Bridgestone Potenza G019 Grid Calls Chicago "My Kind Of Town" With Chicago Auto Show Debut

CHICAGO (Feb. 7, 2008) –A sporty new member of the Bridgestone brand family of tires made its debut today at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. The Bridgestone Potenza™ G019™ Grid with UNI-T® technology will be on display through Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Chicago Auto Show in the Bridgestone Americas booth (NH1). The new tire incorporates technologies for enhanced handling, cornering and allseason traction in wet, dry or snowy conditions. These technologies combine with a unique tread design to offer the precision of a performance tire while maintaining a smooth, quiet ride.

"The Bridgestone Potenza G019 Grid meets the demands of today’s sport drivers. The tire's technologies and design improve on areas of concern to the consumer 6 most notably wet and dry handling. The Potenza G019 Grid also builds on the history and performance of the Bridgestone brand in motorsports,” said John Gamauf, President, Consumer Tire Replacement Sales, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT).

Designed with a wide footprint for improved cornering, the Bridgestone Potenza™ G019™ Grid also has an advanced directional tread pattern to increase water evacuation and Bridgestone's proprietary Veri-Pitch Design offers a smooth, quiet ride.

Available in H- and V-speed ratings to suit the Performance and Ultra-High Performance tire market needs, the Bridgestone Potenza™ G019™ Grid will be available this spring in 27 popular 15- to 18-inch sizes in the 65 - 40 series. UNI-T® is an acronym for “Ultimate Network of Intelligent Tire Technology.” One of its core technologies is a Computer Optimized Component System, CO•CS®, through which a super computer helps determine an ideal combination of tread design, casing shape, materials and construction for a particular application. Tires with UNIT® have an O-Bead® that helps eliminate overlapped joints in the bead assembly, improving the way a tire interacts with the rim to provide a rounder assembly for improved stability. The use of L.L. Carbon®, or Long Link Carbon, an advanced form of carbon black, also in UNI-T, produces a strong tire, better able to resist cracking, chipping, tearing and excessive wear.

The Bridgestone Potenza G019 Grid comes with a 50,000 Mile Treadwear Limited Warranty, a Platinum Pact Limited Warranty, and a Buy & Try 30-Day Guarantee. For additional information, please contact your local Bridgestone tire retailer.