Firestone, a Bridgestone Americas subsidiary, has introduced the Pathway AS, an all-season touring tire offered in 73 sizes. The company said the line provides the widest vehicle coverage of any Firestone tire and is backed by a 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty.
The tire is aimed at everyday drivers and combines all-season traction with long tread life and value, according to Firestone. Leslie Sawyer, senior product design engineer at Bridgestone Americas, said many drivers want a tire they can rely on, and that the Pathway AS is meant to give them confidence in routine driving situations.
Consumer input and size range
Firestone said customer feedback shaped the development of the Pathway AS, with the company focusing on wet traction, tread life and ride comfort compared with the predecessor tire. The company said the changes were developed with those priorities in mind.
The size range expanded during development. Firestone initially planned 48 sizes, then added 25 more to improve market coverage. With the larger lineup, the company said the Pathway AS reaches nearly 77% of registered vehicles.
Tread design and all-season features
Firestone said the tire's tread compound is designed for durability across its 65,000-mile limited mileage warranty. Additional sipes and an optimized see-through void are intended to promote more even wear and help maintain traction as the tire ages.
For year-round use, the Pathway AS uses deep interlocking 3D sipes. Firestone said the design is intended to provide traction in conditions ranging from light snow to dry and wet pavement. The tire also uses a tread pattern and compound intended to balance wet grip, wear resistance and rolling resistance.
Internal test results
Firestone cited internal testing in which the Pathway AS recorded an 18% shorter wet braking distance than the Uniroyal Laredo HT, an 11.7% shorter wet braking distance than the Firestone All Season, and a 7.4% shorter wet braking distance than the Toyo Extensa AS2. The company also said the tire stopped in shorter dry braking distances than six leading competitors. Firestone attributed the figures to internal testing.
Firestone said the tire's wear resistance supports long-lasting performance, while low rolling resistance contributes to fuel efficiency on internal combustion engine vehicles. The combination is intended to provide well-rounded all-season performance for everyday driving, according to the company.
Availability and fitments
The Pathway AS is available now nationwide. Firestone said the lineup includes fitments for popular vehicles including the Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Equinox. The size range covers a broad mix of vehicles.