NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 13, 2005) - When it comes to travel, touring and far-off destinations, the Firestone® Destination™ M/T tire from Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is going the distance - literally. The tire, featured on a custom-built 6x6 Land Rover called “Nyathi” that is halfway through a two-year, trans-world expedition, has stood up to every possible obstacle encountered on the continent-crossing odyssey.

Drivers Michael Groves and Sandy Methven created the 6x6 Land Rover specifically for their ‘round-the-world trip and chose to equip the vehicle with six Firestone Destination M/T tires (along with three spares) in size LT285/75R16 . The tires feature BFNT’s exclusive UNI-T® technology.

“The incredible and punishing terrain faced during this trip demands a rugged and reliable tire,” said Phil Pacsi, executive director, North American Consumer Tire Brand Marketing , BFNT. “Regardless of the travel environment encountered thus far, our Firestone Destination M/T tires have consistently proven to be the perfect choice due to their robust construction, predictable handling, even treadwear and long-life characteristics.”

Through his online travel journal, Groves has been documenting the performance of his Firestone Destination M/T tires, providing real-life insight to the tires’ ruggedness and dependability.

“We have driven thousands of kilometers through desert sand, outcrops of volcanic rock, thick jungle mud, massive thorns in the bush, rutted tracks and stony ground. We’ve been really impressed with the tires’ performance. Nyathi has felt stable and sure-footed all the way,” said Groves of the tires’ versatile reliability. “At one point, we followed a very steep and slippery path to pull out a 4x4 which was bogged down in the muddy tundra. The chunky tread pattern of our Destination M/T tires gave us excellent grip, and the treads cleared themselves well, even at low revs. We've not got ourselves stuck yet and no punctures either!”

Even over the thousands of paved miles the expedition has traveled, Groves has nothing but rave reviews for the Firestone Destination M/T tire.

“For a tire with such an aggressive tread, it is remarkably quiet on the road. The extra width makes the vehicle feel extremely stable, too,” said Groves.

More comments on the performance of the Firestone Destination M/T tires as they help Nyathi make its way through the grueling trans-world odyssey can be found in Groves’ online journal at www.expeditionoverland.com.

As the first Firestone brand light truck tire to incorporate the company’s exclusive UNI-T technology (which enhances wet handling and braking), the Destination M/T also offers advantages from DMR Max Traction Light Truck Tire Technologies, exclusively from Firestone. With deep skid lugs, 3-body ply construction, over-the-shoulder tread/lug design and a special Rim Guard Off-Road Protector Rib, the Destination M/T is as tough and durable as it looks. It's pinned for studs, enabling the Destination M/T to deliver extra grip in winter conditions. All these features add up to a light truck tire that has what it takes for serious off-road, all-terrain performance.

Rover Accessories in Torrance, Calif., mounted and balanced the Destination M/T tires on the Nyathi’s new rims. The company, owned by Charles D'Andrade, offers a broad range of custom Rover parts worldwide, catering to all levels of off-roading, from urban commandos to desert foxes and jungle trekkers. More information on Rover Accessories can be found at www.roveraccessories.com.

UNI-T® is an acronym for Ultimate Network of Intelligent Tire Technology. It features three core elements: CO·CS®, a Computer Optimized Component System which allows design and manufacturing processes to work more cooperatively, leading to a more efficient tire that doesn't sacrifice one area of performance for improvements in another; O-Bead®, a more round structure that minimizes overlapped joints in the bead area for improved ride; and L.L. Carbon® (Long Link Carbon) which helps the rubber compound resist microscopic tread tearing related to wear.