Bridgestone UK has been crowned Tyre Manufacturer of the Year at the 2026 TyreSafe Awards, in recognition of the company’s tireless efforts to promote tyre safety and create lasting behavioural change amongst motorists.
The prestigious accolade celebrates the success of Bridgestone’s ‘Be a Road Safety Hero’ campaign, which has reached more than 24 million people since its launch and continues to turn awareness into action through a combination of public engagement, education and retailer-led activity.
Through more than 25 nationwide activations, spanning major events, supermarket car parks and tyre retail locations, Bridgestone has conducted over 10,500 free tyre safety checks, identifying more than 1,200 safety concerns, including around 200 illegal tyres.
The campaign extended far beyond face-to-face interactions, with thousands of educational materials distributed, while a series of targeted PR campaigns and digital initiatives have helped keep tyre safety firmly in the spotlight.
Bridgestone has also worked alongside organisations such as Sporting Bears to bring tyre safety messaging to motoring enthusiasts in real-world settings, while colleagues across the business have contributed more than 10,000 minutes of volunteering time to support the initiative.
Helen Roe, Senior Manager: Brand, Events, Product & Digital Marketing, said the award reflected Bridgestone’s commitment to making a genuine difference on the roads.
“While we’re naturally delighted to receive this recognition, what matters most to us is the impact the campaign is having beyond the award itself,” she said “Our ‘Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero’ campaign was designed to encourage drivers to take simple steps that can make a big difference, and we’re proud that the campaign is helping to identify potentially dangerous tyres and prompting drivers to take action.”
“Tyre safety isn’t something any one organisation can tackle alone. That’s why we’ve worked closely with our retailers and partners to take this message directly to motorists in ways that are practical, visible and engaging. To have carried out over 10,500 tyre checks over the last couple of years, demonstrates the scale of the challenge, but also the power of education and collaboration. We see this award not as the finish line, but as motivation to continue championing safer roads for everyone.”
“We’d also like to recognise and congratulate TyreSafe, on their 20th year anniversary, for bringing together so many to collaborate on raising tyre safety awareness in the UK and for their continued work with government, police and emergency services to raise the profile of tyre safety nationwide.”
“Ultimately, tyres carry lives. With an estimated 6.1 million illegal tyres still on UK roads, raising awareness remains critical. Regular tyre checks are a simple step that can make a real difference – for drivers and for everyone around them.”
