Firestone, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has introduced the Firestone Pathway AS, an all-season touring tire offered in 73 sizes. According to the company, that is the broadest vehicle coverage of any Firestone tire. The tire carries a 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty and is available nationwide now.
The announcement came from Nashville, Tennessee. Leslie Sawyer, Senior Product Design Engineer at Bridgestone Americas, said in a statement that most drivers want a tire they can depend on, and that the Pathway AS is designed to deliver reliable performance and long-lasting value in everyday driving situations.
Size range expanded during development
Firestone said consumer feedback played a central role in shaping the tire, with attention to improving wet traction, tread life and ride comfort compared with its predecessor. The lineup was originally planned for 48 sizes, and 25 additional sizes were added during development to widen market coverage. The company says the resulting range helps the tire reach nearly 77% of registered vehicles.
Stated product features
- Long tread life: A tread compound designed for longevity, additional sipes and an optimized see-through void are intended to help the tire wear more evenly and maintain traction over time across its 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty.
- Year-round reliability: Deep interlocking 3D sipes are designed to provide dependable traction in conditions ranging from light snow to dry and wet pavement.
- Everyday performance: Wear resistance is intended to support long-lasting performance, while low rolling resistance is described as contributing to fuel-efficient performance on internal combustion engine vehicles.
Company-reported test comparisons
Firestone reported the following results from its own internal testing of the Pathway AS:
- An 18% reduction in wet braking distance versus the Uniroyal Laredo HT tire.
- An 11.7% reduction in wet braking versus the Firestone All Season tire.
- A 7.4% reduction in wet braking versus the Toyo Extensa AS2 tire.
- Shorter dry braking distances than six leading competitors.
These figures are company-reported internal test results. The announcement did not disclose the test conditions or independent verification of the comparisons.
Fitments and positioning
Firestone said the Pathway AS lineup includes fitments for many of today's most popular vehicles, naming the Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Equinox. The tire is positioned for everyday drivers looking for a balance of dependable performance, long tread life and value.