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- Firestone earned an general rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 in our most up-to-date tire research
- In normal, Firestone tires are usually inexpensive decisions for fundamental driving wants
- The firm additionally has service facilities across the nation and guarantee plans for buy
In Our Opinion:
Firestone presents a number of respected choices for efficiency, all-season, and freeway tires. While it doesn’t boast fairly the identical fame as Michelin or Goodyear, Firestone is well-regarded by tire trade specialists. Firestone tires have treadwear warranties as much as 70,000 miles and restricted warranties for 3 to 4 years.
Pros:
Strong trade backing
Decent treadwear warranties
Affordable choices for SUV tires
Cons:
Fewer extremely rated fashions throughout all tire classes
When it involves tires, Firestone is a family title. But how do Firestone tires stack up in opposition to rivals? In this text, we’ll talk about Firestone in-depth, together with trade fame, well-liked tire fashions, prices, buyer critiques, and our general ideas.
We suggest evaluating just a few totally different tire fashions from a number of manufacturers earlier than selecting a purchase order. To begin evaluating the most effective tires available on the market, together with these from Firestone, go to TireRack.com.
About Firestone Tires
Founded in 1900 in Akron, Ohio by Harvey Firestone, Firestone is a well-recognized model amongst drivers within the U.S. and past. In 1988, Firestone was purchased by Bridgestone Tire, which now acts as its guardian firm. Bridgestone made up 19.5 p.c of North American tire gross sales in 2019, making it one of many largest tire producers on the continent.
Competing with large-scale tire producers like Michelin and Goodyear, Firestone has carved a passenger automobile area of interest for itself inside Bridgestone’s bigger market share. Today, Firestone is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
Firestone produces alternative tires for vehicles, vans, and SUVs and beforehand manufactured unique gear (OE) tires for Ford Motor Company. Firestone tires are a robust selection for the day-to-day commuter on the lookout for a budget-friendly possibility.
Cost of Firestone Tires
Firestone tires are in a extra inexpensive value vary than different big-name tire manufacturers. For instance, Firestone All Season tires for a preferred passenger automobile just like the 2019 Toyota Camry value as little as $105.47 per tire. According to Consumer Reports, all-season tires run between $80 and $120 every.
However, tire prices can differ considerably between totally different fashions, sizes, and specialties, even throughout the similar model. Drivers also needs to think about a tire’s treadwear guarantee versus the fee. More costly tires typically provide an extended tread life, that means fewer replacements in the long term.
Firestone Tires Industry Ratings
Firestone tires, like many outstanding tire corporations, comply with an analysis system created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This system, known as Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG), grades normal tires based mostly on treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance.
Treadwear
This grade estimates the longevity of your tires. To calculate treadwear, tires are measured in opposition to a management tire given a score of 100. If a tire has a 500 treadwear score, which means it lasted 5 occasions longer than the management. Most passenger tires have between a 300 and 500 treadwear score, in line with information from SaferCar.gov.
Traction
This grade measures how properly your tires “grip” a moist highway. Traction grades are given on a scale of AA, A, B, or C. Good day-to-day passenger tires usually obtain an A score.
Temperature
This grade evaluates a tire’s warmth resistance on a scale of A, B, or C. Tires want to resist totally different temperatures based mostly on their specialization. Performance tires normally transfer at a lot greater speeds than an all-season tire, and in flip, have greater temperature rankings.
Firestone Tire UTQG Grades
Here are just a few of Tire Rack’s highest-rated Firestone fashions and their UTQG grades:
Be conscious that the NHTSA doesn’t perform UTQG checks. Manufacturers rent impartial corporations to check their tires and report UTQG grades. Since testing isn’t performed by one firm or group, tire producers’ grading can differ in comparison with precise efficiency on the highway.
Most Popular Firestone Tire Models
The hottest Firestone tires are on a regular basis all-season fashions and heavy-duty truck tires. Some Firestone efficiency tires are extremely rated by clients, however many fall flat when in comparison with Michelin or Pirelli. The tire producer additionally produces a dependable, studdable winter tire for vehicles, gentle vans, and SUVs.
Using trade rankings and buyer critiques from Tire Rack, we compiled a listing of the preferred Firestone tire fashions beneath.
- Firestone Destination A/T: An all-terrain tire with excessive off-roading and luxury efficiency
- Firestone All-Season: A day-to-day commuter tire out there in most tire sizes and made to final 65,000 miles
- Firestone Destination LE2: A load-bearing tire “designed to combine long wear, a comfortable ride, and all-season traction, even in light snow,” in line with Tire Rack
- Firestone Winterforce 2: A studdable winter and snow tire backed by the trade’s three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) image, indicating improved efficiency in harsh circumstances
Each of those Firestone tires obtained at the least a 4.0 out of 5.0 score from clients on Tire Rack, and lots of got a 90-percent score or above when in comparison with the tire voted “best” in that class.
Firestone Tire Buying Guide
Firestone tires are typically identified for sturdy high quality throughout the model, however not each tire is the proper tire for each automobile, driver, season, or supposed use. Understanding which tires fit your wants may also help make sure you make the most effective buying choice.
Firestone Tires: What To Consider
There are a number of elements that decide whether or not or a tire is the proper match and performance on your automobile. These elements may also help you determine whether or not a tire such because the Firestone Weathergrip or the Firehawk AS, for instance, is a more sensible choice for you and embrace:
- Tread sample: Different tread patterns include distinct traits and benefits. The normal classes of tread patterns are diagonal, symmetrical, asymmetrical, and a mix of these classes.
- Tire construct: Most tires fall beneath the development classes of radial, bias-ply, and bias-belted. While radial tires typically are usually extra sturdy, bias tires are usually inexpensive and infrequently have extra inflexible sidewalls.
- Weather score: Some tires are designed for all climate circumstances, however you’ll additionally discover winter and summer time tires constructed for particular circumstances.
- Tire life: Manufacturers usually describe a tire’s anticipated lifetime when it comes to mileage.
- Speed score: Every tire has a most secure pace really helpful by the producer.
- Ride noise: There generally is a large distinction between quieter tires and louder ones when it comes to the noise you hear contained in the cabin.
How To Read Tire Sizes
Getting the proper measurement tire on your wheels and automobile is important to driving efficiency and security. Most tires function a label that makes use of a comparatively normal format for figuring out match, construct, and function. Using a tire labeled P 225/65R17 for example, let’s break down what every factor means:
- P: The first letter within the label signifies the supposed use of the tire. In this case, “P” stands for passenger, implying that this tire is supposed for a private automobile.
- 225: The first quantity within the label represents the tire’s width in millimeters. This implies that our instance tire is 225 millimeters broad.
- 65: The quantity that follows the slash within the label is the facet ratio represented as a proportion. In our instance, the label signifies that the tire’s top is 65% of its width.
- R: The second letter within the label represents the kind of tire construct. Our instance tire makes use of “R” to point radial development.
- 17: The ultimate quantity within the label signifies the diameter of the wheel it matches in inches. In this case, the instance tire is constructed for a 17-inch rim.
Firestone Additional Services
Firestone sells just a few different providers along with its tires that may assist defend your funding and handle a number of the prices associated to tires and tire upkeep.
Firestone Trial Period and Tire Warranty
Firestone additionally presents a 90-day trial for many fashions. Firestone’s longest treadwear guarantee extends 70,000 miles, which is lower than the 80,000 and 90,000-mile warranties provided by Michelin and Goodyear, respectively.
Firestone Gold Pledge Limited Warranty
Firestone presents a Gold Pledge Limited Warranty with all passenger fashions, besides winter and different specialty tires by means of its retailers. The guarantee covers any faulty workmanship for 3 years from the date of buy or 4 years from the date of manufacture for those who don’t have proof of buy date, in line with Firestone’s guarantee guide.
Firestone Complete Auto Care
Firestone additionally has a community of restore facilities across the nation that supply extra than simply tire providers. At Firestone Complete Auto Care facilities, you may get routine upkeep providers like oil adjustments and auto repairs.
Firestone Customer Reviews
Before buying a brand new set of Firestone tires, it may be useful to overview buyer suggestions on totally different fashions. Customer critiques typically make clear how the tires really carry out and the way lengthy they final on the highway.
Below, we’ve compiled just a few buyer critiques of Firestone tires from Tire Rack.
Positive Experiences with Firestone Tires
“[The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is a] great tire. I drive aggressively, and this tire never makes a sound while cornering. Very stable and [has] great dry traction. Wet traction is better than expected considering the lack of wide grooves on the outer edge of the tire.”
– through Tire Rack
“I was always amazed every time I serviced the car on how well the [Firestone Destination LE 2] tires were wearing. They felt smooth on the road and performed exceptionally in the rain. My wife hit two nails throughout our time with these tires, and both times, the tire didn’t lose air and didn’t puncture completely.”
– through Tire Rack
Negative Experiences with Firestone Tires
“The [Firestone Transforce tires] were all-around great at first. The problem came at about 20,000 miles when they felt like they turned into glass. The traction seemed to diminish overnight, especially the wet traction. It got so bad, I stopped driving my truck when it rains at the 35,000 mark.”
– through Tire Rack
“[The Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter] became noisy around 20,000 and were hard to keep balanced. Tire is rated for 70,000 miles… would never make it past 50,000. Tires were wearing very unevenly. I really wanted to like these tires, as they are not cheap.”
– through Tire Rack
Firestone Tires: Conclusion
Firestone tires are comparatively inexpensive for day-to-day use, particularly for gentle truck and SUV drivers. The tire producer presents many kinds of tires, however its fashions solely stand out in just a few classes. Firestone’s buyer critiques are extra blended than different manufacturers we’ve reviewed, however are general optimistic. At the tip of the day, Firestone is a good selection for fundamental commuter fashions and a few all-terrain tires.
To begin purchasing for Firestone tires, go to TireRack.com.
Firestone Tires: Recommended Competitors
Before committing to 1 OE or alternative tire mannequin, try what different choices can be found to your automobile. You could possibly discover a higher tire at a decrease value. We suggest Michelin and Cooper tires.
Michelin: Best Tires Overall
In our 2021 overview of the tire trade, we named Michelin the Best Tires Overall, giving the model a 4.5 out of 5.0 score. While Michelin fashions are dearer than Firestone tires, they provide longer treadwear warranties and extra tire selection. Backed by trade specialists and with excessive buyer satisfaction rankings, Michelin tires are a wise selection for many drivers.
Start evaluating Michelin tire costs on TireRack.com.
Cooper: Most Affordable
We named Cooper tires the Most Affordable in our trade overview. Some Cooper fashions value as little as $84 per tire, relying on the dimensions and automobile. The tire producer makes a speciality of alternative tires and is an impartial producer. Many clients communicate extremely of Cooper’s high quality and tread life.
You can begin purchasing for Cooper tires on TireRack.com.
Firestone Tires: FAQ
Is Bridgestone the identical as Firestone?
Bridgestone Tire now owns Firestone and acts as its guardian firm. However, the manufacturers are separate entities and provide totally different product lineups.
Who makes Firestone tires?
Firestone tires are made by Bridgestone Tire. Bridgestone bought Firestone and its belongings in 1988.
Are Firestone tires a great model?
Firestone tires are a comparatively good model. The firm makes inexpensive tires which can be reliable beneath regular utilization.
Our Methodology
Our analysis crew is dedicated to offering probably the most correct, thorough, and unbiased info potential to assist folks make knowledgeable selections concerning the tires they buy. We use a standardized set of standards to make sure the consistency and comparability of our critiques.
- Industry Reputation: To assess the general reliability of every firm, we checked out trade rankings from organizations just like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and extra, together with the corporate’s longevity and different elements.
- Tire Variety: Our crew thought-about the total vary of every producer’s tire lineup, giving greater scores to corporations that provided bigger and extra numerous picks.
- Affordability: Costs are an essential consideration when shopping for tires. We evaluated the worth vary of every firm’s merchandise to find out its affordability relative to rivals.
- Customer Satisfaction: Our researchers scoured the web for critiques from clients to evaluate how glad persons are with their model expertise. We thought-about overview scores in addition to appeared for constant patterns of complaints or reward.
Source: www.automoblog.web