NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire has announced price increases of up to 8 percent on the company’s Bridgestone and Firestone brand tire lines, as well as all associate brand tires.

The price increases are scheduled to begin phasing in March 1 and will apply to truck and bus, passenger and light truck, and agricultural and off-the-road tires, as well as original equipment and export channels.

“The continuing unprecedented upward spiral of energy and raw material costs makes this action necessary,” said Asahiko “Duke” Nishiyama, vice chairman and president of BFNT. “This unrelenting escalation of costs is simply not a situation that can be managed through the enhanced efficiencies and increased productivity that we are continually implementing at all levels of our company. As a result, we have no choice but to implement this price increase.”