CHICAGO (Feb. 26, 2010)—Bridgestone Americas is expanding its fuel-efficient Ecopia tire line, adding a Dueler-designated fitment for sport-utility vehicles, crossovers and light trucks.
The Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia will be offered in six 16- to 18-inch rim diameter sizes for SUVs, crossovers and light trucks. The Dueler fitment incorporates Ecopia technology for low rolling resistance, which improves fuel economy without sacrificing wear or wet handling performance, according to the tire maker.
Bridgestone also is adding the Ecopia EP422, an all-season version of the tire designed for fuel-efficient vehicles, made with post-consumer recycled rubber and features Bridgestone's NanoProTech Technology that contributes to fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide reduction by controlling the interaction between polymer filler materials and other rubber materials.
Both tires are built with a new Fuel Saver Sidewall compound that lowers rolling resistance by returning more energy back to the tire, compared with a conventional sidewall, according to the company.
The Ecopia EP422 offers a 36-percent improvement in rolling resistance over a conventional Bridgestone tire, and the Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia showed a 42-percent improvement over a conventional Bridgestone tire, according to Bridgestone, resulting in roughly 4-percent better fuel economy.
The Ecopia EP422 will be offered in five sizes in 15- and 16-inch rim diameters.
Both tires will be introduced in the second quarter of 2010.