Firestone WeatherGrip Review: The Ultimate All-Season Tire with Unmatched Winter Performance

Pros
- The all-season and all-weather category vehicle with the best acceleration on snow-covered roadways
- Exceptionally short stopping distances on snow-covered highways compared to other grand-touring tires.
- Controllable and secure maneuverability on snow
- When compared to other all-season and all-weather tires, these tires perform noticeably better on ice.
- Excellent dry-terrain handling and stopping performance (for an all-weather tire).
- High degree of riding comfort
Cons
- On the road, it has a mushy, unresponsive feel, almost like a tire designed for the cold.
- In no way the most silent grand-touring tire available
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Since the year 1977, when Goodyear introduced the world to the concept of the all-season tire, tire manufacturers have assured us that their products can operate effectively regardless of the weather. And without a doubt, the performance of an all-season tire in the winter will be superior than that of a summer tire. In addition to this, its performance in the summer will be superior than that of a tire designed for the winter. In point of fact, it is far superior.
Despite this, there is no such thing as an all-season tire that can handle the severe conditions of winter. Even if you might gain some traction in the light snow, the handling won’t be particularly safe because of how slippery it is. A winter tire is always the best option while driving in conditions with heavy snow and ice. However, just recently, manufacturers started making tires that may be used in all weather. These are a variant of all-season tires that provide enhanced grip on icy and snowy roads.
One example of such a tire is the Firestone WeatherGrip. Even from a great distance, the deeply siped tread pattern could be mistaken for the tread pattern of a winter tire. On the other hand, Firestone advertises the WeatherGrip as an all-weather grand-touring tire. Up until this point, the word “all-weather” was mostly utilized by periodicals in order to draw attention away from the term “all-season tires.” It is encouraging to notice that a corporation has begun to differentiate its offerings by making use of this word.
But what are the actual benefits of having tires that may be used in any weather? To tell you the truth, they provide significantly improved traction on snow and ice. Although they do not offer the same amount of traction as winter tires, most regions throughout the world are nevertheless able to make use of all-season tires. My experience has shown me that all-season tires are only appropriate for driving on extremely light snow, and they are not designed to perform well on ice. On the other hand, all-weather tires can be driven on not only snow but also ice.
If you are fortunate enough to own a passenger vehicle in the United States, there is a good possibility that the WeatherGrip will fit your car. Firestone provides their grand-touring all-season tire in a variety of popular sizes, beginning with a wheel diameter of 15 inches and going all the way up to a wheel diameter of 19 inches. With these specifications, the business may accommodate smaller automobiles, mid-size sedans, coupes, station wagons, minivans, and even crossovers.
However, how well does the Firestone WeatherGrip work? In order to provide an answer to that issue, I have developed a comprehensive analysis of the tire. You will be able to read all that is significant about the product that is listed below. The performance in dry and wet conditions, traction in snow and ice, comfort levels, and durability are some of the topics that I examine.
Before we go on to that, let’s take a look at the unique selling points that Firestone incorporated into their product to set it apart from the competition. Because Bridgestone’s technology and materials can be used by the American tire manufacturer, the latter’s products might be considered cutting edge. Let’s dig in!
What are the features of the Firestone WeatherGrip?
Firestone claims that the WeatherGrip was “engineered to help keep you in control, regardless of the weather.” The manufacturer continues by stating that the tire is intended to “provide confident wet performance” and that it has the sought-after 3PMSF rating (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating).
Firestone utilized a cutting-edge compound that was designed for use in all weather conditions to accomplish those goals. The rubber is shaped into a directed pattern that is focused on grip, which improves the road-holding capabilities of the tire on snowy and wet roads.
The Hydro-Grip Technology Package was also exploited by Firestone in the production of the WeatherGrip. It consists of a rounded footprint that pierces through standing water, hence reducing the likelihood of hydroplaning and enhancing traction in wet conditions.
In addition, the package has full-depth grooves and open shoulder slots, each of which contribute in their own unique ways to the hydroplaning resistance offered.
In the meantime, the shoulder blocks are being chamfered so that they make extra contact with the road, which will ultimately result in improved braking. The WeatherGrip offers a number of benefits, one of which is the Snow Traction Claw technology. It was used by Firestone on the center and shoulder ribs, and snow vices were used in conjunction with it on the intermediate ribs.
with addition to this, the tire is completely covered with high-density zigzag sipes, which produce additional biting edges for improved snow traction. In the end, Firestone went as far as to equip the tire with their TractionTech Package, which features grooves that interlock with one another. Because of this technology, the tire may maintain a high level of performance even later in its life when used on snowy and wet surfaces.
The grand-touring category sets the bar for the WeatherGrip’s interior construction in terms of how it’s assembled. In order to provide high-speed durability and excellent cornering performance, it has a single-ply polyester casing, which is assisted by twin steel belts and nylon reinforcement.
In conclusion, I’d like to provide some commentary on the 3PMSF rating. Tires that, in comparison to standard all-season tires, have more longitudinal snow grip are awarded the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake insignia. This mark can be found on the sidewall of the tire. Even while this does not mean that the tire may serve as a suitable substitute for a winter tire, you should still feel more confident driving throughout the winter months.

What are the maintenance indicators?
When developing the WeatherGrip, Firestone utilized the conventional tread wear indicators. Other businesses, like Continental and Goodyear, already have improved maintenance indicators built into their products; I believe that other firms, including Firestone and Bridgestone, ought to follow suit and incorporate these improvements as well.
Nevertheless, the tread wear indicators (TWIs) on your tire should be able to provide you with a rough estimate of the tread depth. These indicators are made up of thin rubber bars that are inserted into the grooves that go all the way around the tire. Even though they are depressed in a brand new tire, they are still very easy to spot.
The TWIs are spaced apart from the base of the tread by a distance equal to 2/32 of an inch. This is due to the fact that the required minimum tread depth for all-season tires is 2/32 of an inch. If it’s lower than that, your tire won’t be able to give you usable traction in wet circumstances, and it also won’t operate as well on snow.
The tread wear indications on your tire will become more noticeable as the tread wears down. If the depth of the grooves is reduced to 2/32 of an inch, then the TWIs will be totally flush with the surface. When this occurs, you should immediately get new tires for your vehicle. However, in my experience, you should replace your tires even sooner, particularly if you want your vehicle to have reliable grip in the snow.
When compared to all-season tires, the WeatherGrip will not have the same level of longevity in that department. This is because the rubber is made to be more flexible so that it provides more traction when driving on snow and ice.
Despite this, studies conducted by Consumer Reports indicate that the treadlife of the tire is estimated to be 60,000 miles. That is still a very good score, despite the fact that it is not as high as it would be with tires such as the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack or the Continental PureContact LS.
It’s interesting to note that Firestone offers a warranty on treadwear that covers 65,000 miles for all sizes. Although this is slightly longer than the treadlife that was predicted by Consumer Reports, it is still an exceptional result for an all-weather tire.
How does it behave on a dry tarmac?

The initial impression of the WeatherGrip is not very favorable. When I go behind the wheel, it nearly feels like I’m driving on snow tires. The tire responds quite slowly to input from the steering wheel and does not have any sense of directness at all. There are many more solutions available that are superior in terms of how they feel.
Having said that, the traction is satisfactory. Not the best in the class, to be clear, but sufficient. My guess is that the majority of drivers won’t be able to detect the difference between WeatherGrip and the all-season tires used by its competitors. On dry roads, the Firestone has outstanding directional stability, excellent cornering and braking performance, and strong cornering performance.
How is it over wet and slippery roads?
The WeatherGrip performs exceptionally well on top of slippery surfaces. The resistance of this tire to hydroplaning is unparalleled, and it also provides a good deal of traction for the user. Even in extremely heavy rain, the cornering has a feeling that is highly secure and predictable for the driver. Additionally, the stopping distances are of a suitable length.
It’s possible that, all things considered, the Firestone WeatherGrip isn’t the finest tire for driving in the rain. But what’s more significant is that it drives predictably even in the rain and doesn’t throw the driver for a loop by suddenly losing traction.
With that being said, how is it on snowy roads?
In one word — excellent. To put it another way, in terms of all-weather and all-season tires, that is. The WeatherGrip boasts a significantly higher level of snow traction than any other grand-touring tire on the market.
You can quickly accelerate, maneuver into corners, and stop in a timely manner with a set of these tires, even when driving on roads covered with snow. I’ve never driven on an all-weather or all-season tire, so I can’t comment on how well they perform.
Additionally, the ice traction is superior to the category average. In spite of this, if you live in an area that gets severe winter weather, I strongly suggest investing in suitable winter tires.
Is it suitable for off-road driving?
Off-roading was not one of Firestone’s design priorities while developing the WeatherGrip tire. Simply put, the tire does not have sufficient grip for use on slippery off-road surfaces. It is possible that they are superior to all-season tires, although the gap between the two is quite narrow. In addition to this, the tread compound is not resistant to cuts and chips, and it is simple to destroy.
Is it comfortable and refined?
When it comes to the way the WeatherGrip rides, it has an extremely plush and supple feel. The larger and smaller bumps and divots in the pavement are both easily smoothed out. The noise level, on the other hand, is about par for the course with this tire. It is not extremely loud, but neither is it completely silent. When traveling at highway speeds, there is a discernible tread growl; nonetheless, it is not unduly annoying.
More information regarding the Firestone WeatherGrip Review can be found at: Tire Rack is the creator of this video.
Should I buy the Firestone WeatherGrip?
If you are looking for a tire that provides a wide range of benefits in a single package, the WeatherGrip is one of the few options that comes to mind. The ability of Firestone’s all-weather tire to provide reliable traction on dry, rainy, and snowy terrain is what sets it apart from the other products on the market. And when you take into account the reasonable cost, it is really difficult to find a better deal. It unquestionably merits the grade of highly recommended that I gave it.​