NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 16, 2005) - The Firestone® Firehawk™ Wide Oval™ tire has been named the official tire for 2005 by the Special Vehicle Team Owners Association (SVTOA).

The SVTOA, supported by Ford Motor Company, was created specifically for SVT owners and other Ford “family” vehicles (e.g. Mazda, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Volvo, Lincoln and Mercury) as well as Ford-powered performance cars. The group boasts 24,000 members.

“For SVT owners, driving is more than just getting from point A to B; it is something that provides great pleasure,” notes Bill Kniegge, director of SVTOA. “Therefore, owners take pride in how their vehicle both looks and performs. The new Firehawk Wide Oval tire further enhances the function and the appearance of the performance-oriented SVT vehicles. A large percentage of SVTOA members take part in club-sponsored on-track events held around the country. Moderately priced performance-rated tires are essential to enjoying these events to the fullest.”

Additional information about the SVTOA and their national On Track Program is available at www.svtoa.com.

”We are proud to have Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire and the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval selected as the ‘Official Tire Company and Tire of SVTOA’,” said Phil Pacsi, executive director consumer brand marketing for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC. “We are very excited about this national agreement and look forward to working with the club.”