Firestone launches Roadhawk European winter fleet tires

Zaventem, Belgium – Firestone announced the launch of its first winter truck tire range, the Firestone Roadhawk Winter Drive and Firestone Roadhawk Winter Steer. Engineered for small to large European fleets seeking reliability and reduced ownership costs from their tires year-round, the Firestone Roadhawk Winter range is the smart choice from a brand with a 120-year legacy in the tire industry.

The Firestone Roadhawk Winter range is optimised for year-round conditions thanks to a durable tread compound that extends tire life, with stone ejectors built into the tire’s tread for stone drilling resistance and casing durability. The tire provides resistance against irregular wear across its Steer and Drive axles, applying a zig-zag shoulder groove and mini sipes to counter irregular wear resistance. This is combined with a brake control rib in the tire’s shoulder groove to also improve the tire’s resistance to irregular wear.

The latest addition to the Firestone tire portfolio delivers reliable handling in mild snow and wet conditions across its Steer and Drive axles, enabled by an optimised footprint and contact pressure distribution for handling performance. Reliable traction performance in mild snow conditions in Drive axle is enabled by a combination of high sipes and blocks density, and anti-slip block design, increasing edge elements for traction as well as braking. With both M+S and 3PMSF markings, the Firestone Roadhawk Winter tire range is fully winter-ready.

“Reliability is of utmost importance to fleets when it comes to tires, especially in winter,” said Waqqas Ahmad, Commercial Sales Director Bridgestone EMEA. “We wanted to provide drivers and fleet professionals in the mid-segment with a tire that could deliver throughout the year – reducing both operational challenges and total cost of ownership. We’re very proud to launch the very first Firestone Winter tire range in the commercial segment and bring durable and uncompromised year-round efficiency to fleet operations.”

Developed at Bridgestone’s R&D Centre in Rome, the design and performance characteristics of the Firestone Roadhawk Winter range are based on the features of Bridgestone premium truck tires. This includes the use of proven and validated tire technologies as well as the use of modern rubber compounds and materials. These ensure reduced abrasion and greater durability, which in turn increases the service life of the tires.

Manufactured in Europe, the tire range will be available throughout the continent from July 2024 in four dimensions. The Firestone Roadhawk Winter Steer will be available in the dimensions 385/65 R 22.5 and 385/55 R 22.5, while the Firestone Roadhawk Winter Drive will be available in the dimensions 315/80 R 22.5 and 315/70 R 22.5.