Bridgestone debuts updated tires for performance vehicles, SUVs

FORT WORTH, Texas — Bridgestone Americas Inc. is launching three next-generation tires, each targeting a different audience: an all-season ultra-high-performance tire for enthusiasts, an on- and off-highway all-terrain tire of the occasional off-roading enthusiast and a fuel-efficient, long-treadwear tire for the practical-minded CUV/SUV owner.

The tire maker introduced the tires this week to dealers and journalists during a test-driving event at the Texas Motor Speedway in Forth Worth.

The redesigned Bridgestone-brand tires are:

• Potenza RE980AS, a all-season performance tire with improved snow traction and expanded coverage vs. its predecessor, the Potenza RE970AS.

"We designed the new Potenza RE980AS for drivers who want the handling and responsiveness of an ultra high performance tire without compromising all season capability," said Erik Seidel, president, consumer replacement tire sales, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

The Potenza RE980AS features a redesigned tread with large channels and open shoulder slots to evacuate water away from the tire in wet conditions, helping reduce the risk of hydroplaning.

New compounding helps provide flexibility in colder temperatures to increase the surface of the tire on the road, the tire maker said. The asymmetric tread design with 3-D sipes enables the tire to bite into snow for 50-percent better traction than its predecessor.

Bridgestone introduced 16 sizes before the winter season last year and will release 37 additional sizes throughout this year, providing about 85-percent coverage for the automotive enthusiast market. The sizes cover a  range from 16- to 20-inches in rim diameter.

The tire also provides 25-percent longer tread life than its predecessor and is backed by a 50,000-mile limited treadwear warranty.

• Dueler A/T Revo 3 tire for crossovers, SUVs and pickup trucks offers smooth handling on the highway as well as off-road driving performance, the company said.

"As Bridgestone's best-in-class all-terrain tire, the Dueler A/T Revo 3 is a great fit for drivers with an active lifestyle," said Mr. Seidel. "This tire gives drivers the flexibility to travel off-road while still providing a smooth, comfortable ride for traditional on-highway driving."

The Dueler A/T Revo 3 features an aggressive tread design with Bridgestone's Traction Claw technology for improved off-road handling and snow performance. The tread incorporates large tread blocks and staggered shoulder lugs as well as open shoulder slots to help reduce the risk of hydroplaning.

The tire also features 3-D sips to reduce squirm for better traction and wear.

The tire, a successor to the Dueler A/T Revo 2, is available in 37 sizes, including P-metric and LT-metric sizes, and is backed by a 60,000-mile limited treadwear warranty.

• Ecopia H/L 422 Plus tire for crossovers, SUVs and minivans is engineered for long-lasting tread life and improved fuel-efficiency, along with a comfortable ride, according to Bridgestone.

The tire replaces the Dueler H/L Ecopia 422, aligning it with other Ecopia tire lines.

The tire features tread block design to offer increased traction and improved braking on wet roads, interlocking deep sipes and a rounded contact patch for impact absorption.

The tire targets "practical-minded" drivers of family vehicles used for daily use who are willing to pay extra for longer tread life, fuel efficiency and better traction, Bridgestone said.

The Ecopia H/L 422 Plus tire carries a 70,000-mile limited treadwear warranty and is available in 27 sizes, covering about 64 percent of the crossovers, SUVs and minivans on the road, the company said.