excellent handlingand all-round drive-ability.Dual-sipe technology is used to give theR297 a high number of sipes (water-carryinggrooves across the ribs of the tyre) whichquickly remove water from between the tyreand the road. This improves wet handlingand braking, and the dual sipes’ uniqueshape reduces the possibility of picking upsmall stones or gravel. While the casing isdesigned to ensure high safety levels withmaximum comfort and superior ride handling,an additional kerb protector keeps thesidewall in good condition (which is importantfor later retreading).Combine the R297 with the BridgestoneM729 on the drive axle, and you have theperfect set-up for long wear life and excellenthandling.The tread pattern was developed to givethe best grip performance in wet and dryWear rates on regional operation arehigher than on mainly-motorway usageTRUCK POINTA new network of tyre dealers toimprove service to European fleetsBridgestone New GenerationTyre for Regional usesTruck Point dealers in EuropeAt the end of 1998, Bridgestone/Firestonelaunched its European Truck Point system.Its ambitious objective is to create a partnershipnetwork with independent truck tyredealers to provide a professional tyre serviceto international fleets throughout Europe.800 truck tyre dealers in Germany, France,Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgiumand the Netherlands are already members ofTruck Point. The initial target of covering allWestern European countries with a network of1,000 dealers by the end of this year will soon bemore than achieved.High service quality and a strong geographicalpresence are the two main benefitsthat Bridgestone/Firestone can offer fleets interms of added value.If you would like further details aboutthe Truck Point network, please contactBridgestone/Firestone (address on last page).

ON-THE-ROAD EXPERIENCE:HUNGAROCAMIONHungarocamion is a diversified common and contract carrier, operating throughoutEurope since 1966. They provide a long distance and regional haulage service, togetherwith warehousing and dedicated fleet distribution for a wide variety of customers.As the largest fleet in their country, RealAnswers asked them their point of view ontyre maintenance problems.How do Hungarocamion look at maintenance?“One of the biggest changes is our approachto component life. Now that tractors arelasting longer, we’ve pretty much stoppedrebuilding them. In many cases, we’re readyto replace a truck long before it needs to berebuilt. Ideally, we’d like every component tolast at least four or five years.”And the tyres?“We’ve been using Bridgestone M729 driveradials for some time, because they easilyoutperform the competition in terms of lifeand other performance. We use BridgestoneR227 on steers, as most of our work is longdistancehaulage through Europe. They giveexcellent mileage, and our drivers tell us thatthey handle well in all conditions.”Is fuel economy a big concern?“Certainly, but we believe the way to achieveit is by maintaining regular speed and minimizingidling time. Although we tried fuelefficienttyres, we found that they didn’t lastas long. And, in spite of what the test datashowed, we made very few savings when wetried the tyres in the real world. For us, thebenefits just weren’t there.”Can that change?“Absolutely. In fact, if there’s one thing that’scertain, it’s that things are going to change.Nothing stays the same. And the biggest partof my job is trying to manage change.”Can you give us an example?“Of course. Ten years ago, who would havebelieved that a truck could have an on-boardcomputer? Or ABS? Or an automatic transmission?Who knows what’s around the nextcorner?”Mr. Barnabás, thank you for sharing yourexperience with us. As we can see, youclearly approach change positively. Ourthanks to everyone at Hungarocamion.FROM JAPAN TO IRELAND,BY… BICYCLE !A Japanese cyclist sponsored by Bridgestone/Firestone Irelandcycled over 12,000 km from Japan to Ireland and arrived in Dublin last yearMr. Yasuyuki Ozeki left Osaka, Japan in April1998 and cycled through China, Mongoliaand the Gobi Desert, Siberia, the Ural Mountains,Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark,Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Franceand Great Britain on his way to Ireland.Yasuyuki had dreamed of cycling from Japanto Ireland ever since a holiday there someyears ago. “I realised that the Irish culturewas very different from the Japanese culturethat I grew up with – the slower pace of lifeappeals to me. Through my journey acrossthe Eurasian continent I wanted to bring thetwo cultures a little closer together”, saysYasuyuki.Bridgestone/Firestone Ireland agreed to supportYasuyuki with a state-of-the-art alloyBridgestone bicycle and funds for his trip.Yasuyuki requested that the bicycle be paintedthe green white and orange of the Irishflag.Yasuyuki also became a star of a top ratedIrish radio programme, 2FM’s Gerry RyanShow, phoning in reports along the way.The journey was carried out single-handedlywith no back-up or support vehicles. On theway Yasuyuki passed through ten time-zonesand some very inhospitable and dangerousareas.Mr. Yasuyuki Ozeki after completing his mammothjourney from Japan to Ireland“I didn’t really think about the dangers. I justconcentrated on ending my journey with apint of Guinness in a Dublin pub”, concludedYasuyuki.“This was an incredible journey, particularlyas Yasuyuki was completely alone”, said JohnMoane, Managing Director of Bridgestone/Firestone Ireland. “We are delighted that hisBridgestone bicycle was able to withstandsuch a gruelling journey, mirroring the longevityof our tyres”.Yasuyuki, who left Osaka on April 16 th 1998,finished his journey at the Guinness HopStore 5 months later.3

MAKING A TYREPART 1: TYRE MATERIALSA SCANIASALESMANWINS 2 TICKETSTO SILVERSTONE !Bridgestone tyres are often specifiedby purchasers of new trucks. All truckbrands can fit Bridgestone as originalfittings, if specified.In one case, a Scania salesman fromGraham (Commercials) Ltd, in Carlisle(UK), generated many Bridgestone originalequipment fitments, by telling hiscustomers about the Bridgestone range.The reward for his contribution is a starprize: he has won 2 Grand Stand ticketsfor the Formula One Grand Prix atSilverstone, which was held on July 11 th .A LITTLE BIT OF RUBBER HISTORYThe history of tyre development is very much relatedto the history of the use of rubber. In 1770,Joseph Priestly discovered rubber’s ability toerase pencil writing and invented the rubbereraser. In 1888, John Boyd Dunlop invented thefirst pneumatic tyre. At the start of this century,in August 1900, Harvey S. Firestone foundedthe Firestone Tyre & Rubber Company. The historyof Bridgestone started in the early 1930’s,when Shojiro Ishibashi founded the first Japanesetyre manufacturing plant. Before that,he had produced typically-Japanese rubbersoledsocks.Rubber and tyre technology has now evolvedto such an extent that, by controllingchemical properties and the use of syntheticrubber, tyre performance can be influencedand designed to meet the tough requirementsof modern truck operators.a rubbermoleculeFor instance, the tread cap compound needsto resist wear and tear, the base compoundmust ensure cool driving, the sidewall has tobe flexible and ozone resistant and theinnerliner needs to hold air (in tubeless tyres).All these different functions require differentcompound characteristics and thereforedifferent ingredients as well as preparationprocesses.The reinforcement group comprises the beltpackage, the (radial) body ply cord, the beadbundle and the wire reinforcer. In a truck tyre,all these reinforcement materials are made ofsteel cord, calendered in rubber. Furthermore,nylon wire is sometimes added in places thatneed extra protection or reinforcement. Thepie-chart gives an idea of the contribution ofindividual components to the total tyre weightof a truck tyre.Others5%Softners2%Material compositionin percentage of tire weightCords23%Fillers25%Rubbers45%Mr. K. Graham and Sales Manager,Mr. A. Cathers, receiving theirreward from Mr. Neal, in chargeof Truck & Bus Original Equipmentat Bridgestone/Firestone UKTYRE COMPONENTSEven though a tyre looks simply round andblack from the outside and resembles apiece of rubber baked in a mould, it is actuallya lot more than this. Basically, tyrematerials can be grouped into two majorcategories: elastic and reinforcement components.The different tyre components areshown in the illustration.BeltCapBead bundleGum chaferInner linerBody plyBead fillerBaseSide wallWirereinforcerThe elastic group includes the cap, base, sidewall, inner liner, chafer and the bead filler. Allthese have different functions in a tyre, which iswhy specially designed compounds are needed.TYRE PERFORMANCETyre performance is very much influenced bythe compound used. For instance, a trucktyre intended for off-road use not only has aspecialized pattern design; the characteristicsof the tread compound are also adjustedfor this type of application. You canappreciate that cut resistance is much moreimportant for an off-road tyre than it is for ahighway tyre, whereas the wear and irregularwear performance of the tread compound ina high-way truck tyre is of the highest importance.Even braking and driving performanceon a wet road very much depend on compoundproperties. Bridgestone is the first tyremanufacturer to enter the studless snow tyremarket with a special patented tread compound(Multicell) that gives our winter tyresthe same driveability in the snow as studdedtyres.To sum up, we emphasize that a tyre is notjust a piece of rubber shaped to hold air andstay on the road; it is a high-tech tool withmany different ingredients, each of which iscarefully chosen and processed to give thetruck operator the maximum performancethat he needs...In the next Real Answers:BUILDING A TRUCK TYRE

RECAUCHUTAGEM 31,A PREMIUM RETREAD TYREFACTORY IN PORTUGALIn Alcobaça, Portugal, there is a premium retread tyre factory: Recauchutagem 31Real Answers has visited them andinterviewed the owner, Mr. Carlos Marques,about his company and the BridgestoneCertification Process.How and when was Recauchutagem 31created? Tell us about the most importantsteps in the company’s development.“Recauchutagem 31 was set up in September1969. It began as a small family business –father, son and brother-in-law – working with5 others in 400 m 2 facilities, including theAssistance Centre.As far as new tyres are concerned, Firestonewas the first brand to go on the market. Wetherefore have a commercial and personalrelationship with them that goes back a longway. In 1981 the Firm split, and my wife andmyself came to hold all the company’scapital.From then on we began a process of restructuring,modernisation and enlargement whichculminated in the marketing of our ownbrands of retreaded tyres Fedima (light) andCafema (Agricultural).On the 26 th February 1998 we opened ourcurrent facilities, which coincided with ourbeing granted Level 3 Certification – theRecauchutagem retread plant in Alcobaça(Portugal)highest level – for our retreading process byBridgestone/Firestone Europe (BFE).”When did the first contacts emerge allowingyou to become a Bridgestone CertifiedRetreader?“In view of the good commercial relations wehad, namely from being your retreader for thetyres of the buses run by Transportes Públicosde Lisboa, in 1996 we were invited to gofor the Certification by Bridgestone, with theadditional challenge of reaching the maximumlevel!This obliged the company to undergo majorinvestments, remodelling our facilities, acquiringnew equipment – some of them followingthe guidelines of the BFE –, revising manufacturingprocesses and methods and, as I saidbefore, opening our new facilities last year.And so it was that after an investment of nearly2,000,000 US$, today we have a modernand dynamic factory working with a coveredarea of 10,000 m 2 and 80 workers.”What advantages has the BridgestoneCertification brought you?“The Bridgestone Certification was extremelyimportant for a number of reasons, including:• an improvement in quality and productivity,• an improvement in the Company Image,• internationalisation.Thanks to the improvement in quality andproductivity, we have become more competitiveon the national market now our productsare of a higher quality, with the guarantee ofquality that was only possible as a result ofthe Bridgestone Certification.The Company’s image also improved andboth these factors together allow us to believethat the Company could internationalise.We have a number of ongoing contacts withcertain European countries, some of whichare at an advanced stage, and so the futurelooks very bright.”BuffingMachine atRecauchutagem31What is your opinion of the support providedby Bridgestone/Firestone?“The support has been excellent, both humanand technical. Both the Technical Departmentat Bridgestone/Firestone Portuguesa and thetechnicians at Bridgestone/Firestone Europeand in the European Technical Centre inRome have worked tirelessly to solve our problems,which are always emerging, as well asin their search for improvements and newsolutions for processes, which at first sightseem to be going well.I can say that with the support of Bridgestone,Recauchutagem 31 is in a process of constantdevelopment in order to satisfy ourcustomers’ needs, and they are ever-moredemanding.This is why, once again hand in hand withBridgestone/Firestone, we are currently certifyingour quality process in line with standardNP EN ISO 9002.”DIRECT FLEET CONTACT➧ (Continued from page 1)A good way to identify tyres which requireimmediate attentionThe Fleets, Michael Muehlbauer works with,praise his level of professionalism and the excellentservice he provides to them by analysingthe cost/performance ratio of the tyreson their vehicles. They also like the fact, thatthrough this direct technical contact, they getvaluable information regarding utilisation orrotation of tyres from him. When inspectingtyres, he of course tells the Fleet or garageManager about all findings, which requireimmediate attention.Direct fleet contact: a good way to bring successto fleets, who receive the best professionaladvice on tyres and the opportunityfor Bridgestone to demonstrate its productperformance.Essential tools for tyre monitoringon the field5

STAF CARS ANDBRIDGESTONE,SAFE ON THEROAD TOGETHERMr. Paul Cremers, general manager of Staf Carsin the Belgian town of Lommel, confirms hisfaith in Bridgestone’s high-quality bus-tyres.As a company specialised in transporting passengers,Mr. Cremers constantly needs veryreliable products to make his clients’ journeyas smooth as possible. The large section ofdouble-deckers is no exception to this.Safety is always of paramount importance:all coaches are fitted with black boxes.Recently four brand-new Van Hool coacheswere delivered on Bridgestone’s famousR227, a carefully considered choice for qualityby the people at Staf Cars.Because quality and service are the StafCars trumps, Mr. Cremers, hand-in-hand withBridgestone, faces the future with confidence.M788ALL ROUND ?The M788 is the ONLY coach tyre on themarket to give All Season performancein All Positions. It is specially designedand optimised for all-season use thatoffers real answers to coach operatorsand drivers.70% of coach fleets still change their drivetyres in winter to achieve extra tractionand increased safety on wet or snowcovered roads. This means that the coachis in the workshop for a tyre change twicea year and the operator has always a“dead” stock of tyres in his store, withboth factors costing money. Fitting newM788’s all round offers the advantage ofhaving a specific drive tyre with the addedbenefit of not needing to change to adifferent winter tyre to achieve the performancerequired.Even the choice of tyre supplier was carefullyexamined.After extensive tests, Bridgestone’s range ofexcellent bus-tyres came up to his expectations,with much more dynamism than theproverbial flying colours: driving comfort,good mileage and regular wear patternsgave the coup de grâce.At present the entire fleet (36 vehicles) is fittedwith Bridgestone, to Mr. Cremers’absolute satisfaction:• R227: all-year-round, national andinternational• M788: Bridgestone’s revolutionarydevelopment in coach-tyres with itsall-position/all-season concept(see side article: “M788 all round?”)• W970: for that highly necessary extratraction on snow and ice• R192: city bus-tyre for regional transport.Staf cars in Lommel, BelgiumHOW DO I CHOOSE AHIGHWAY STEER TYRE ?M788Specially designedfor coaches andcity busesR227 has been leading the field in termsof productivity for long distance highwaysteer axle tyres for almost 2 years, andBridgestone have now launched R297 as aRegional steer axle tyre.But which is the correct choice for yourfleet?Firstly, we should look at the performance ofthe tyres that you use at the moment (onroadtyres only). You can work out thekm/mm (km run/mm worn) if you know themounting and removal kilometres, as well asthe tread depths at mount and removal. Thisfigure indicates the type of tyre that isNORMALLY suitable.If the figure is 18,000 km/mm or higher, thecorrect tyre is the R227, and if lower, theR297. Remember, however, that other factorscan affect tyre selection (e.g. the amount ofoff-road use etc.), so if in doubt ask aBridgestone representative.And find the Real Answer on steer-axle tyresfor your fleet!The most appropriate tyre depends on the yearlymileage of the truck

MARTIN’STECHNICAL TIPSThe relationship between vehicle load, tyre-inflation pressure and speedHow does a tyre carry loads?Contrary to common belief, the tyre does notcarry the load; the air inside does. As such,the tyre is just a container. Nor does inflationpressure change depending on the load. If atyre has 9 bar jacked up in the air, it will stillhave 9 bar when you lower it to the ground.Load ratingDifferent tyres have differentload ratings. Atyre has to have certainstrength characteristicsto be able to contain theamount of air used. Ifyou test two tyres withthe same size and model,but with differentload ratings, you willsee that more pressurecan be put into the onewith the higher rating.And this means that itcan carry a heavierload.Air volumeAir volume is another factor that influences atyre‘s capacity to carry loads.It should be remembered that tyres aren’t likeballoons, i.e. they don’t get bigger when moreair is pumped into them. Volume stays prettymuch the same while pressure rises and, inactual fact, the number of air molecules insidedetermines the maximum load.Higher pressure means more air moleculesand higher capacity. A bigger tyre with morevolume can contain more air molecules – andtherefore has greater capacity than a smallertyre at the same pressure.SpeedSpeed is the third factor influencing loadcarryingcapacity and has a huge effect onperformance. Basically, a tyre has two shapes– its “unloaded” and “loaded” one. Or, if youprefer, its “un-squashed” and “squashed”form. As a tyre rotates some 300 times perkm, every part constantly moves back andforth between the squashed and unsquashedshape. This causes the sidewallsand the steel cables inside to flex and generateheat.This is a bit like bending a wire rapidly inopposite directions to try and break it. If youdo this for a while, the wire can get very hot.Do it fast for longenough, and the wirewill break.If inflation pressure istoo low, the tyre will flexbetween shapes thatare too extreme andgenerate too much heat.In severe cases, thiscan cause failure. At thevery least, it can severelyshorten casing lifeor influence casing acceptancefor retreading.Taking the wire example once again, if youhave ever tried to break a wire this way becauseyou did not have something to cut itwith, you will remember that the wire weakenedseveral bends before it actually broke.All this flexing does permanent, irreversibledamage.When a tyre is carrying a load, its shapealters, although the inflation pressure doesnot. As a tyre rolls, its cross-section constantlyswitches between the loaded and unloadedshape and generates heat.Inflation pressure influences the level of verticaland lateral deflection (squash) and thereforecontrols the difference between the twoshapes. Speed influences the frequency offlexing, the other major factor in heat buildup.The faster you go, the more heat is generatedWhat does this mean for very heavy loads?A heavier load means more “squash” at a givenpressure. So, in order to carry a “higher”load, you need “higher” inflation pressure.Slower speeds mean slower flexing which reducesheat generation. Thus, up to a certainpoint, the slower you drive, the higher thetyre’s carrying capacity at the same inflationpressure.BRIDGESTONE AROUND THE WORLDIn the United States: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.With annual sales of over $6.5 billion andnearly 45,000 employees, Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. is the principal subsidiary ofBridgestone Corporation.Its corporate headquarters are located inBridgestone/Firestone office in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee, and the technicalcentre in Akron, Ohio.Following the merger of Bridgestone U.S.A.with The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in1990, the company now operates a total of17 tyre plants and 20 other manufacturingfacilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico,Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and New Zealand.Firestone activities in the United States startedin 1900, when 31-year old inventor andentrepreneur Harvey S. Firestone harnesseda new way of making carriage tyres, and startedproduction with 12 employees.From the outset, Firestone worked relentlesslyto improve quality and meet the needs ofhis customers. His efforts and integrity paidoff when Firestone tyres were chosen by HenryBridgestone/Firestone testing facilities in Akron, OhioFord in 1906 for the first mass-producedautomobiles in America.7

“WE HAVE BEEN IMPRESSEDBY BRIDGESTONE”RUMOURFROM THETRACKREDUCE TO THE MAX?After Honda’s decision not to enter F1championship as a full team, 11 teamsremain in 2000, while 12 are allowed bythe regulations. That available spot reducesthe value of the teams, as Toyota,for instance, do not need to buy a teamto enter F1. Therefore, the teams arenow planning to reduce their number to11. A decision that could be taken thissummer.RENAULT BACK ON TRACK?And here it is again, the rumour of a nextcome-back from Renault, as an enginesupplier to a team – possibly Benetton.The time runs out for the French company,but its management seems now toadhere to the cause.More information on the net at:http/www.info-F1.comSir Frank Williams tells “Real Answers” why headmires what Bridgestone has done in Formula 1,even if he would have liked to have been one ofthe development team.After four grands prix, what is your opinionof the Bridgestone tyres?“I refuse to compare this year’s Bridgestoneswith last years Goodyears. It would not be fair.However, what I can say, is that we have foundthat Bridgestone tyres offer us a very consistentplatform on which to set-up the chassis.In fact, we have had to make very fewadjustments to our chassis to adapt it to thejapanese tyres. We have needed a bit of finetuning for the qualifying session, but almostnone for the race. The people who work forBridgestone are also very professional. Wefeel we are being listened to and that everyoneis treated equally. When we get to thetrack, all the tyres we are supposed to haveare already there, waiting for us. They arevery well organised”.Bridgestone has two developmentteams: McLaren and Ferrari. Are youannoyed not to be part of that group?“I don’t like this situation. It’s obvious thatI would like to be part of the developmentprogramme. But I have to say,Bridgestone’s reasons for choosing thesetwo teams are perfectly understandable.It’s impossible to develop tyres with11 teams”.Do you think a tyre monopoly is a goodthing for Formula 1?“It’s 50/50. The disadvantage is that everyoneis back on an equal footing. If you arenot quick, then it can be the fault of thechassis or the engine, but not the tyres. Thedown side however, is that Bridgestone has totake one or other direction in the developmentof its tyres, which might favourone or other chassis. It is inevitable, not acriticism”.Do you think the increased number ofgrooves on the tyres is a good way ofreducing the speed?“As far as the grooves are concerned, I don’tknow, because I have never driven a F1 car.As for private testing, I am in two minds. As abusinessman, I am happy as it allows us tosave money. As a team owner, always havingto sort out our chassis, I am less happy withthe situation”.What do you think Bridgestone could doto improve the way it works with the 11F1 teams?“I never give this kind of advise. As far as Ican see, Bridgestone does its job perfectlywell. I cannot think of a single criticism”.Frank WilliamsREAL ANSWERS COMPETITIONFORMULA 1 “GRAND STAND” TICKETS FOR FREE !!!Bridgestone/FirestoneIreland LtdMarketing Department – Unit 4Leopardstown Office ParkDublin 18IrelandBridgestone/Firestone U.K.TBR Marketing DepartmentBridgestone HouseAthena DriveTachbrook ParkLeamington SPACV 34 6UXUKReal Answers n°4 already! That is four opportunitiesto win Bridgestone MotorsportJackets, polo’s or T-shirts.This time Brigestone has decided to gomuch further! On top of the numerousBridgestone Motorsport Jackets, a FormulaOne Grand Prix “Grand Stand” ticket for twopeople (including transport & hotel accomo-Enjoy the unique F1 Grand Stand atmosphere !dation) will be offered to the top 4 winners.Nothing easier: just write your reply to the2 following questions on the attached prepaidpost card and post it before October30 th 1999 !➊ What is the name of the Bridgestone NewGeneration tyre specially designed forcoaches?➋ What is the name of the Bridgestone strategyto prove the high performance ofBridgestone truck & bus tyres?NOTEThe winners will be informed before endof November 99. They will be invited to aFormula One Grand Prix of the Year 2000Championship. The date & location willbe choosen by Bridgestone/Firestone Europeaccording to the ticket availability.