Firestone, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has introduced the Firestone Pathway AS, an all-season touring tire aimed at everyday drivers. The company said the new tire will be offered in 73 sizes, described as the broadest vehicle coverage of any Firestone tire, and is backed by a 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty.
Announced from Nashville, Tennessee, the Pathway AS is positioned around dependable performance, long tread life and value. Leslie Sawyer, senior product design engineer at Bridgestone Americas, said 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
Consumer feedback shaped the development of the tire, with the company focusing on improving wet traction, tread life and ride comfort compared with the predecessor model. The lineup was originally planned for 48 sizes; 25 additional sizes were added during development, bringing the total to 73 and helping Firestone reach nearly 77% of registered vehicles, according to the company.
Fitments cover a number of popular models, including the Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Equinox. The tire is available now nationwide.
Features and internal test results
Firestone said the tread compound is designed for longevity, supported by additional sipes and an optimized see-through void that help the tire wear more evenly and maintain traction over time.
For year-round use, deep interlocking 3D sipes are intended to provide traction in conditions ranging from light snow to dry and wet pavement. In internal company testing, Firestone reported the Pathway AS achieved:
- An 18% reduction in wet braking distance compared with the Uniroyal Laredo HT tire;
- An 11.7% reduction in wet braking compared with the Firestone All Season tire;
- A 7.4% reduction in wet braking compared with the Toyo Extensa AS2 tire;
- Shorter dry braking distances than six leading competitors.
The company also said wear resistance supports long-lasting performance, while low rolling resistance contributes to fuel-efficient performance on internal combustion engine vehicles.
Firestone frames the combination as dependable all-season performance for everyday driving. The wet- and dry-braking figures are internal test results cited by the company and refer to comparisons against specific competitor models; they have not been independently verified in the information provided.