Last month, Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone announced an ambitious partnership with ispace, a Japanese lunar exploration company, to develop Bridgestone lunar tires designed for small- and medium-sized space rovers. Together, they aim to create tires adapted to the Moon's unique surface, with Earth-based testing planned ahead of potential deployment in space by 2029.
No, you won’t be buying these tires for your car anytime soon… but they prove one thing: Bridgestone is pushing the boundaries of tire technology, both here on Earth and beyond.
Special Technology for an Extreme Terrain
There are no roads or asphalt on the Moon. Its surface is rocky, uneven, and the temperature swings are extreme, much worse than a Canadian winter! To tackle this challenge, Bridgestone has developed a tire made of flexible metal spokes, designed to deform and absorb shocks while maintaining high durability.
This structure, at the heart of Bridgestone lunar tires, allows a rover to move smoothly over obstacles without losing stability, while offering predictable handling over lunar craters, dust, and rocks.
Testing on Earth to Aim for the Moon
The startup ispace, which develops compact rovers to explore lunar resources (like water), will equip its prototypes with these tires for a series of rigorous tests here on Earth. These trials will take place in simulated environments that replicate the Moon’s extreme conditions: soft soils, temperature fluctuations, vibrations, rocky terrain, and more. The goal is to evaluate the resilience, grip, and durability of Bridgestone lunar tires under demanding scenarios.
The tests aim to validate both the technical and commercial feasibility of these tires for future lunar missions. The collected data will also help optimize future designs and adapt the tire structure to different rover models. The project is supported by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) through the Space Strategy Fund, a national initiative to boost Japan’s space technology autonomy while stimulating private sector innovation.
The Case for Bridgestone Lunar Tires
Why talk about this on Blackcircles.ca? Because even if Bridgestone lunar tires won’t be available at your local garage, they showcase Bridgestone's ability to innovate under the most extreme conditions. It’s the same expertise that goes into the tires we rely on every day: engineered for snow, heat, rough roads, and long distances.
Bridgestone isn’t just building for the future of space mobility. Every breakthrough benefits today’s drivers. Even if you’re not heading to the Moon, your tires should be just as reliable, durable, and suited to your terrain.
In short, it’s one small step for a rover… and one giant leap for tire technology.
