Firestone’s FD883 and FS883 truck and bus radial tyres, formerly imported, are now wholly manufactured at our company’s Brits plant.
These locally manufactured tyres are exported into the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, and so earn foreign exchange and boost regional trade. This is big news for us, of course, but more importantly it’s a move that will benefit our customers.
We began importing the tyres in 2020 from Europe, and they proved popular with customers because of their high quality and great design. It is our standard procedure to conduct trials on imported products to ensure that they are fit for South African conditions which are uniquely challenging. After trials, we identified and made design improvements that have made the tyres better suited for our local market. In addition, vehicles fitted with these tyres are often used both on and off road, and in even more gruelling conditions, such as mines and construction sites.
Bridgestone’s European technical centre obliged by developing a new compound for us to use in the manufacturing process. The result is a tyre with a higher resistance to chips and cuts, and thus a longer life, but still with the original great design.
Tyres made in South Africa for South African conditions
Thanks to their local manufacture, the FS833 and FD833 deliver even better quality and reliability. Not only does the new tougher compound resist the damage caused during transit, the tyres are also ideal for retreading, leading to extended tyre life.
Each of these workhorse products are designed to fulfil a particular role. The FD833 provides excellent grip for great traction, with deep and wide tread blocks designed to keep vehicles on the road for longer. It’s also self-cleaning to deliver consistent performance even in muddy conditions.
The FS833 is designed to get the job done: it’s made of exceptionally tough material for long-lasting performance, while the rib lug pattern provides steering control and grip.
Together, they make a formidable team for vehicles with a demanding job to do. Both the FS833 and FD833 have a load index of 156/150, with 9.00-inch rims.
Alongside enhanced durability, users of the FS883 and FD883 benefit from greater fuel efficiency. This is a result of Bridgestone’s huge investment in R&D, both tyres are designed to have thinner sidewalls, reducing their weight and thus the fuel needed to achieve forward motion. With fuel prices constantly on the rise, this is a welcomed benefit for the end user.
Fuel efficiency saves costs, but it also benefits the environment: 87% of a tyre’s emissions derive from its lifetime use, not its manufacture. Less fuel, of course, means a lower carbon footprint.
Like all Bridgestone products, the FS833 and FD833 are manufactured with the circular economy in mind. These tyres need to be replaced less often, and, like all our truck and bus radials, when retreaded through Bandag, the tyres carry a casing confidence pledge that they can be retreaded at least twice.
In conclusion, tyres are designed globally and fine-tuned for South African conditions.
Dries Venter, Technical Manager, Bridgestone Southern Africa.
TBR FS833
