NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 12, 2014) — Bridgestone Americas will debut this summer its latest winter tire for cars and minivans.
The studless Blizzak WS80 features the tire maker's “multi-cell” rubber compound technology.
The tire will be available in 48 T- and H-rated sizes, with rim diameters ranging from 15 to 18 inches, Nashville-based Bridgestone said.
The WS80 features Bridgestone's next-generation Multi-Cell Compound, which the tire maker said is made with a hydrophilic coating that helps to combat slippage on ice, snow and slush. The coating allows the compound to attract water, drawing it away from the road, while bite particles added to the compound act as microscopic studs to help grip the road and improve ice braking, Bridgestone said.
“When winter driving conditions are at their worst, Bridgestone's Blizzak winter tires are at their best,” said Anant Gandhi, product manager for Bridgestone. “And now, the Blizzak WS80 takes that to another level, giving drivers even greater peace-of-mind.”
Other features include a tire footprint optimized for winter driving; an advanced tread pattern with deep tread grooves; and an advanced rubber compound that the company said works at a molecular level to remain flexible in the cold.