Bridgestone has signed an agreement to develop and supply tires for ispace‘s small and medium-size lunar rovers.
The tire maker has been developing soft, elastic lunar rover tires that can flexibly change shape in response to harsh surfaces, like those on the moon. These tires will be equipped on the lunar rover prototypes currently being developed by ispace.
Performance verification will be conducted on Earth ahead of use on the moon. Through these initiatives, both companies will assess the feasibility of the technologies and business opportunities on the lunar surface as they aim for the practical application of the tires as early as 2029.
The initiative will see the companies continue to collaborate in support of the advancement of Japan’s space industry, and are looking at using the Space Strategy Fund established at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for this purpose.
“ispace’s goal of establishing a new economy on the moon requires the participation of players from a wide range of industries. This agreement to test and verify technology for future lunar missions is proof of this,” said Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of ispace.
“Bridgestone, who has driven the evolution of mobility worldwide through its technological expertise, is now developing lunar rover tires for the extreme environments found on the moon. These tires will undoubtedly contribute to future human advancement on the moon.
“The micro rovers being developed by ispace are some of the world’s smallest lunar rovers. They will be indispensable technology for the moon, and a new frontier for humanity. We look forward to this collaborative effort with Bridgestone.”
Masaki Ota, director, OE business strategy and planning/new mobility business division, Bridgestone Corporation, said, “Bridgestone began research and development of tires for lunar rovers in 2019. In April 2025, we unveiled concept models featuring reduced weight for small and medium-size lunar rovers, and we are working to further expand our network in the space business and create new opportunities for co-creation. We are very honored to start collaborating with ispace, who shares our vision for these initiatives.
In related news, Goodyear has launched its next-generation premium all-season tire, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife 2, in the USA and Canada. Read the full story here
