Firestone, a Bridgestone Americas subsidiary, has introduced the Pathway AS, an all-season touring tire aimed at everyday drivers. The tire launches in 73 sizes, which Firestone calls its broadest vehicle coverage yet, reaching nearly 77% of registered vehicles in the U.S. It is backed by a 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty and is available now nationwide.

"Most drivers want a tire they can depend on," said Leslie Sawyer, Senior Product Design Engineer, Bridgestone Americas. "The Firestone Pathway AS is designed to deliver reliable performance and long-lasting value, giving drivers the confidence they need in everyday driving situations."

Firestone says consumer feedback steered the development toward better wet traction, tread life and ride comfort than the prior model. The lineup was first planned at 48 sizes; 25 more were added during development to widen fitment coverage. Popular applications named by the company include the Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Equinox.

Tread life, wet grip and everyday use

The Pathway AS uses a tread compound and additional sipes with an optimized see-through void that Firestone says help the tire wear more evenly across its warranty period. Deep interlocking 3D sipes are meant to support traction in light snow as well as on dry and wet pavement.

In Firestone's internal testing, the Pathway AS showed an 18% shorter wet braking distance than a Uniroyal Laredo HT, an 11.7% shorter wet braking distance than a Firestone All Season, and a 7.4% shorter wet braking distance than a Toyo Extensa AS2. The company also reports shorter dry braking distances than six leading competitors it tested. Results vary by size, speed and conditions; Firestone publishes the test details with the release.

Wear resistance and low rolling resistance are positioned for long service life and fuel-efficient performance on gasoline vehicles. Firestone also backs the line with its 90 Day Buy & Try Guarantee for eligible customers.

More product detail is at Firestone Pathway AS. The company announcement is also on PR Newswire.

Tagged: Leslie Sawyer

Firestone Pathway AS Broadens Coverage to Nearly 77% of U.S. Vehicles