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Bridgestone Americas Press Center

June 1, 2018 NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Firestone Launches New Rain Tire for the Verizon IndyCar® Series

First new rain tire design in three years to debut at Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

new Firestone rain tire for IndyCar series

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. today announced the launch of a new Firestone Firehawk rain tire for the Verizon IndyCar® Series, which will make its debut at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. The tire is the first new rain tire design in three years and features an all-new tread pattern.

Firestone Racing worked with INDYCAR drivers and teams, as well as Bridgestone Americas passenger tire engineers, to design a new motorsports rain tire with enhanced wet performance. The tire features a grooved tread pattern for improved grip and control in wet conditions, and is specially designed to reduce hydroplaning. The tools used in the development and testing of the new tire, including predictive modeling, are used for all Firestone tires, including Firehawk passenger tires.

“After extensive preparation and testing, we are excited to introduce the latest in Firestone race tire technology,” said Cara Adams, Chief Engineer, Bridgestone Americas Motorsports. “Racing in wet conditions demands slightly different tire capabilities and a tread pattern design that evacuates water, which is a key consideration in engineering our passenger tires. With the new Firestone Firehawk rain tire, Firestone customers can see the durable, dependable performance they get on the open road every day being tested and trusted by the world’s best drivers.”

To deliver premier high-speed wet performance, the new Firestone Firehawk rain tire features both asymmetric and directional tread patterns that combine to create a unique design for each tire position on the car. These highly-technical designs leverage insight from Bridgestone Americas passenger tire engineers to achieve an optimal balance of water evacuation, accelerating, braking and cornering ability.

The new rain tire will continue to feature the gray sidewall, allowing fans, drivers and teams alike to easily identify the rain tire compared to the black-sidewall primary slick race tire. Rain tires are used on road and street courses only, as the Verizon IndyCar® Series does not run oval races in wet conditions.

Firestone has played an integral role in open-wheel racing for more than a century. As the Official Tire of the Verizon IndyCar® Series for 19 seasons, Firestone tires are trusted by the world’s best drivers on the track. The demands of Indy car racing continue to serve as the ultimate testing ground for the technology incorporated into Firestone passenger tires that equip popular cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks on the road today.

With the new Firestone Firehawk rain tire, Firestone customers can see the durable, dependable performance they get on the open road every day being tested and trusted by the world’s best drivers.
Cara Adams, Chief Engineer, Bridgestone Americas Motorsports
Cara Adams, Chief Engineer, Bridgestone Americas Motorsports Click to Tweet

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:

Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

 

About Firestone Racing:

The Firestone brand has appeared in world-class motorsports events for more than a century, and racing has played an integral role in building and shaping Firestone into the time-tested, iconic brand it is today. Harvey Firestone, the brand’s founder, came up with the idea to use racing as the ultimate proving ground to test his tires, and ever since Ray Harroun’s Firestone-equipped Marmon Wasp won the inaugural Indianapolis 500® in 1911, Firestone has worked to constantly evolve and advance race tire technology. Since then, Firestone tires have carried the winner of the Indy 500 to victory circle 69 times – more than double all other tire manufacturers combined. The unique demands of Indy car racing continue to provide the perfect testing lab for Firestone tires. Firestone has served as INDYCAR’s sole tire supplier since 2000, and the brand’s on-track success translates to durable, dependable performance and uncompromising quality on the open road.

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