Bridgestone Launches Newest Blizzak

Bridgestone Americas used the snowy mountains of Steamboat Springs, Colo., as the back drop for the official launch of its latest Blizzak winter tire – the WS70.

Invited tire and enthusiast media and dozens of key dealers attended the week-long launch event, which featured a competitive ride-and-drive at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School there.

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 will be available in 35 T-speed rated sizes, covering 15- through 18-inch wheel diameters, targeting a broad range of typical car, small SUV, CUV and minivan fitments.

The new winter tire was developed to provide maximum snow, ice, slush and wet weather performance and added tire life compared to other Blizzak lines, the company said.

The tire features Bridgestone’s proprietary NanoPro-Tech rubber compound, multi-cells and 3D siping for snow and ice traction, as well as four circumferential grooves and angled side grooves for water and slush dispersion and wet traction. The tread depth of the WS70 is, on average, 1/64-inch deeper than other Blizzak tires for longer tread life, the company said.

The 3D siping also enhances block stiffness for stability and a more consistent contact patch, important in winter weather maneuvering, Bridgestone said.

Bridgestone said it previous generation winter touring line – the WS60 – will remain in 19 sizes covering 14- to 18-inch diameters. The WS70, Bridgestone said, covers seven sizes not available under the WS60 line.

The driving event pitted the WS70 against the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 in braking tests on an indoor ice rink, and on snow/ice roads out at the driving school track. Bridgestone also gave dealers and media a chance to compare the Bridgestone DMV1 light truck/SUV winter line against the all-season Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor; it was not intended as head-to-head test but rather to show the differences between a pure winter and all-season tire on rear-wheel drive SUVs.

“The Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 is our most versatile winter tire yet,” said Phil Pacsi, vice president of consumer marketing for Bridgestone Americas. “It’s built for peak performance on not just snow and ice, but also on wet and dry surfaces, creating an ideal tire for all winter weather.”

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Ryan Waldron as president of the company's Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

"At Goodyear, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and in Ryan Waldron, we have a customer-centric, execution-focused business leader with a deep understanding of both the marketplace and all aspects of our business, as well as a proven track record of delivering results," Stewart said. "I am thrilled to announce him as president of Goodyear's Americas business and have enormous confidence that under his leadership, both the company and our customers will reach even greater levels of success."