New Bridgestone Turanza LS Tires
with UNI-T AQII
Blend Performance, Driving Comfort;
Provide "Elegance That Endures"
PHOENIX,
Ariz. (Feb. 6, 2002)-
Road-gripping traction that lasts isn't the only
tire quality today's discriminating driver wants - there's also a desire
to have a more quiet, comfortable ride and improved performance in wet
conditions. The answer for these demanding motorists: the new Bridgestone
Turanza LS with UNI-T AQII™,
available this spring in T, H, V and Z speed-rating variants.
Shu Ishibashi, president of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Consumer
Tire Sales Group, said the new Bridgestone Turanza LS tires, with a
range of speed ratings, offer drivers exciting new options when they
are shopping for premier touring tires that meet their unique needs
and expectations. The marketing campaign for the new tires will focus
on the theme "Elegance That Endures."
"We know many drivers prefer the characteristics
of a touring tire," Ishibashi said. "With UNI-T
AQII technology, we're able to produce
tires that keep performance up as the tire wears down, and also provide
the speed ratings now more in demand among consumers. We call it elegance
that endures. That's a remarkable achievement, one that would not have
been possible just a few years ago before the UNI-T
AQII technology was developed by our engineers
and technical staff."
A key element of UNI-T AQII
technology is a dual-layer tread that helps keep performance at its
best in wet and dry conditions as a tire wears. Engineers and chemists
working on the Turanza LS tires also focused on noise reduction and
driving comfort, qualities associated with the best touring tires.
The Bridgestone Turanza LS-H , LS-V and LS-Z variants
will replace the Bridgestone Turanza Revo, and will be available in
a total of 30 sizes (LS-H in 18 sizes, LS-V in 8 sizes and the LS-Z
in 4 sizes). The new Bridgestone Turanza LS-T replaces the Bridgestone
Turanza T, and will be available in 28 sizes. The new Turanza LS-H,
V, Z and T tires provide enhanced grip in the wet as the tires wear.
This improvement was made possible by the evolution of UNI-T
technologies.
UNI-T is an acronym
for Ultimate Network of Intelligent Tire Technology. It features three
core elements: CO·CS, a Computer
Optimized Component System which allows design and manufacturing processes
to work more cooperatively, leading to a more efficient tire that doesn't
sacrifice one area of performance for improvements in another; O-Bead,
a more round structure that minimizes overlapped joints in the bead
area for improved ride; and L.L. Carbon
(Long Link Carbon) which helps the rubber compound resist microscopic
tread tearing related to wear.
UNI-T AQ is the second
generation of the technology, with AQ being an acronym for "Advanced
Quality." Tires with UNI-T AQ feature a dual-layer tread and extended
performance compound, providing drivers with more consistent wet performance
as the tires age and wear.
UNI-T AQII, the newest
development, incorporates a variety of improvements to the earlier UNI-T
and UNI-T AQ technologies to give drivers even stronger wet and dry
performance, both when the tire is new and when it is worn. Tires with
UNI-T AQII feature Super Extended
Performance Optimization, which involves a Super Extended Performance
Compound (EPC), and an enhanced version of the dual-layer tread. The
Super EPC contains an anti-hardening resin and a link stabilizing agent
that helps reduce the normal hardening process that occurs as a tire
ages.
The new Bridgestone Turanza LS- H, V, Z and T variants
also feature Consistent Surface Contact (CSC) and Hydro Evacuation Surface
(HES) technologies. CSC is a pattern of tread blocks designed to provide
more uniform contact pressure to improve dry and wet handling, reduce
irregular wear and improve ride comfort. HES, in conjunction with UNI-T
AQII technologies, helps to efficiently channel water away from
the tread, reducing the risk of hydroplaning.
The size list for the Bridgestone Turanza LS-H, LS-V,
LS-Z and LS-T tires, including Uniform Tire Quality Grades for each:
| Turanza LS-H |
(UTQG: 400 AA A MILEAGE: 50,000)
|
| P185/60R14 |
82H |
|
P205/60R15 |
90H |
|
215/55R16 |
93H |
|
|
|
| P195/60R14 |
85H |
|
195/65R15 |
91H |
|
P225/60R15 |
95H |
|
|
|
| P185/65R15 |
86H |
|
205/55R16 |
91H |
|
P215/60R16 |
94H |
|
|
|
| P195/60R15 |
87H |
|
P205/65R15 |
92H |
|
P225/55R16 |
94H |
|
|
|
| P195/65R14 |
88H |
|
P205/60R16 |
91H |
|
225/60R16 |
98H |
|
|
|
| P195/70R14 |
90H |
|
P215/60R15 |
93H |
|
235/60R16 |
100H |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Turanza
LS-V |
(UTQG: 400 AA A MILEAGE: 40,000)
|
| P205/55R15 |
87V |
|
225/50R16 |
92V |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 205/55R16 |
91V |
|
P215/60R16 |
94V |
|
|
|
|
|
|
P205/65R15
|
92V |
|
P225/55R16
|
94V |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| P205/60R16 |
91V |
|
P225/60R16 |
97V |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Turanza LS-Z |
(UTQG: 320 AA A
MILEAGE: 40,000) |
| P225/60ZR16 |
|
|
225/45ZR17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 225/55ZR16 |
|
|
235/45ZR17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Turanza LS-T |
(UTQG: 700 A B MILEAGE:
80,000) |
| P175/70R13 |
82T |
|
P195/70R14 |
90T |
|
P185/65R15 |
86T |
|
P215/70R15 |
97T |
| P185/70R13 |
85T |
|
P195/65R14 |
88T |
|
P195/65R15 |
89T |
|
P215/65R15 |
95T |
| P175/65R14 |
81T |
|
P195/60R14 |
85T |
|
P195/60R15 |
87T |
|
P215/60R15 |
93T |
| P185/70R14 |
87T |
|
P205/75R14 |
95T |
|
P205/70R15 |
95T |
|
P205/55R16 |
89T |
| P185/65R14 |
85T |
|
P205/70R14 |
93T |
|
P205/70R15 |
95T |
|
215/65R16 |
98T |
| P185/60R14 |
82T |
|
P205/70R14 |
93T |
|
P205/65R15 |
92T |
|
P215/60R16 |
94T |
| P195/75R14 |
92T |
|
P215/70R14 |
96T |
|
P205/60R15 |
90T |
|
P225/60R16 |
97T |
The tires are covered by the Bridgestone Platinum Pact
limited warranty, which provides full replacement at no charge, excluding
applicable taxes and disposal fees, if the tire should fail due to defects
in material or workmanship in the first 3 years of ownership or 4 years
since date of manufacture. It also features the Bridgestone 30 Day Test
Drive, which allows consumers to return the tires within 30 days from
date of purchase (does not apply to tires supplied as original equipment
on new vehicles).
Nashville, Tennessee based Bridgestone/Firestone North
American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas
Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation of Japan,
is the world's largest tire and rubber manufacturer. BFNT develops,
manufactures, and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and private
and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original
equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle,
off-road, agriculture and other tires to its customers in North America.
Digital, high-resolution
images of these tires are available at:
http://www.bridgestonetire.com/press/tirepics.htm
