Bridgestone has unveiled four new Firestone tires set to be released later in the year.
Displayed at the Chicago Auto Show, the rollouts “will build on our heritage of quality, innovation and performance that drivers have trusted for more than a century,” says Phil Pacsi, vice president of consumer marketing for the U.S. and Canada.
“It’s clear that there’s an increased demand for Firestone as our value brand,” he adds. “We’ve listened to the voice of the customer,” and the releases will hit “every key segment of the market including cars, trucks, SUVS and CUVs.”
The lineup consists of two new Precision tires, a Firehawk Summer ultra-high performance edition and a debut Destination model.
The Firestone Precision Touring has a wide footprint and circumferential grooves while providing improved wear, handling and resistance to hydroplaning, he says. In addition, silica in the tread compound allows for increased flexibility, bringing improved traction in wet conditions. It has a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty; the tire will come in 20 sizes ranging from 15 to 17 inches. Fitments include the Chevy Malibu, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Kia Sedona.
The Firestone Precision Sport delivers great value, according to Pacsi. With a high performance design fit for all seasons, it comes with a 40,000-mile limited treadwear warranty. Available in 17 sizes, applications include the Nissan Altima, Ford Focus and Mazda 3.
Hailed as Firestone’s new ultra high performance flagship release, the Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 provides high response and powerful braking performance and is tuned for both wet and dry handling, he says. With 40 sizes ranging from 15 to 20 inches and a W speed rating, the tire is aimed at performance-minded customers with fitments including the Ford Mustang, Pontiac G8 and Honda Civic Si.
A sport truck tire that comes in 18 sizes, the Destination ST features an asymmetric, non-directional tread design built for all seasons and spirited handling. Tuned for performance SUVs, crossover vehicles and light trucks, the tire is H, V and W-speed rated and comes with a 40,000-mile limited treadwear warranty. Fitments include the Jeep Liberty, Chevrolet Silverado and Mazda CX-7.
All the tires carry the company’s Buy and Try 30-day guarantee. They are set to launch in the second and third quarters of this year.
For more information, visit www.bridgestone-firestone.com.
