BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE ANNOUNCES PRICE INCREASES

Mississauga (Ontario), August 2, 2006 - Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. (BFCA) and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) have announced price increases on the company’s Bridgestone, Firestone, Fuzion, Dayton, associate and private brand tire lines. The announced increases, up to 4 percent on passenger and light truck, truck and bus, and agricultural and off-the-road tires, will affect the replacement, original equipment and export channels. The price increases are scheduled to begin phasing in September 1, 2006.

According to Asahiko “Duke” Nishiyama, vice chairman and president of BFNT, “We are seeing an unprecedented combination of factors that simply can not be managed through the enhanced efficiencies and increased productivity that we are continually implementing at all levels of our company. With the cost of petroleum rising at unprecedented rates and natural rubber at record levels, we have no choice but to take this action.”

About Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc.:
Mississauga-based Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. (BFCA) is an affiliate of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT). BFCA and Nashville, Tennessee-based BFNT are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFCA and BFNT develop, manufacture and market Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate brand tires. They are focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to their customers in Canada and the United States respectively.