Bridgestone DriveGuard Review
Bridgestone is a leader in tire market with tires are high quality, long-lasting, and consistently at the forefront of new technology. Bridgestone is one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world, and a leader in tire technology including the invention of run-flat tires, which were designed specifically for the Porsche 959 back in 1987, allowing the vehicle to handle rally and tarmac courses. Fast forward to today where the Bridgestone DriveGuard is a top choice for run-flat tires, and we take a closer look at this advanced tire line with this Bridgestone DriveGuard review.
Bridgestone DriveGuard Tires
Bridgestone is once again at the forefront of run-flat tire technology, offering a brand-new form of run-flat tires called the Bridgestone DriveGuard. Bridgestone describes the DriveGuard as a Grand Touring All-Season run-flat tire, and it’s designed to maximize comfort and wear of a conventional tire while still delivering the safety and security of a run-flat. Better yet, these tires are available in wide selection of sizes to fit anything from compact cars and family sedans to SUVs and sportier cars. Basically, no matter what you drive, you can now take advantage of run-flat technology on your vehicle.
How well do these tires hold up under actual use, and do they live up to Bridgestone’s reputation? How is their performance, and are they really self-sustaining? Let’s take a look at a detailed Bridgestone Driveguard review so you can decide if it’s the tire choice for you.
What Sets DriveGuard Tires Apart?
Historically speaking, the biggest problem with most run-flat tires is that they tended to deliver a poor ride quality as a result of the stiffer sidewalls, which are necessary for extended driving with reduced air pressure. The Bridgestone DriveGuard tires were designed to offer the same comfort as conventional tires but simultaneously provide extended mobility after a puncture. Bridgestone claims these tires can run up to 50 miles at up to 50 miles per hour following complete air pressure loss, with zero loss of mobility or flat-run functionality. This, the company says, can help you to avoid becoming stranded on the highway, in the middle of nowhere, or in inclement weather due to a flat.
This is accomplished by the structural design of the tire. Under the surface, it features twin steel belts with a spiral-wrapped nylon reinforcement, all on top of a rayon cord casing, with reinforced sidewalls that keep supporting the vehicle following pressure loss from a puncture. The technology behind the sidewalls is the Bridgestone NanoPro-Tech Sidewall compound, a reinforced rubber that uses the company’s unique Cooling Fin Design. All of this helps the tire maintain its stiffness and shape for a limited period, even when there’s no air pressure inside.
As all-season touring tires, these are also built to run the same all year round in any weather or environmental condition, whether the roads are dry or wet or you’re going through light snow. They feature a unique all-season tread compound, silica-enhanced and molded into an asymmetric design. This is intended to provide enhanced stability and handling every season of the year. The tread resists hydroplaning and increases the surface contact area to enhance traction in the winter and on wet roads.
Finally, the DriveGuard tires are available for a wide range of vehicles by many manufacturers and in sizes running in 15”, 16″, 17”, 18”, and even 19” circumferences.
Warranty, Maintenance, and Replacement Schedules
Bridgestone offers a very solid warranty on its tires. With its Platinum Pact Limited Warranty, these tires feature a free tire replacement period of up to 3 years from the date of purchase, provided you can provide the proof of purchase. If you can’t, the limit is 4 years from the manufacture date. For 2 years after that limit, you can still get tire replacements, but there’s a prorated charge. Additionally, the tire must not be worn to or below 2/32 inches to qualify. There are indicators built into the tread grooves, so you’ll be able to tell when you reach that mark.
Overall, this is a superior treadwear warranty for flat-run tires. It offers another reason to consider these tires as a replacement for standard tires or even OEM run-flat tires.
Customer Ratings
At various online rating sites, Bridgestone DriveGuard reviews showcase high ratings by users, often getting ratings of four out of five stars with hundreds of reviews, indicating superb service. They get consistent overall ratings of more than eight out of ten in overall performance, traction, hydroplaning resistance, responsiveness, stability, comfort, noise level, and other factors. This indicates an outstanding quality product.
Actual Road Tests
Bridgestone DriveGuard’s actual road tests also indicate a high-quality product. While they aren’t the best option for aggressive driving, they’re also not designed for it, and most highway safety agencies would advise against aggressive driving to begin with. Tests verify their ability to continue driving with a flat or punctured tire without sacrificing comfort, and testers confirm that they are exceptionally quiet, generating very little road noise.
The tires deliver solid braking on dry surfaces, are fantastic at resisting hydroplaning, and offer reliable traction in light snow. They provide a sturdy grip for cornering and authoritative braking in dry conditions. As the manufacturer suggests, this was attributed to the asymmetrical patterns and the use of the Nano Pro-Tech in the design. Overall, these tires allow improved vehicular handling over many types of OEM tires.
They do deliver some vibration on rough or uneven surfaces, but this is to be expected and is the case with many tires. The real-world drive test also indicates that these tires do not perform as well in winter weather as snow tires. This, however, is also to be expected as they are touring tires designed to offer level performance year-round. Specialized winter tires, by comparison, will consistently deliver better grip and handling in cold weather conditions but will wear quickly and offer a less than ideal performance in summer.
It’s also worth noting that the run-flat sidewalls are only rated for a maximum of 50 miles per hour when driving with a puncture. They might be strong, but you’re still running with zero pressure in the tire, so it’s essential to drive responsibly and carefully on your way to the repair shop.
Overall, Bridgestone offers a high-quality tire with the DriveGuard tire. They offer run-flat technology that will keep you going even if your tire is punctured while you drive, and they perform well in all seasons, even in wet conditions or light snow. Talk to your local dealership to see if DriveGuard tires might be a good option for you.
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