Bridgestone unveils its grabbier, quieter Dueler A/T002

Bridgestone unveils its grabbier, quieter Dueler A/T002

Have you ever wondered about why certain tyre types have certain tread patterns and what exactly it is that they do? Well, it’s not random, I’ll tell you that, but as I’ve recently learnt at the launch of Bridgestone’s locally manufactured Dueler A/T002 tyre, there’s quite a lot going on beyond just the tread looking the part.

Since my tyre knowledge is somewhat limited to lateral grip and maybe the occasional pressure-for-specific-purposes application, it was eye-opening to see the factors that go into designing a tyre and how it affects real-world metrics. Apparently, silica (silicon dioxide), also known as the most abundant mineral within the Earth’s crust, helps stickiness during wet weather manoeuvres. Who knew…?

Improved wet-weather grip

In that same vein, and considering all-terrain tyres are often seen as a give-and-take between daily usability and off-road ability, Bridgestone took wet weather handling into serious account as it looks to bridge that tricky divide between daily driving and extreme off-roading with its A/T002. Compared to its predecessor, the A/T001, which carries an ‘E’ on the European Commission’s wet braking label (a similar standardised testing database for tyres like Euro NCAP is for cars or the moose test for bakkies), the A/T002 scored a considerably more reassuring ‘C’.

What this effectively means, and according to Supa Quick’s interpretation of this label, is that an A-rated tyre should stop within 28 metres at 80km/h on soaked roads, while the C-rated AT002 should come to a halt within 35 metres. A notable improvement over its predecessor’s 40-metre stopping distance.

Can the A/T002 go the distance?

Yes. Using an internal benchmark test of 265/65R17 tyres, it has seen a 40% improvement in mileage over the A/T001, as well as a 10% lifetime mileage improvement over the Bridgestone D697 all-terrain. As for noise levels, Bridgestone’s newest tyre registers marginally lower road noise levels at 72dB compared to its predecessor’s 73dB.

Tyre talk and nerdy stuff…

This can be credited to the narrower gaps between the tread blocks – think the ultra-aggressive M/T tyres which self-clean mud from their blocks but create a heck of a racket at speed. So, naturally then, smaller voids should mean less traction on the rough stuff? Not necessarily, since Bridgestone, with its annual global research and development spend of around €780m, has found a workaround for that too.

It uses hexagonal central tread blocks with Z-shaped sipes to increase the number of biting edges. The hexagonal tread blocks increase the tyre’s usable surface on the road, while the Z-shaped openings within these blocks flex open under load, acting as additional claws in wet conditions. By extension, the design also has a positive effect on lateral grip.

Lastly, there are the staggered shoulder blocks that extend to the upper reaches of the sidewall, which further help tractability in low-grip situations. This should be especially helpful when airing tyres down during sand or mud driving to give that extra purchase and support on the sidewall.

Bridgestone provided visiting media with a brief demonstration of its new A/T002 up and around the Lourensford-adjacent mountain ranges in Cape Town. And while the track by no means challenged the tyre in any sense, it showed that it’s more than capable of finding grip on loose gravel surfaces while having enough in the way of durability to withstand jagged rocks.

The Lamborghini angle

I probably could have led with this, but Lamborghini’s Huracan Sterrato has the world’s first original-fitment supercar run-flat all-terrain tyre. Yes, it’s this, the A/T002, which is similar in architecture but, naturally, with the bonus of run-flat tech. A glowing endorsement, no doubt, since this tyre can put 449kW down on the gravel and provide safe contact up to 260km/h. Hilux, Ranger, SA roads? Shouldn’t be a problem.

Where it sits

All-terrains are, by design, a middle-ground. It lacks the theatre and social flex of mud terrains while still bringing a good measure of in-built capability with some everyday sensibility. The Bridgestone A/T002s then intersect the aggression and sensibility lines well, providing excellent off-road capability while also bringing a calmer, more reassuring quality to tar driving, particularly with improved wet weather handling and safety.

The A/T002 is available in sizes ranging from 205/70R15 for models like the Suzuki Jimny to 285/60R18 for the Toyota Land Cruiser 200. Naturally, all popular bakkie and SUV models are catered to as well with dedicated tyre sizes for the Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Hilux and Fortuner, as well as the Ford Ranger and Everest.