Bridgestone has extended its supply deal with BMW which stretches back to 1995 with the release of new tyres specially developed for the German car maker’s new X5, 8 and 3 Series models.

It normally takes around two years’ development to perfectly match and tune the characteristics of the tyre to those of the car. For example, for the big X5 SUV, Bridgestone had to focus on delivering a super-smooth ride in addition to the usual requirements of grip, handling and fuel efficiency. Its engineers worked with those of BMW’s to seamlessly marry the tyres with the electronically controlled shock absorbers, five-link rear suspension and adjustable air suspension of the 4×4.

After extensive testing, eight Bridgestone fitments were signed off by BMW, ranging from 18 to 21 inches, as original equipment for the X5 in Europe. The Alenza 001 tyre has been confirmed as a summer tyre and the Blizzak LM001 approved for winter.

For the latest BMW 3 Series, Bridgestone used 3D Virtual Design software to analyse and fine-tune the tyre shape and pressure distribution which allowed the wet and dry grip to be optimised. Another innovation is a new compound that improves temperature control and material dispersion to improve performance and Bridgestone also reduced rolling resistance so much that it has been assessed as best-in-class.

The Turanza T005 was selected for summer, Blizzak LM001 for winter and LS100A for all-season tyres, with Run-Flat Technology included for 11 of the 17 different tyres.

Mark Tejedor, VP of Original Equipment at Bridgestone EMEA, said: “What we accomplish together with BMW addresses current challenges and helps us to optimise technology, especially in terms of safety and performance. We are looking forward to continuing the intense partnership between Bridgestone and BMW with a variety of BMW vehicles due to be launched in 2019.”