“Major Upgrade” Made to Firestone’s Winter Tyre Portfolio

Bridgestone is referring to the launch of the Firestone Winterhawk 2 EVO and Winterhawk 2V EVO tyre ranges as the completion of “major upgrade” to the brand’s winter tyre line-up. According to the manufacturer, the two new tyres incorporate the latest winter technological developments with EVO compound, a combination that reportedly enables it to set “new benchmarks in the standard segment”. Bridgestone states that the two Winterhawk products deliver best-in-class performance on wet, snow and dry.

“In keeping with the Firestone brand character, the Winterhawk 2(V) EVO aims to give family drivers confidence behind the wheel, with the reassurance of reliable winter control and comfortable, economic motoring,” comments Bridgestone in a press statement. The company adds that different pattern designs have been developed to provide consistent high performance across the whole size line-up: The directional Winterhawk 2 EVO, designed for small to medium-sized cars in the T and H speed range, targets all-round safety in wet and snow. For drivers looking for a sportier tyre in the V-speed range, the asymmetric pattern on the Winterhawk 2V EVO is, Bridgestone reports, tuned for secure handling in snow, wet and dry

“The technology behind this performance features a high-silica EVO winter compound, with a good balance between snow, wear and wet performance, and an advanced tread design,” elaborates the manufacturer. “On snow, the high sipe concentration provides optimum traction and braking, while narrow, connected centre blocks generate a strong lateral edge ingredient for confident handling and cornering grip. Dry handling and cornering performance is enhanced by the 3D “blade” shoulder sipes, which reinforce block stiffness as the edge ingredient increases, and the stiff centre blocks which also provide resistance to wear.”

Independent evaluation by the German test group TÜV SÜD against three main competitors (using size 195/65 R15 91T tyres fitted to a VW Golf VI, 2.0 TDI) showed the Winterhawk 2 EVO to be top performer in its class for snow braking, wet braking and dry handling.

A total of 41 Winterhawk 2 EVO sizes for 13 to 17-inch rims have been launched in June 2010. An initial offering of 4 Winterhawk 2V EVO sizes for 17 and 18-inch rim diameters has also been release, and Bridgestone states that additional 16 and 17-inch sizes will be introduced next year.