Firestone, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has introduced the Firestone Pathway AS, an all-season touring tire aimed at everyday drivers. Announced in Nashville, Tennessee, the tire will be offered in 73 sizes, which the company says gives it the broadest vehicle coverage of any Firestone tire to date. It carries a 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty.
According to Bridgestone Americas, the Pathway AS is positioned around three priorities: dependable performance, long tread life and value. “Most drivers want a tire they can depend on,” said Leslie Sawyer, senior product design engineer at Bridgestone Americas. She said the tire is designed to deliver reliable performance and long-lasting value in everyday driving situations.
Lineup expanded during development
The company said consumer feedback shaped the tire's development, with particular attention to wet traction, tread life and ride comfort relative to its predecessor. The size range grew during the program: Firestone originally planned 48 sizes and added 25 more, a decision the company says was made to maximize market coverage. With the expanded lineup, Firestone says the Pathway AS reaches nearly 77% of registered vehicles.
Features and construction
Firestone describes the tire as building on the strengths of the previous model while addressing changing driver needs. Key features include:
- Long tread life: A tread compound formulated for longevity is intended to sustain performance across the 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty. Additional sipes and an optimized see-through void are designed to promote more even wear and help maintain traction over time.
- Year-round traction: Deep interlocking 3D sipes are intended to provide grip across light snow, dry and wet pavement.
- Everyday efficiency: Wear resistance supports long-lasting performance, while low rolling resistance is intended to contribute to fuel-efficient operation on internal combustion engine vehicles.
Internal test results
Firestone reported results from its own internal testing. The company said the Pathway AS showed an 18% reduction in wet braking distance compared with the Uniroyal Laredo HT tire, an 11.7% reduction compared with the Firestone All Season tire and a 7.4% reduction compared with the Toyo Extensa AS2 tire. It also said the tire delivered shorter dry braking distances than six leading competitors. These figures are company-reported and were not independently verified in the announcement.
Availability
The Firestone Pathway AS is available now nationwide. The lineup includes fitments for vehicles such as the Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Equinox.