Pros
- Among the best-in-class snow performance
- 65,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Marvelous aquaplaning resistance
- Comfortable over various surfaces
Cons
- Average dry performance
- Not very quiet, considering it’s a grand touring tire
Mid-range tire brands have been evolving over the years. They have been producing models that offer almost premium-like tires at a lower price. Among the many mid-range brands on the market is Firestone.
The model we’ll be looking at today is WeatherGrip. Firestone sells it as a grand touring tire with all-season properties. It is designed to fit most hatchbacks, sedans, crossovers, or SUVs. Based on what the company says, the tire looks promising.
What are the features of the Firestone WeatherGrip?
The first noticeable feature of the WeatherGrip is the tread design. It’s not uncommon to think that it’s a winter tire. Don’t look at this as a negative side. That kind of design should be excellent in wet and snow conditions.
Speaking of snow, the WeatherGrip is 3PMSF rated, which should have superior snow performance compared with other all-season tires. In addition to that, the zig-zag tread design should help with traction and grip on snowy surfaces.
Snow performance is improved even more by utilizing Firestone’s Snow Traction Claw technology. The center and outside ribs use it and are combined with the snow vices on the ribs in between.
Firestone utilized its Hydro-Grip technology designed to improve wet performance. Thanks to this, the WeatherGrip has a slightly rounded footprint and open shoulder grooves. The result is a better grip on wet roads and excellent aquaplaning resistance.
To ensure usability throughout the year, Firestone used its all-season rubber compound. The directional tread design is in charge of improving the wet grip even more.
As a grand touring tire, the WeatherGrip has the typical construction. Two steel belts reinforced with nylon and the polyester casing will help keep the tire durable but comfortable.
Treadwear Rating: 4/5
How does it behave on dry tarmac?
On dry tarmac, the WeatherGrip is average, and there’s hardly anything to praise about it. You may have read me making some comparisons with higher classed tires, but that’s not the case with this one.
In terms of traction and grip, it’s good enough to be driven on the roads. There is enough traction which may cause a problem if you put it on a powerful car. Even in those cases, as long as you’re careful with the throttle, it shouldn’t be a problem.
The cornering grip is average as well, and you shouldn’t expect wonders. There is just enough grip to provide safe driving in the corners, but don’t overdo things. It will keep you safely planted, which should be enough for most drivers.
Also, you should expect anything specific regarding the driving dynamics. The WeatherGrip isn’t very responsive, and the feedback is almost nonexistent.
Dry Rating: 3/5
How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?
The WeatherGrip is slightly better on wet and slippery roads, primarily thanks to the tread design.
In these conditions, the main area where the WeatherGrip surprises the most is the aquaplaning resistance. the grooves and sipes do an excellent job at evacuating water away from the blocks without sacrificing grip.
The cornering grip of the tire is excellent, considering the average dry performance. It will keep your car in line throughout the corner even if you push it a bit more. Keep in mind that the tire won’t like it, so try to avoid that kind of driving.
Traction is also impressively decent, which is an improvement over the dry performance. Too much power or too aggressive driving will upset the tire, so keep things civilized.
Firestone designed the WeatherGrip with chamfered shoulder blocks, and as a result, the tire has decently short braking distances. Far from the best in the class, but good enough to keep things safe.
Wet Rating: 3.5/5
How is it over snow?
The WeatherGrip surprises and offers excellent performance in snowy conditions, despite the poor one on dry pavement. I need to point out that I’m comparing it with other all-seasons tires, not winter ones.
The 3PMSF rating is not just for show, and the WeatherGrip is probably among the best in class in terms of snow driving.
Light snow conditions won’t be a problem, and the tire will offer plenty of grip and traction. This is something that almost any all-season tire is capable of. The WeatherGrip impresses when the snow gets deeper. It manages to maintain grip in the corners and dig into the snow to find traction.
On the ice, the tire continues to impress with above-average performance compared to rivals in its class.
Snow Rating: 4/5
Is it comfortable and refined?
There are two sides to the comfort and refinement – the WeatherGrip is comfortable but not very quiet.
The comfort is excellent, and the tire doesn’t disappoint in that regard. It won’t be trading blows with the premium tires, but as a mid-range one, it’s terrific. It smooths out most imperfections, and on terrible roads, there is almost no vibration.
As for the noise, it’s somewhere in the middle of its class – not too loud and not very quiet. Around town, the WeatherGrip is not too bad, and most of the noise you’ll be hearing is at higher speeds.
Comfort Rating: 4/5
Is it good for off-roading?
All-season tires are not good off-roaders, and there’s no exception when it comes to the WeatherGrip. Firestone didn’t design it for that, which is why the off-road performance of the tire would be terrible.
Some all-season tires are okay on dirt roads, and the WeatherGrip may give you some mediocre performance; it’s not something that I would advise you to do.
Is the Firestone WeatherGrip ideal for sporty driving?
If you’re after a tire with sporty properties, the WeatherGrip is not the one you should be looking at.
The first problem is that the grip levels aren’t near what an enthusiast driver would like. On top of that, the lack of feedback and unimpressive steering response make this tire a lousy choice for sporty driving.
Noise Rating: 3/5
Firestone WeatherGrip Warranty
The warranty is an area where the WeatherGrip kind of manages to score a few points. You’ll get a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty which is pretty impressive, considering it’s a mid-range tire.
To put that into perspective, Michelin’s CrossClimate 2 offers a 60,000-mile warranty and is sold as a premium tire.
Firestone WeatherGrip Pricing: Is it worth the money?
At first, it may not seem like it, but the Firestone WeatherGrip is a decent bargain. The price starts from around $115, which is not too budget-oriented but still cheaper than the premium competitors.
For that price, you get average dry and excellent wet and snow performance. The WeatherGrip is very comfortable for longer journeys, but you may experience some noise on the highway.
The best part is that you get a more extended warranty than some premium competitors at a lower price.
Value Rating: 4/5
Should I buy the Firestone WeatherGrip?
Yes and no. The WeatherGrip is a tire that isn’t a good option for everyone, and there’s a perfectly good reason for it.
Some owners, myself included, often find themselves in a situation where we want to have fun on a twisty road. In those cases, the WeatherGrip is not the tire I’d like to have on my car. The grip levels are average, and even though the tire will be perfectly safe to drive, you won’t be able to push it too much.
Wet performance is better, and the grip and traction levels are more pronounced. It goes well with the shorter braking distances and excellent aquaplaning resistance, which shows you that the WeatherGrip really is a safe tire to drive. You can try to induce oversteer and try to have at least some fun. The good thing about it is that even when the tire loses grip, it won’t surprise you.
As for snow, the WeatherGrip is even more impressive than on wet roads. The 3PMSF rating does its job, and the tire has excellent properties on snow, better than most other all-season tires. The ice performance is also excellent, thanks to Firestone’s rubber compound.
In terms of refinement, there are some things that you may not like. While the comfort is excellent for a mid-range tire, the noises are not the lowest, even when compared to some other tires in this class.
Luckily, the warranty is pretty extensive. At 65,000 miles, the WeatherGrip has a longer warranty than some premium tires I’ve reviewed in the past.
Overall, the WeatherGrip isn’t as bad as you may think. While it’s not the best performing tire on the market, it is still safe for everyday use. The lower price and relatively long warranty may be the deciding factor.
Overall Rating: 4/5
What Vehicles Will the Firestone WeatherGrip Fit?
- Acura – CL, CSX, ILX, Legend, RSX, TL, Vigor
- Audi A3, A4, Q5
- BMW 1, 3, 5 series
- Ford Focus, Mondeo, C-MAX, Fusion
- Honda Civic, Accord, HR-V, Odyssey
- Kia Soul, Stinger, Optima, Rondo
- Lexus IS, ES, NX, CT
- Mazda 3, 6
- Mustang GT
- Subaru Legacy
- Toyota Corolla, Camry, CH-R
- Volkswagen Golf, Polo, Passat
The WeatherGrip has a decent size range, meaning that it will fit on plenty of cars. The list above outlines several sample models to give you an idea of the wide range of applications.
Tire Sizes for Firestone WeatherGrip
15″
- 195/60R15
- 195/65R15
- 205/65R15
- 215/70R15
16″
- 205/55R16
- 205/60R16
- 205/65R16
- 215/55R16
- 215/60R16
- 215/65R16
- 215/70R16
- 225/60R16
- 235/70R16
17″
- 205/50R17
- 215/45R17
- 215/50R17
- 215/55R17
- 215/65R17
- 225/45R17
- 225/50R17
- 225/55R17
- 225/60R17
- 225/65R17
- 235/65R17
18″
- 225/45R18
- 225/60R18
- 235/45R18
- 235/50R18
- 235/55R18
- 235/60R18
- 235/65R18
- 245/60R18
19″
- 235/55R19
List of Firestone Tire Reviews
2 Comments
I am owner of a 24/7 courier service. I am on my second set of WeatherGrip tires. I have tried almost every brand of tire over the years, and I will say that this tire gives me complete confidence in doing my job, no matter what the weather conditions are at the time. I live in upstate New York and last year we had a surprise 40 inch snowstorm and my biggest problem was that the County where I live didn’t plow the road for almost two days after the storm. I still was able to take care of my biggest client, which happens to be a hospital.
These tires suck bad for dry climates! Bought 4 new for Ford focus and in 15,000 miles of use there is only 5/32 of tread left. The car is gutless and driver an old grandma. Have heard in areas such as AZ and TX, they are no longer being sold.