Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter Tire Review and Rating

TireHungry.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no added cost to you

 Price Check

Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:

Amazon TireRack DiscountTire Goodyear PriorityTire SimpleTire

Don't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!

Dry
0%
Wet
0%
Snow
0%
Comfort
0%
Noise
0%
Treadwear
0%

Pros

  • Dry performance is excellent
  • Very well refined
  • 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
  • Decently responsive

Cons

  • Wet performance is average
  • The tire will struggle in snowy conditions

Throughout the years, the tire industry went through multiple changes leading to this point and the tires that are available to us today. For the past decade or two, manufacturers have worked on making tires that help fuel economy, which seems to be a good approach considering the prices today.

In the early days of fuel-efficient tires, only the premium manufacturers were able to develop them. Making a tire with lower rolling resistance without sacrificing performance isn’t cheap, which is why the big players were the only ones working on them.

As everything progressed, we reached a point where the mid-range or even the cheap manufacturers began throwing out models with the claimed fuel-efficient badge. One of the many in the category is Firestone with its Champion Fuel Fighter.

As a sub-brand of Bridgestone, you could say there is some internal rivalry, as the bigger company has the Ecopia EP422 Plus. With that said, the Champion Fuel Fighter is the more affordable option, so we shouldn’t expect the same level of performance.

What are the features of the Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter?

The Champion Fuel Fighter falls in the grand touring category, so the set of features it offers are related to refinement, longevity, and fuel efficiency.

Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter Tire Review

Since it’s an all-season tire, Firestone had to utilize its silica enhanced rubber compound. This enables the tire to remain usable in colder temperatures, as it remains softer, therefore, delivering the performance that the company claims.

The compound is molded into a symmetric tread pattern designed to deliver advantages in several areas. One of those is the noise levels, which Firestone claims are very low, meaning that you shouldn’t worry about excessive noise on the highway.

As part of the pattern, the Champion Fuel Fighter features sipes aimed at delivering traction in snowy and wet conditions. Speaking of wet conditions, the tire also has 4 circumferential grooves designed to help with aquaplaning resistance.

On the fuel efficiency side of things, the Champion Fuel Fighter is designed with Firestone’s Fuel Fighter technology. It’s a combination of rubber compound and internal construction, which helps reduce the weight and rolling resistance, which should help with economy.

Treadwear Rating: 4/5

4/5

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

Considering that people get the Champion Fuel Fighter for daily driving, I have to say that it’s a very solid performer. For the most part, it isn’t on the same level as the premium tires in this class, but in some cases, it can compete.

In normal conditions, when you drive as most people would, the Champion Fuel Fighter can deliver very good performance. The traction levels are more than enough to eliminate wheel spin, which may occur, but only on more powerful vehicles and if you have a heavy foot. Cornering also won’t be an issue, as the grip levels are more than up for the task at hand, and you will notice understeer only if you go into a corner too hot. If that happens, the good news is that the braking distances are among the shorter ones in the mid-range category, so you won’t have any issues there.

As good as the Champion Fuel Fighter is for daily driving, it’s not a tire that can deliver superior performance. You’d have to set your standards low to call it a fun tire to drive. Sure, it’s not the least responsive tire on the market, but it’s far from a dedicated performance tire.

Dry Rating: 4/5

4/5

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

The Champion Fuel Fighter delivered some pretty good results in dry conditions, but unfortunately, it wasn’t as impressive on wet roads. While the tire is still safe and very usable, it’s not as good as some of its rivals.

To be fair, touring tires aren’t known to be the stickiest when it comes to driving in wet conditions, but the Champion Fuel Fighter seems to struggle a bit more than I’d want. When you drive normally, the tire is fine and delivers enough grip and traction so that most people won’t have to worry about it. With that said, the limit of the tire isn’t too high, so aggressive driving isn’t something I can recommend.

The same can be said about the aquaplaning resistance. While the Champion Fuel Fighter will have no problem with stability at highway speeds in heavy rain, I wouldn’t chase my car’s top speed with it. At a certain point, it will become wobbly, especially in the corners.

Wet Rating: 3.5/5

3.5/5

How is it over snow?

Like most manufacturers, Firestone made some claims about the winter performance of the Champion Fuel Fighter. Unfortunately, the tire isn’t something that I’d consider excellent in these conditions.

All-season tires are mainly usable in lighter conditions, and that’s what the Champion Fuel Fighter is capable of. In shallow snow, the tread design does a decent job at delivering traction and making the tire easy to control. Things take a turn for the worse over packed snow, but if you drive carefully, you’ll be fine. Asking more out of it isn’t something you should do, as there are limitations to its performance.

The Champion Fuel Fighter is usable in lighter conditions, but caution is recommended. In harsher conditions, it will struggle a lot, so a dedicated winter tire is what you’ll need if you live in an area with not-so-mild winters.

Snow Rating: 2.5/5

2.5/5

Is it comfortable and refined?

If you’re looking at the Champion Fuel Fighter from a comfort and noise standpoint, you won’t be disappointed. While the tire may not be in a league of its own, the refinement is excellent for a mid-range model.

Driving on a bumpy road with cracks won’t be an issue. The Champion Fuel Fighter is designed to be able to absorb the irregularities and reward you with a smooth experience. It may not be the softest tire on the market, but when compared to its rivals, I have to say that it’s not too bad.

Firestone’s tread pattern is designed to reduce the noise, and the Champion Fuel Fighter delivers on that front as well. It’s not on the same level as the Turanza QuietTrack, which I believe is the quietest of them all, but it’s pretty good. If you’re in a well-insulated car, you won’t hear anything more than a faint hum on the highway.

Comfort Rating: 4/5

4/5

Is it good for off-roading?

I probably won’t have to explain, but you can probably guess that the Champion Fuel Fighter is a poor choice for off-roading. The lack of performance and durability for these conditions is why I always say that all-season tires shouldn’t be driven on non-paved surfaces.

With that said, a short drive on a dirt road is doable, but be careful as sharp rocks can damage the tread, leading to premature or uneven wear.

Is the Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter Plus ideal for sporty driving?

Touring tires aren’t my first choice for a sporty tire, but the Champion Fuel Fighter isn’t as terrible as I thought.

The tire does pretty well in terms of performance on dry roads, so it can handle getting pushed a bit. Keep in mind that the Champion Fuel Fighter is a touring tire, so the limit isn’t very high, but it may be fine for a bit of fun on a twisty road.

One area that surprised me was responsiveness. Touring tires aren’t the most responsive ones, but the Champion Fuel Fighter does pretty good. It’s not razor-sharp, but it’s not as poor as the Ecopia EP422 Plus. You also have a decent amount of feedback, so you’ll know what the front tires are doing when you drive on the limit.

Noise Rating: 4/5

4/5

Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter Warranty

At first glance, the Champion Fuel Fighter may seem like it may not be the best in terms of the warranty. Firestone offers it with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is on the same level as the CrossClimate 2 or PureContact LS. This is an excellent offer from a mid-range tire.

Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter Pricing: Is it worth the money?

Looking at the prices, the Champion Fuel Fighter isn’t the worst choice in the world. When you compare it with something like the CS5 Ultra Touring, you’ll notice that they are evenly matched. In some cases, the Cooper is more expensive, while in others, the Firestone is. With that in mind, in all cases, the Champion Fuel Fighter is cheaper than the premium models from Michelin or Continental.

Value Rating: 3.5/5

3.5/5

Should I buy the Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter?

Despite not being the absolute best at everything, the Champion Fuel Fighter is a tire I can recommend. It does have some drawbacks, like the average-ish wet performance or the lack of decent snow performance, but the tire is good.

The dry performance, as well as the refinement, are excellent, meaning that the Champion Fuel Fighter won’t disappoint. With that, you also get a premium-like warranty at a price point that is lower than the more expensive models.

Putting the drawbacks aside, I believe that Firestone made an excellent fuel-saving tire, so if you feel like the performance would be enough, then it can be an excellent option.

Noise Rating: 3.5/5

3.5/5

What Vehicles Will the Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter Fit?

Here’s a sample list of cars that the Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter will fit:

  • Alfa Romeo Mito, 147, 157
  • Audi A2, A3, A4
  • BMW 1, 2, 3 Series
  • Chevrolet Bolt, Malibu, Spark
  • Fiat 500, Fiat Punto
  • Ford Fiesta, Focus, Ka
  • Honda Civic, Accord
  • Lexus IS, CT, ES
  • Hyundai Accent, i30, i20
  • Nissan Micra, Maxima
  • Toyota Yaris, Corolla, Camry
  • Volkswagen Golf, Passat, EOS

Tire Sizes for Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter

14″

  • 185/60R14 82H

15″

  • 175/65R15 84H
  • 185/55R15 82H
  • 185/60R15 84T
  • 185/65R15 88H
  • 195/55R15 85H
  • 195/60R15 88H
  • 195/65R15 91H
  • 205/60R15 91H
  • 205/65R15 94H
  • 205/70R15 96T
  • 215/60R15 94H
  • 215/70R15 98T

16″

  • 195/50R16 84H
  • 195/55R16 87H
  • 205/50R16 87H
  • 205/55R16 91H
  • 205/60R16 92H
  • 205/65R16 95H
  • 215/55R16 93H
  • 215/60R16 95V
  • 215/65R16 98T
  • 225/60R16 98H
  • 225/65R16 100H
  • 225/70R16 103T
  • 235/60R16 100T
  • 235/65R16 103T

17″

  • 205/50R17 89V
  • 215/45R17 87V
  • 215/50R17 95V
  • 215/55R17 94V
  • 215/60R17 96T
  • 215/65R17 99T
  • 225/45R17 91V
  • 225/50R17 94V
  • 225/55R17 97V
  • 225/60R17 99H
  • 225/65R17 102T
  • 235/45R17 97H
  • 235/55R17 99H
  • 235/60R17 102H
  • 235/65R17 104T

18″

  • 215/55R18 95H
  • 225/45R18 95V
  • 225/50R18 95T
  • 225/60R18 100H
  • 235/45R18 94V
  • 235/55R18 100V

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *