Bridgestone Launches Underground Mining Tyre Range

Bridgestone has introduced a new underground mining tyre range for haulers and load-haul-dump machines, targeting heavier loads, cut resistance and lower downtime in severe mine conditions. The VMNT, VMDL and VMMS tyres use Bridgestone’s Subterranean technology and form part of the company’s “Moving More with Less” approach for specialist off-road applications.

Designed for severe underground conditions

The new range has been developed for environments where abrasive rock, water, moisture and high machine utilisation place heavy demands on tyres. Bridgestone says the tyres are designed to reduce cuts and penetrations by enveloping rocks, rather than allowing sharp surfaces to cut directly into the rubber.

That matters in underground mining because tyre damage can quickly become a productivity and safety issue. Tyre News has recently reported wider investment and competition in the off-the-road tyre segment, including Yokohama Rubber’s planned OTR tyre plants in India and Mexico and Triangle Tyre’s mining tyre delamination technology.

More load without higher pressure

The VMNT tyre is aimed at underground haulers and is designed to carry heavier loads without requiring increased inflation pressure. Bridgestone says the tyre can deliver 15% extra load capacity without raising pressure, which is central to the company’s productivity claim.

Rob Cole, Key Account Manager – Off Road Tyres, UK and Ireland at Bridgestone, said the products were “specifically designed for the harshest terrains” and said underground mines were “among the most demanding and challenging environments imaginable”.

Cole added that simply increasing pressure to carry more load can be counterproductive in these applications. He said tyre failure underground can create major downtime costs and, more importantly, serious safety risks.

Different designs for different machines

The VMDL has been developed for load-haul-dump machines and uses a lug pattern intended to support traction in underground conditions. The VMMS takes a different approach, with a smooth, grooveless appearance because traction is generated through the rugged terrain rather than the tread pattern.

Bridgestone says the VMMS also uses reinforced, cut-resistant sidewalls to improve durability underground. The range is available in sizes including 26.5 R25, 29.5 R29 and 35/65 R33.

The safety angle is relevant beyond product design. The Health and Safety Executive says tyre removal, replacement and inflation should be handled only by competent staff, with hazards including sudden tyre failure and stored energy during inflation.

OTR competition continues to build

The launch strengthens Bridgestone’s off-road tyre portfolio at a time when mining and construction tyre supply is attracting renewed investment. Tyre News has also covered the sector’s increasing focus on lifecycle performance, including OTR tyre brands reflecting on market trends and innovation and THE TIRE COLOGNE 2026 adding a Global OTR Conference format .

For mining operators, the key measure will be whether the new range can reduce damage, improve uptime and support heavier machinery without adding inflation pressure. For the tyre trade, the launch points to a more specialised OTR market, where safety, casing strength and application-specific design are increasingly central to product development.

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Tagged with: Bridgestone, underground mining tyres, OTR tyres, mining tyres, VMNT, VMDL, VMMS, Subterranean technology, off-road tyres, tyre safety, load-haul-dump tyres, cut-resistant tyres

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