Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (BATO) has rolled out two new tires that contain its environmentally friendly Ecopia technology, including a tire specifically engineered for light trucks, SUVs and crossover vehicles (CUVs).
The tire, the Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia, "is the first ever tire for SUVs, CUVs and light trucks that incorporates Ecopia technology, featuring Bridgestone's latest and best low rolling resistance, which helps drivers achieve improved fuel economy without sacrificing wear or wet handling performance," say BATO officials.
The tire will be available in six sizes from 16 inches to 18 inches and will fit the Cadillac Escalade, Ford F-150 and other vehicles.
Also new is the Ecopia EP422, an all-season, low rolling resistance tire for fuel-efficient vehicles. The tire "utilizes post-consumer recycled rubber and incorporates Bridgestone's cutting-edge NanoPro Tech Technology that contributes to fuel efficiency... by controlling the interaction between polymer filler materials and other rubber materials."
The Ecopia EP 422 will be offered in five sizes, ranging from 15 inches to 16 inches. Popular fitments will include the Honda Civic Hybrid, the Toyota Prius and other cars.
In recent testing, BATO officials report that the Ecopia EP422 demonstrated a 36% improvement in rolling resistance when compared with a conventional Bridgestone tire. Meanwhile, the Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia showed a 42% improvement over a standard Bridgestone tire.
Both tires come with BATO's "Buy and Try 30-Day Guarantee, which allows consumers to return tires within 30 days if they're not completely satisfied."
"Creating a green tire doesn't mean you have to sacrifice wear, wet performance or stopping ability," says Phil Pacsi, vice president, U.S. and Canada Consumer Tire Marketing, BATO.
Both the Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia and the Ecopia EP 422 will be available during the second quarter. The tires will be officially unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, which starts Feb. 12.
