Firestone, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has introduced the Firestone Pathway AS, an all-season touring tire that will be offered in 73 sizes, which the company describes as the broadest vehicle coverage of any Firestone tire. The tire is available now nationwide and is aimed at everyday drivers, combining what the company presents as dependable performance, long tread life and value under a 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty.
Leslie Sawyer, senior product design engineer at Bridgestone Americas, said most drivers want a tire they can depend on, and described the Pathway AS as engineered to deliver reliable performance and long-lasting value in everyday driving situations.
Consumer feedback shaped the final size range
Consumer input played a central role in the development program, which focused on improving wet traction, tread life and ride comfort compared with the model the new tire succeeds. The line was originally planned for 48 sizes, but 25 additional sizes were added during development to widen market coverage, an expansion the company says helps the tire reach nearly 77% of registered vehicles.
According to Bridgestone, the Pathway AS builds on the strengths of the previous model while addressing drivers' evolving needs.
Features aimed at tread wear and year-round traction
- Long tread life: A tread compound designed for longevity underpins the 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty. Additional sipes and an optimized see-through void are intended to help the tire wear more evenly and maintain traction over time.
- Year-round reliability: Deep interlocking 3D sipes are designed to provide traction across conditions ranging from light snow to dry and wet pavement.
- Everyday performance: Wear resistance is intended to support long-lasting performance, while low rolling resistance is described as contributing to fuel-efficient performance on internal combustion engine vehicles.
Internal test results cited by the company
In internal testing, Bridgestone reports an 18% reduction in wet braking distance for the Pathway AS compared with the Uniroyal Laredo HT, an 11.7% reduction compared with the Firestone All Season, and a 7.4% reduction compared with the Toyo Extensa AS2. The company also states that the new tire recorded shorter dry braking distances than six leading competitors. These figures are company-reported internal test results and have not been independently verified.
Vehicle fitments
The lineup includes fitments for many of today's popular vehicles, including the Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Equinox.