PHOENIX (Feb. 7, 2002)—Bridgestone/Firestone is launching the Firestone Affinity LH30, an H-rated tire the company is touting as the industry's first mass-market premium tire.
The Affinity LH30 will be available in 20 sizes and have a maximum speed capability of 130 mph. It has UTQG rating of 560 AA, a 70,000-mile limited treadwear warranty and the Firestone Gold Pledge Warranty, which provides replacement at no charge if the tire becomes unusable due to defects. Consumers also can return the tires within 30 days from the date of purchase.
“We have watched the demand for speed-rated tires continue to increase,” said Shu Ishibashi, president of North American Consumer Tire Sales Group. “H-rated tires are being requested 12 percent more frequently as original equipment on vehicles by the automotive manufacturers. Bridgestone/Firestone wanted to establish a new class of tire to provide the H-rated performance while maintaining the benefits of a premium mass market tire—the ride and mileage— with the level of confidence normally associated with an H-rated tire. We believe the Firestone Affinity LH30 will prove to be one of the best values in the tire marketplace today.”