Firestone Introduces New Fuel Fighter™ Firestone brand revamps fuel efficient tire option for both OE and replacement markets
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 24, 2012) – Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (BATO) is pleased to announce the revitalization of the Firestone brand’s fuel efficient trademark, Fuel Fighter.
The Fuel Fighter mark indicates that the tires have been designed to improve a vehicle’s fuel efficiency by using advanced compounds and optimizing the tire’s structure and tread design. These tires use Firestone proprietary polymer technology to help reduce vehicle fuel consumption and the emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
“High gas prices continue to be an issue, and we realize that consumers want and need a more efficient tire,” said Larry Magee, President, Consumer Tire U.S. & Canada, BATO. “Fuel Fighter tires have the same performance attributes that consumers have come to expect from Firestone, simply with the added benefit of better gas mileage.”
Fuel Fighter made its resurgence in the OE market in 2011 on the Toyota Camry (Affinity Touring S4; size P205/65R16 94S) and the Honda Civic (Firestone Affinity; size P195/65R15 89H). Fuel Fighter-marked tires will be available in select sizes for the replacement market in the near future.
“When our OEMs requested a fuel-efficient option from the Firestone brand, Fuel Fighter was reborn,” said Michael Martini, President, Original Equipment, U.S. and Canada Consumer Tire Sales Division, BATO. “Fuel Fighter will be an important option for our original equipment partners in the future and we’re excited to provide them with a tire that ultimately is a win-win when it comes to comfort and cost savings for the consumer.”
Fuel Fighter is a revitalized company mark, first used in 1978, and will be placed on the sidewall and tire labels to provide visual confirmation that the tire is optimized for fuel efficiency.
Fuel Fighter marked products contribute to Bridgestone Corporation’s global goal to improve average tire rolling resistance, resulting in less fuel use and CO2 emissions while driving, by 25 percent by the year 2020 (based on a 2005 benchmark). The company is also working to reduce CO2 from its entire product’s lifecycle by 35 percent per sales by 2020.
For additional information, including a complete listing of sizes and high res images of Bridgestone’s product offerings, please visit www.BridgestoneTire.com. Additional current releases can be found at www.BridgestoneAmericasMedia.com.
To learn more about Bridgestone Corporation’s environmental goals, visit http://bridgestone.com/responsibilities/environment/index.html.
About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations; the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses; the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses; and Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC, which operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.