NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire has introduced a new line of light truck commercial tires, the Firestone Transforce.

Transforce features the company’s exclusive UNI-T technology and is designed to meet the requirements of personal as well as commercial service vehicles. The first product in the Firestone Transforce line will be the Firestone Transforce HT.

The new tire has circumferential grooves and deep shoulder slots for optimum traction in dry, rain and snow conditions. Five-Pitch noise-suppression techniques were used to make it quiet running; and COCS, an element of UNI-T technology, was used to maximize ride comfort.

The Firestone Transforce HT has a modern, all-season highway-terrain tread design, with an advanced, high-modulus compound chosen for chip and tear resistance. It is constructed with a two-ply polyester body, steel belts and a full, spiral-wrap nylon cap ply to deliver long service; and it can be used in either single- or dual-rear-wheel applications.

The market for the new tire is a broad range of vehicles from large RVs to contractors’ pickups and emergency vehicles. The Firestone Transforce HT is also suited for light-duty delivery vans and trucks in small pick-up-and-delivery fleets.

The Firestone Transforce HT is now available in four 16-inch Load Range E sizes. Additional sizes will be added to broaden the Transforce lineup throughout 2005.