| February 9, 2000 - NASHVILLE, TN New Firestone Firehawk SS20 With UNI-T: The Essence Of Indy® The exciting look of Indy car racing tires is found in the new Firestone Firehawk SS20 with UNI-T®, an all-season performance radial soon to be available from Bridgestone/Firestone. Designed for responsive driving, particularly in wet conditions, the tire features distinctive raised white lettering similar to that found on sidewalls of Firestone Firehawk racing radials used at the Indianapolis 500® and other open-wheel events. The new Firestone Firehawk SS20 replaces the Firestone SS10, which was introduced in February of 1995, the year Firestone returned to Indy and Champ car racing. The new Firestone Firehawk SS20 features innovative UNI-T® technologies and is available in both four and five-tread rib designs to meet most popular passenger and light truck applications. It is offered in 28 S and T-speed rated sizes, in the 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 series. "The Firestone Firehawk SS20 is an impressive improvement over its predecessor, the Firestone Firehawk SS10," said Shu Ishibashi, Bridgestone/Firestone Vice-President of Consumer Tire Marketing. "While the SS10 was a solid performer, with sales exceeding 5.7 million units, the use of our UNI-T technology takes the Firestone Firehawk SS20 to a higher level. It has a special tread design and compound to enhance performance in wet and snow, along with key hole sipes to help maintain grip." "By coupling these attributes with a sidewall mirroring our successful Indy racing tire, weve brought a tire to the marketplace which should prove even more popular than its predecessor," Ishibashi said. "In redesigning the sidewall lettering for the SS20, we consulted with drivers and teams in the Championship Auto Racing Teams competition. We wanted to emphasize a new look as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Firestone tires, a look that appeals to younger audiences and captures the excitement of our racing success." UNI-T® is an acronym for "Ultimate Network of Intelligent Tire Technology" found only in Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and select associate brand tires. One of itscore technologies is a Computer Optimized Component System, CO·CS®, which uses a super computer to help determine an ideal combination of tread design, casing shape, materials and construction for a particular application. Tires with UNI-T® have a special O-Bead® that eliminates overlapped joints in the bead assembly, affecting the way a tire interacts with the rim, and provides a rounder assembly for improved driving and handling stability. The use of L.L. Carbon®, or Long Link Carbon, an advanced form of carbon black that absorbs road stress over a larger area, produces a stronger tire, better able to resist cracking, chipping, tearing and excessive wear.
The Firestone Firehawk SS20 comes with a 55,000-mile limited treadwear warranty and the Firestone Gold Pledge limited warranty, which provides replacement at no charge (excluding applicable taxes) if the tire should become unusable for any reason within the manufacturer's control for up to five years. It also has the Firestone 30-Day Test Drive, allowing a consumer to receive a full refund if he or she is not pleased with the tire for any reason within 30 days of purchase. See your Firestone retailer for complete details and conditions. Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. is the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. Bridgestone/Firestone develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, associate and private brand tires. The company also produces Firestone air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles. Indy is a registered trademark of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Back to News Page |
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