What's different about the R270?

The R270 looks like many other rib radials - straight grooves, deep sipes, irregular wear-fighting features.

The big difference is the R270 has a whopping 22/32nds of original tread depth.

Why the extra depth?

For quite a while, some fleets have been using rib radials on all axle positions. This tire was made for them.

R270 radials offer 15-22% deeper tread than comparable rib radials.

Why were they doing that?

Imagine how simple life would be if you could use just one pattern and size on every axle position. You'd buy just one tire. You could have a much smaller tire room, and there would be far less confusion about orders and emergency road service.

What were these fleets using?

Most of them were putting 18/32" rib radials on all positions. These tires worked OK, but on drives, they left a little to be desired.

In what way?

They were quite shallow by comparison to standard drive axle radials, so they tended to wear out more quickly. That's why Bridgestone engineers created the R270, at 22/32" tread depth. With an extra 4/32" of usable tread, the R270 is a real answer for simplifying tire inventories without sacrificing competitive tire life.

But rib radials on drives? Can that work?

Some of the most satisfied R270 users are in the North, and several are in the Pacific Northwest.

How can they get traction without a traction pattern?

They've found the start-up traction of the R270 is remarkable. On hard surfaces, even wet or icy ones, what you really need is maximum tread contact. That's what the R270 tread design provides.

The R270 tread is also wider than many conventional rib radials, and, hundreds of deep sipes bite through water and road films.

Photographed from below as it crosses a water-flooded glass plate at 30 mph, the R270 tread pattern effectively drives water out of the footprint for outstanding wet traction.

But what about snow?

As one driver told us, "Unless you're the first person to drive on fresh snow, chances are, you're driving on a hard-packed surface anyway."

And drivers believe that?

The R270 has made a believer out of many a driver. Another said that with a full load on glare ice - by deliberately locking the trailer brakes - he was able to stall his engine, but couldn't get the R270s on his drives to spin. That's how much grip the R270 tread design provides.

And, the R270 is designed for smooth steering, together with low noise and vibration. At one fleet, drivers running on R270s said their trucks rode and handled like automobiles.

How well does the R270 wear?

The R270's extra 4/32" provides lots of extra tread life on drive axles, and it doesn't hurt on steers either.

And, Defense GrooveT and Equalizer RibT designs help distribute forces evenly over the tread surface to combat initiation and spread of irregular wear.

In this computer display of an R270 under normal load, colors indicate a very uniform distribution of pressure throughout the footprint - the key to outstanding traction and long, even wear.

Maintenance must be easy.

With just one size and pattern, replacements, rotations and retreading become much simpler.

Steers can be rotated to drive positions, and tires that have been running on drive positions for a while tend to produce incredibly even wear when placed on steer axles.

Why is that?

The high torque and stable geometry of drive axles may initiate a very even wear pattern. And once a wear pattern is set, it tends to remain constant throughout the life of the tire.

With R270 radials, you can rotate steer tires to drive positions and vice versa, in addition to conventional rotation patterns.

Can the R270 be used on trailers?

It certainly can. Some fleets are "running out" those last few 32nds in trailer positions before retreading.

So, you can say the R270 is a great steer tire and a great drive tire - that can become a great trailer tire.

Is the R270 fuel-efficient?

Yes it is. Rib designs are inherently more fuel-efficient than deep tread block or lug patterns, so the R270 provides significant fuel economy advantages.

Ask your dealer or Bridgestone representative for a copy of this new R270 brochure.

Should we try them?

If you run long hauls, and if you'd like to simplify your tire ordering and inventories, and if your drivers are open-minded enough to try something new, we think you'll be pleased with the R270, the first radial specifically designed for use on every axle position.

R270 radials are available in 295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5 sizes with a "G" load rating.