Bridgestone vs BFGoodrich Tires
Bridgestone and BFGoodrich are senior citizens in the tire industry. The former has been around since 1931 whereas BFGoodrich started its journey way back in 1870. That means the duo has a combined tire-manufacturing experience of over 200 years.
Bridgestone Rating: 4.7/5
BFGoodrich Rating: 4.5/5
Small wonder then that they have massive fan followings across the world. On its website, Bridgestone proudly claims that it operates in over 100 countries globally. BFGoodrich, to its credit, has produced over 500 million tires from a single factory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
All of this is to say that neither of these brands is to be taken lightly. Both are giants of the tire manufacturing industry in their own right. They have consistently produced high-quality tires and made innovations that have helped them stay on top for such a long period.
Still, while we’re respectful of how far these brands have come, we also understand how vital it is for you to select the right tires for your vehicle. That’s why in this article, we’ll highlight the areas where Bridgestone and BFGoodrich tires excel as well as those where they can do better.
Bridgestone History
To put it mildly, Bridgestone grew up in testing circumstances. The future tire giant was founded in 1931 in Japan, right at the time when the allied forces were bombing the South East Asian nation. In fact, some of Bridgestone’s manufacturing facilities were destroyed in the bombardments.
Still, like many Japanese companies that grew up in the 1930s and 1940s, Bridgestone didn’t let hostile circumstances keep it from achieving its destiny. A destiny that became clear in 1946 when, only a year after Michelin’s invention of the radial tire, Bridgestone developed its own radial tire.
This proved to be a tipping point in Bridgestone’s illustrious history. One achievement followed another and the company started standing shoulder to shoulder with the tire manufacturing giants. It had grown so big and rich by 1988 that it completed the purchase of Firestone Tire & Rubber Company.
Fast forward to 2021, and Bridgestone is the 2nd largest tire manufacturer worldwide. The company announced an operating profit of £2.5 billion in 2021, the last year for which data is available. Compared with the pandemic year, this amounts to a 90% year-on-year increase, an outstanding achievement.
Bridgestone Tire Families
Eight tire families complete the Bridgestone tire lineup. They are the Bridgestone Potenza, Alenza, Turenza, Dueler, DriveGuard, Ecopia, Blizzak, and WeatherPeak. Each of the families contain tires designed for specific weather conditions.
Potenza
High-performance vehicles and sports cars are the target market of Bridgestone Potenza tires. However, while each member of this family is meant to offer extreme performance, there are a few subtle differences that distinguish one Potenza tire from the other.
The RE-71R, for instance, is a premium extreme performance summer tire. That isn’t the case with the Potenza RE92, an affordable all-season high-performance tire. And the RE 980AS is different from the two. This tire strikes the optimum balance between dry/wet traction and performance.
Alenza
The Bridgestone Alenza family is populated by grand touring tires. Each member of this family has been designed to handle extreme summer and mild wintry conditions. And there are plenty of members in this family, including the Alenza A/S, Alenza Sport, Alenza Plus, among others.
Bear in mind that the Alenza tires cannot compete with their Potenza counterparts in terms of performance. Having said that, they will justify their worth in other ways. Comfort and noise-free riding, two areas where Potenza tires struggle, is where these models will excel.
Turanza
There are many things to appreciate about the Bridgestone Turanza lineup, which comprises all-season touring tires. Every tire of this family is backed by a generous treadwear warranty, which in some cases touch the 80,000-mile mark, a market-high number for any tire.
Turanza tires are also super-quiet, as long as you keep them on the highway. Road growl, a common problem with standard touring tires, isn’t a problem with them. You can thus drive with your windows rolled all the way down, provided the outside climate permits it.
Dueler
Bridgestone Dueler are all-season tires for light/medium trucks. They offer long-lasting treadwear and year-round traction, both on and off-road. These tires can be fitted on crossovers and SUVs too, with their excellent features help you stay in control on any terrain.
Of the seven members that complete the Dueler lineup, the H/L 400 and A/T Revo 3 are our favorites. The H/L 400 is an all-season highway terrain tire for vehicles mentioned above. As for the A/T Revo 3, it is a reliable and comfortable all-terrain option for light-duty automobiles.
DriveGuard
Bridgestone’s DriveGuard lineup consists of some of the best run-flat tires on the market. These are tires that you can drive for up to 50 miles, even when they are completely flat. A super flexible tread compound and multiple technologies will prevent the rubber from falling apart.
That Bridgestone develops run-flat tires in 2022 shouldn’t come as a surprise. Porsche chose the tire manufacturing giant to develop run-flat tires for its supercar in the mid-80s. The DriveGuard is just a continuation of Bridgestone’s love-affair with run-flat tires.
Ecopia
Bridgestone’s Ecopia family demonstrates that the tire manufacturing giant doesn’t prefer profits over the environment. Every member of this family boasts reduced rolling resistance, which in turn results in enhanced fuel economy and more importantly reduced fuel emissions.
Just because the Ecopia tires are good for the environment doesn’t mean they won’t be good for your vehicle. Take the Ecopia 422 H/L Plus as an example. Here’s an eco-friendly tire that is backed with an outstanding 70,000-mile treadwear warranty. What more can you ask for!
Blizzak
As their name implies, the Blizzak family is destined for harsh wintry conditions. That is especially the case with the Blizzak WS-80, one of the best snow tires on the market. Even though this tire isn’t studdable, it can still handle the most difficult of wintry conditions with ease.
WeatherPeak
Touring/all-season models popular the Bridgestone WeatherPeak family. These tires are backed with generous treadwear warranties and offer reliable year-round performance. Their high-speed handling and on-road manners are second to none. However, they do struggle in inclement weather.
BFGoodrich Tire Families
Similar to Bridgestone, BFG groups tires based on the conditions they are designed for. Still, while some of its models have gone far in the performance department, others provide enhanced comfort. Let’s take a look at various BFG tire families.
g-Force
Enhanced steering response. Maximum high-speed handling and stability. Exceptional cornering performance. Market-high dry and wet traction. These are some of the characteristics that you’ll find in abundance in every member of the BFGoodrich g-Force lineup.
These features leave the g-Force tires vulnerable to two shortcomings. The first is that these tires are only made for passenger vehicles. So, SUV and CUV owners better look elsewhere. Secondly, comfortable and refined driving isn’t one of the fortes of these tires.
All-Terrain
BFG’s all-terrain tires can compete with any brand’s AT models. Need proof? Then you must check out the BFG T/A KO2. This all-terrain tire’s off-road performance is so good that it has invited comparisons with the likes of Nitto Terra Grappler G2, Cooper AT3, and General Grabber ATX.
That isn’t to say that other members of the BFG’s AT family are lacking. It’s just that the T/A KO2 is this brand’s flagship all-terrain tire. So, if you want surefooted performance on the most demanding of conditions, this is a tire you might want to pick.
Mud-Terrain and Winter
BFG’s mud-terrain and winter tires have many things in common. That is why we have grouped them under the same heading. Both of them offer improved traction on loose surfaces for a reliable driving experience. Yet, drive them on the highway, and you’ll have complaints about their noise.
Commercial
As the name makes clear, BFG’s commercial tires can be fitted on CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks. They are the sort of tires you can rely for towing and hauling heavy loads. Just keep in mind that their treadwear warranties are on the shorter side.
Bridgestone Vs BFGoodrich tires: Differences
Here are the major differences between Bridgestone and BFGoodrich tires:
Performance
BFGoodrich tires eke it out in the performance department.
Primarily because BFG has always kept its focus on meeting the requirements of enthusiast drivers. Bridgestone, on the contrary, casts the net wide. As a result, with all its energies focused on performance and high-performance tires, BFG makes better tires for the street and the track.
Availability of Options
Here’s an area where Bridgestone excel.
BFG, a stated above, has a narrow focus when it comes to tires. This means not all vehicles are covered. With Bridgestone it is the polar opposite. Regardless of whether you own a passenger car or a light truck, there will always be a Bridgestone tire that can fit your vehicle.
Price and Warranty
Bridgestone tires typically cost more and are backed with smaller warranties.
Comparison of both these brands’ warranty documentation clarifies this picture. While the majority of BFG tires are warrantied for 6 years from the date of purchase, the buck drops at 5 years for Bridgestone tires. So, the one year difference gives BFG tires the edge.
Advantages of Bridgestone
- Offers tire in multiple categories
- Equips tires with latest technologies
- Backs its models with generous warranties
Advantages of BFGoodrich
- Focused upon sports and muscle cars
- Incredibly long history of manufacturing tires
- Is a US company, entirely owned by Michelin
Bridgestone Vs BFGoodrich Tires: Which One to Choose?
Bridgestone tires are a better bet for everyday drivers, regardless of whether the sun is shining out there or the roads are laden with snow and ice. However, if you spend most of your time behind the wheel on a racing track, BFGoodrich tires are a no-brainer.
