Firestone Tires Overview
Firestone is the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone and manufactures a wide range of brand tires for automotive and commercial vehicles. The brand is also very prominent in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. During the 1900s, Firestone first manufactured tires for wagons, buggies etc. Over the years they made their mark with innovations such as the pneumatic tire, the demountable rim, the first angular non-skid tread, the gum-dipping process, and the first set of low-pressure balloon tires.
In the 1980s, Firestone was sold to Bridgestone, a Japanese corporation. As the company continued to grow over the years, its name became well known in households across the country. It branched out into other areas apart from tires, including building products, industrial products, auto care products and specialty products.
All Seasons
Affinity Touring – these standard touring all season tires are created for refined cars. They deliver a comfortable and quiet ride, sure handling and traction in good or bad weather and are developed to wear slowly and evenly.
FR690/FR710 – both of these tires combine a smooth ride, good wear and durability along with all-season traction. These tires are often used original equipment on a variety of vehicles including coupes, sedans, SUVs and crossovers.
Performance
Firehawk SZ50 EP RFT – this tire is considered to be Firestones’s Ultra High Performance Summer run-flat tire that is designed exclusively for Chevrolet C5 Corvettes. The tire provides temporary mobility if there is a puncture, along with good handling and traction in dry and wet conditions.
The Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 – these tires have Ultra High Performance Summer tire proficiency for a broader range of cars rather than the specific market of the Firehawk SZ50 EP RFT including sports cars and performance sedans. The design helps to resist hydroplaning and enhance wet traction as well as provide responsive handling in dry road conditions.
Winter
Winterforce – Winterforce tires come in sizes for all types of vehicles: coupes, sedans minivans, light trucks and SUVs. These studdable tires meet the industry’s severe snow service requirements and are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol. The design allows enhanced grip in loose snow and traction on hard-packed snow and ice.
Off Road
Destination M/T – this tire is Firestone’s Off-Road Maximum Traction tire was designed for the needs of pickup truck and sport utility vehicle drivers who want the looks and performance associated with off-road driving. This innovative tire design improves handling in wet or dry conditions as well as reduces irregular treadwear.
Transforce AT – these tires are all-season developed for full-sized pickups, vans, sport utility and commercial vehicles for the highway but also off-road sites such as job sites. Their design is to blend dry-road handling with poor weather traction and to provide hydroplaning resistance. The structure has built-in reinforcement to help maintain the shape and enhance performance at highway speeds.
Conclusion
Firestone tires are equipped with a wide range of important features, including wet and dry performance, fuel efficiency, wear life, ride comfort, noise reduction and more. Firestone’s history includes being a pioneer in the tire manufacturer industry, was an original equipment supplier of Ford Motor Company automobiles and has been a recognized household name for decades.