Bridgestone Tests AirFree Tires on Level 4 Vehicles

Bridgestone and eve autonomy announced on October 29 that they are conducting trials at Bridgestone's Nasu Plant using driverless transport vehicles equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving technology and AirFree tires. Unlike conventional tires, AirFree tires do not require inflation, eliminating the need for air pressure management. By combining autonomous driving capabilities with tires designed to reduce puncture risks and maintenance requirements, the companies are assessing whether the technology can support stable vehicle operation in industrial environments.

The collaboration has been exploring the combined technology since 2024. Bridgestone's AirFree tires support vehicle loads through spokes made from recyclable thermoplastic resin rather than compressed air. During test-track evaluations, the tires did not interfere with autonomous driving functions, and the vehicles consistently followed their designated routes. These results provided an initial assessment of the compatibility between the tire technology and autonomous vehicle systems, supporting the companies' subsequent evaluation under actual operating conditions.

Trials at the Nasu Plant began in June 2026, involving driverless vehicles transporting goods between buildings. The vehicles operate autonomously without driver input in non-public-road environments, including factory premises. The companies have also confirmed stable vehicle operation with AirFree tires during actual production processes. Their ongoing evaluation will include analyzing tire performance using vehicle data to further examine the technology's applicability to autonomous vehicles.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The trials bring together two important aspects of industrial vehicle operation: autonomous mobility and tire maintenance requirements. AirFree tires eliminate the need for inflation and are designed to reduce puncture risks, while Level 4 autonomous driving enables vehicles to transport goods without driver input in designated non-public-road environments. Their combined evaluation in an actual production setting provides an opportunity to assess operational compatibility beyond controlled test-track conditions. Continued vehicle-data-based tire analysis will help Bridgestone and eve autonomy evaluate the suitability of this combination for autonomous transport applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Bridgestone and eve autonomy testing at the Nasu Plant?
Bridgestone and eve autonomy are testing Level 4 autonomous driverless transport vehicles equipped with Bridgestone's AirFree tires. The trials evaluate whether combining autonomous driving technology with tires that require no inflation can support stable vehicle operation and reduce maintenance requirements. The vehicles transport goods between buildings within the Nasu Plant, operating without driver input in non-public-road areas. The evaluation also includes examining tire performance using vehicle data.

What are Bridgestone AirFree tires and how do they work?
Bridgestone AirFree tires are designed to support vehicle loads without relying on conventional compressed air. Instead, they use spokes made from recyclable thermoplastic resin to provide the required load-supporting structure. This design eliminates the need for inflation and air pressure management while reducing the risk of punctures. In the ongoing trials with eve autonomy, the companies are evaluating how these characteristics can support autonomous transport operations and potentially reduce tire-related maintenance requirements.

When did the Bridgestone and eve autonomy trials begin?
The companies began exploring the combined application of AirFree tires and autonomous driving technology in 2024. Initial test-track evaluations confirmed that the tires did not interfere with autonomous driving functions and that vehicles consistently followed their designated routes. The trials at Bridgestone's Nasu Plant subsequently began in June 2026, using driverless vehicles to transport goods between buildings. These activities extend the evaluation from test-track conditions to actual factory production operations.

How do AirFree tires support autonomous vehicle operations?
AirFree tires eliminate the need for inflation and are designed to reduce puncture risks, addressing tire-related maintenance considerations in autonomous vehicle operations. These characteristics are particularly relevant to the companies' evaluation of driverless transport vehicles operating within factory premises. Earlier test-track trials confirmed that the tires did not interfere with autonomous driving functions or prevent vehicles from consistently following designated routes. The ongoing plant trials are examining their performance under actual production conditions.

What are Bridgestone and eve autonomy planning to evaluate next?
Bridgestone and eve autonomy will continue assessing the applicability of AirFree tires to autonomous vehicles through further evaluation activities. One identified activity involves analyzing tire performance using vehicle data collected during operations. This work builds on the earlier test-track assessments and the confirmation of stable operation during actual production processes at the Nasu Plant. The companies have not specified a commercial deployment schedule or broader implementation target in their announcement.