Firestone Firehawk GT Pursuit Takes Top Overall Honors In Police Fleet Manager's Real-World Tire Test

BRIDGESTONE CANADA INC. (NEWS RELEASE)

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario (September 3, 2009) – For emergency, rescue and police vehicles, a tire that delivers top performance, durability and dependability is critical. With lives potentially on the line, there’s no room for error. In recent testing by Police Fleet Manager, the Firestone Firehawk GT Pursuit proved to be the best tire for this demanding job, garnering top overall honors and rating first in wet-oriented performance.

“We knew the Firehawk GT Pursuit was a great tire, and the results of this test further reinforce our belief with solid facts,” said Phil Pacsi, Vice President, Consumer Marketing, U.S. & Canada Consumer Tire Sales division, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO). “We’re excited about the Firehawk’s excellent performance. To rank first overall, when put through the real-world conditions pursuit vehicles face every day, offers real-world data first responders can depend on.”

The experts at Tire Rack partnered with Police Fleet Manager to test original equipment and aftermarket pursuit tires in several categories: ABS braking on dry pavement, ABS braking on wet pavement, vehicle dynamics on a dry road course and vehicle dynamics on a wet road course. For each of these objective, instrument-measured areas of performance, each test driver was asked to complete a subjective impression assessment for each tire.

Overall results, in which the Firehawk GT Pursuit ranked first were based on all four objective measurements plus all four subjective impressions, as well as wet and dry results. Tire rankings were also equally weighed between various sub-categories of performance, including tire response in slalom, tire cornering around static circle, braking distances and total lap times.

All tires were tested on a demanding wet and dry road course at Tire Rack headquarters in South Bend, Ind. Designed with 180- and 90-degree turns, short straights, cone slalom series and static circles, the tires were tested in the real-life conditions which drivers of police and emergency vehicles are often forced to face when on the job.

In addition to leading the competition as Police Fleet Manager’s “clear, stand-alone overall winner of the 2009 test,” the Firestone Firehawk GT Pursuit took top rankings in the objective measurements of wet slalom speeds (transient response) and wet stopping distances. The Firehawk GT Pursuit also placed first in the subjective driver assessment ratings of wet steering response and wet braking traction.

No other tire tested could match the Firehawk GT Pursuit’s overall performance.

The Firestone Firehawk GT Pursuit is specifically designed for law enforcement use and to withstand the demands of high-speed emergency situations. The tire combines wet and dry handling with an emphasis on quick steering response and is available in the following sizes to fit many common emergency vehicles:

55 Series:  P235/55/R17   98W

60 Series:  P225/60/R18   99V

A complete list of available sizes as well as features and benefits of this tire and other Bridgestone- and Firestone-brand tires is available at www.bridgestonetire.com.

About Bridgestone Canada Inc.: Bridgestone Canada Inc. (BSCA) is a member of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) and a direct subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BSCA and BATO develop, manufacture and market Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. They are focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, agricultural and other tires to their customers in Canada and the United States, respectively. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions Canada unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.

From Mary Moniz // TORCHIA COMMUNICATIONS