What brand names fall under the Firestone umbrella?

[lone_wolf025]

I'm looking into a new set of all season tires. I have no particular preference on brand as of yet, but I can get a good deal on Firestones hence why they are my first choice. So what "company" brands are offered through Firestone? I believe Bridgestone is the parent company of Firestone so any confirmation would be good.

Also does anyone have any recommendations for Bridgestone/Firestone? For my purposes I just need a good tire that will fit a stock rim. Performance would be nice, but All Season traction is key and performance comes second. I'm not concerned about life of the tire as I don't plan on keeping them long enough for it to be of great concern, but not something that will have to be replaced in a year.

I looked through the tire database and saw two types of Bridgestones, but I believe the S-03s are summer tires (someone let me know on that one).

Brand: Bridgestone
Model: Potenza RE950
Size: 225/55/16 (or 225/50/16)

Brand: Bridgestone
Model: Pole Position S-03
Size: 225/50-16

[Mike Jung]

Yes, Bridgestone owns Firestone.

Yes, the Bridgestone Potenza S-03 are summer only tires.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE950 are discontinued. <- This is what I have on my GA for the last 4-summers :D
Replaced by the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position.
Yes, they are "all-season"; but DO NOT use them in them in the winter !!!
For the reason, look at the tread pattern.
Not good in snow or slush.
(But I never used them in the winter. I have Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 winter performance tires.)

Japanese tires FTW :) lol

PS: There is no Bridgestone (or Firestone) all-season tire I would use on my GA for the winter.

[Ajaxus]

Curious what all-seasons you would recommend Mike, I gotta get a pair this next week. Preferably for me something that Tire Rack would carry (not trying to thread jack).

[Mike Jung]

Curious what all-seasons you would recommend Mike, I gotta get a pair this next week. Preferably for me something that Tire Rack would carry (not trying to thread jack).
While I fully recommend winter tires...

These would be the tires I would consider (in no specify order), for in terms of winter driving with all-season tires:

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/bfg/bfg_traction_ta_hv_6r_ci2_l.jpg
BF Goodrich's Traction T/A (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Traction+T%2FA+V&partnum=25VR6TTA&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=0&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y)

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/conti/co_contiextremecontact_ci2_l.jpg
Continental ContiExtremeContact (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=ContiExtremeContact&partnum=25VR6CEC&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=22&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y)
But there have been some people with bad tires...balancing issues.

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/goodyear/gy_assurance_triple_ci2_l.jpg
Goodyear Assurance TripleTred (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Assurance+TripleTred&partnum=25HR6ATT&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=30&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y)
Mark from MP Racing has these on his Malibu...Maybe ask him how he likes/dislikes them ?

[Mike Jung]

PS: Jon,

Out of the tires offered by Firestone & Bridgestone...

I would get:
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/bridgestone/bs_potz_re960as_pole_ci2_l.jpg
Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE960AS+Pole+Position&partnum=25WR6RE960PP&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=2&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y)

These would be my next tires if I was tire shopping.

But...I wouldn't use them in winter driving conditions.

Edit: Also have a read of this (but there are no comments on winter condition usage): Testing the next evolution in ultra high performance all-season tires (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=87)

[lone_wolf025]

Thanks for the info/suggestions. Any suggestions are welcome even if they are not necessarily Firestone/Bridgestone. The only stipulation is that they fit stock and are all season.

I would get winter tires as I agree with Mike about having dedicated tires, its just that the RSA's are garbage and they've probably only got another few seasons left. Also considering how their performance was last winter, I'd rather replace them before winter. If the RSA's were better and if I was going to keep the grandma long term, I'd get the winter tires. But since I think we all know what garbage the RSA's are, keeping them is not something I'm gonna do.

I've heard about the triple treads from Mark already. I'm gonna hold off on those as an option for now.

[Gizm0815]

i loved my yokohama avid v4s that ive got only downside is there about gone and ive only put about 31k on them they should have lasted longer. think im gunna rock some winter tires and then pick up something new come spring. but the were good in the winter when they had tread.

[Mike Jung]

Well, these seem like nice tires...

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/goodyear/gy_eaglef1_as_ci2_l.jpg
Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+F1+All+Season&partnum=25YR6F1AS&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=23&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y)
But not sure how they will handle in the snow.
Seen some C6 Corvettes with them on here in Toronto.

[Mike Jung]

hehe...

I totally forgot about these lol

http://www.nokiantyres.com/files/nkr/ha_talvi/wr_tuote_iso.jpg
Nokian WR (http://www.nokiantyres.com/passengercars_product_en?product=610503&name=NOKIAN+WR)

The US website: http://www.nokiantires.com

They are perfect for you Jon & AJ.
(But they give up some performance/handling for the awesome all-season winter traction.)
They are more winter tire than all-season.
But are not really a full blown winter tires.
But some are marketing it as a winter tire; & some are marketing as an all-season tire.

PS: Those Finnish people know how to make Nokian tires for winter :D

[lone_wolf025]

So how about

Brand: Dunlop
Model: SP Sport A2
Size: 225/50-HR16

Beat me to the punch on the Eagles :D

[Mike Jung]

Brand: Dunlop
Model: SP Sport A2
Size: 225/50-HR16
Cheaper on price.
Not my choice for winter traction.
Kinda wear fast for some people.

But some like it.

PS: Aren't they discontinued ?

[lone_wolf025]

Dunno if they're discontinued or not. Probably; seeing as how I got it from the database thread.

Come to think of it we should update that database to account for discontinued brands...

[Redog]

Might sound nuts, but ever since that tire thing with the Explorer a few years back, I refuse to drive on any Firestone brand.

I've been told the only 4 brands you should buy are either BFGoodrich, Goodyear, Michllen or Pirellie (sp)

The Alero has Michllen Exlaoto Pilot Sports, the wife's Altima has Goodyear Assurance (non directional) and the Delta has Goodyear Eagle GT's on the back but some cheap ones up front (they are turning green ;crap )

I don't like the Goodyears because the Alero came from the factory with them and they were bald within 20,000 miles but so were the wife's Altima Contenials. The Goodyear Eagle GT's suck for traction, but stand up to the burnouts pretty good. The Delta will get BFG Radial T/A's when it gets new rims :angel

[Redog]

So how about

Brand: Dunlop
Model: SP Sport A2
Size: 225/50-HR16

Beat me to the punch on the Eagles :D

I've heard Dunlops are very heavy

[Mike Jung]

Might sound nuts, but ever since that tire thing with the Explorer a few years back, I refuse to drive on any Firestone brand...
Firestone = US made.
(I wouldn't buy a Firestone tire either.)

Bridgestone = Japanese made, on the tires that I have bought.


PS: But no one remembers about the Goodyear incident, that was similar ?
Lets have the manufacturer choose a light weight class tire.
& put in on a heavy vehicle & under-inflate it :rolleyes:

[lone_wolf025]

I had firestones on my blazer before the head gasket blew. They worked pretty well, and besides I figure a year maybe two max and the car will be paid off and sold. Anyways I probably won't go with them because of Mike's recommendation. Granted it seems we don't see that much snow around here these days, I do want something that can take the snow when we do get it.