Firestone, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has introduced the Firestone Pathway AS, an all-season touring tire developed for everyday drivers. The tire is offered in 73 sizes, which Firestone says is the broadest vehicle coverage of any tire in its portfolio. It carries a 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty and is positioned around dependable performance, long tread life and value. The company says the tire builds on the strengths of its predecessor while addressing drivers' evolving needs.
Leslie Sawyer, senior product design engineer at Bridgestone Americas, said most drivers want a tire they can depend on. Sawyer said the Pathway AS was designed to deliver reliable performance and long-lasting value in everyday driving situations.
Consumer feedback shaped the lineup
Firestone said consumer feedback was central to the tire's development, with the company focusing on improvements in wet traction, tread life and ride comfort compared with the predecessor model. The program began with plans for 48 sizes; Firestone added 25 sizes during development to broaden market coverage, bringing the total to 73. The company says the expanded lineup helps it reach nearly 77% of registered vehicles.
Tread life and all-season traction
The Pathway AS uses a tread compound formulated for longevity. Additional sipes and an optimized see-through void design are intended to help the tire wear more evenly and maintain traction over time, Firestone says. The company says this helps extend value over the warranty period. The 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty covers tread life.
The tire is intended for year-round use in a range of everyday conditions. Deep interlocking 3D sipes are designed to provide traction across a range of conditions, from light snow to dry and wet pavement. Firestone also cites low rolling resistance, which it says contributes to fuel-efficient performance on internal combustion engine vehicles, and wear resistance intended to support long-lasting performance. The company describes the result as a confident, well-rounded driving experience.
Wet and dry braking results
In internal testing, Firestone says the Pathway AS reduced wet braking distance by 18% compared with the Uniroyal Laredo HT, by 11.7% compared with the Firestone All Season, and by 7.4% compared with the Toyo Extensa AS2. The company also reports shorter dry braking distances than six leading competitors. The wet-braking comparisons cover three named tires. These figures are company-reported internal test results and were not independently verified in the announcement.
Availability and vehicle fitments
The Pathway AS is available now nationwide. Firestone says the lineup includes fitments for popular vehicles including the Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Equinox.