AKRON (July 17, 2013) — Bridgestone Americas kicked off its "Firestone Drives America Tour" — a traveling road show featuring new lines of Firestone commercial truck tires — yesterday in Akron in conjunction with Akron Aeros minor league baseball game.
The tour, which is designed to raise awareness among truckers of the latest line of Firestone radials, will stop this summer at a dozen minor league ballparks. Class 8-CDL license holders are eligible to enter the "Drive a Firestone Sweepstakes" for a chance to win a Firestone Edition Class 8 tractor, which is on display during the tour.
The tour ties in with the tire maker's "Those with Drive, Drive a Firestone" advertising campaign, which debuted in March and includes a series of activities across the U.S. celebrating the Firestone brand.
The tour coincides with the launch of the Firestone truck tires, the reduced rolling-resistance FS591 steer, FD691 drive, and FT491 all-position radials, which are all SmartWay-verified fuel-efficient components under Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay program and CARB-compliant under California's Air Resources Board specifications, Bridgestone said.
Using a set of the new Firestone tires on a rig can save an operator roughly $1,200 a year in fuel and tire costs because of the tires' reduced rolling resistance and extended life, according to Matthew Stevenson, vice president of marketing, commercial tire division
The roll-out of the SmartWay-verified Firestone line of tires follows last year's launch of the Bridgestone Ecopia line of low rolling-resistance truck tires. New Dayton-brand products are in the pipeline for next year, according to the company.
The tour also will make stops this fall at NCAA College Football games and will conclude at the 2014 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky.
To read more about the tires and to view the road show tour schedule, visit the tour's website.